Domestic Rabbits & Their Histories: Breeds of the World (Paperback)

by Bob D. Whitman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Here is an invaluable new reference book, bringing years of experience, research and information together into one handy publication. Over 200 breeds have been meticulously researched, making this title indispensable reading for all rabbit enthusiasts.

About the Author
A life member of the American Rabbit Breeders Assocation, Bob Whitman resides in Beaumont, Texas, where he has been associated with rabbits since the age of six. He operates Rare Bits & Pieces, a rabbitry specializing in endangered and new breeds from other countries.

Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: Leathers Publishing (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585972754
• ISBN-13: 978-1585972753
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,221,687 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes short on histories of individual breeds, overall a wealth of information, March 22, 2006

By	V.Fox (New Orleans, LA- Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

I was initially a little disappointed in this book, as I was expecting more history on individual breeds, but the sheer number of breeds, current and extinct, makes that a mammoth task for any author, even one as knowledgable as Mr. Whitman, to contain in one volume. As it stands, his rather brief histories on the breeds in the book makes for interesting (if not in- depth) reading and also makes this a valuable book for anyone interested in domestic rabbit breeds. I'd like to see a companion volume by the author, perhaps focusing on histories of the current breeds, to allow the author to fully explore the potential of this topic.

Having said that, the histories on rabbit breeding practices are very well explored, if not always the most pleasant reading for those interested in rabbits as companion animals. It is my opinion that those of us interested in rabbits as companion animals should be aware of the practices that eventually led to the companion rabbits of today, however I know that some may be sensitive to such material and may not wish to read about the history of rabbit breeding. I, however, found his knowledge in this area to be quite interesting, if not always pleasant. The gentleman obviously has spent a great deal of time in the gathering of some of these more obscure histories.

There are many editorial errors in this book, mispellings and such, which can be annoying at times and slightly distracting from the author's work, however I feel that these minor irritants should not dissuade anyone seriously interested in the subject matter.

Mr. Whitman's writing is very dry and to the point; something that many hoping for facinating tales of rabbits may not be prepared for. It reads like a history book, full of names and dates and other such information. The one area of exception, where the author's passions carried him on the path of a storyteller, concerns the Enderby Island Rabbit; the breed which, according to the author's bio on the back of the book, he is most active in breeding, along with other more unusual rabbit breeds. He also goes into quite a bit of depth into the infamous Belgian Hare, although with less enthusiasm than for the Enderby Island rabbit. There is quite a bit of detail dedicated to the varities of Lop rabbits, current and extinct, which is quite engrossing for fanciers of the Lop. Fanciers of the New Zealand will find many pages dedicated to this breed, although this section at times reads a bit dry. For those interested in extinct breeds, there are interesting photos or reproductions of paintings, etc. where available to the author, accompanied by sometimes a wealth of information, and sometimes a mere few lines. Sadly, this is the only legacy of some such bygone breeds.

If you are interested in this book for a historical perspective of rabbit breeding or the history behind how today's rabbit breeds came to be, I'd highly recommend this book. If you are squeamish about past practices and the subject of breeding, however, this book is probably not one you'll want to read cover- to cover. However, I doubt you'll find the types of historical information on rabbit breeds contained in one volume anywhere else.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting... maybe too truthful for some. Not enough pictures!, August 20, 2007

By	Sharon Warren "Rabbits & Ribbons" (Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a HISTORY book, not a "let's choose a bunny breed" book. I like the historic drawings, and black and white photos of old breeds. The history is a bit sobering. The methods of developing new breeds, decades and even hundreds of years old, are contrived and cruel. By today's standards of animal care, many of the breeds we have come to admire and cherish would never have come about. I love angoras and lop eared bunnies. Though I would never mistreat them, in any way, to condemn the history of their making would be a bit... hypocritical. They are here now, so all we can do is care for their descendants with the compassion they rightfully deserve. Years of breeding, and selecting have made them vulnerable. They are dependant, so we must strive to be responsible care takers.

Many areas of the book spark interest in things that I hadn't thought about, only to suddenly stop, and move on to the next topic. This book, though long, would be better if even longer. Perhaps historic documents are incomplete, or unavailable?

The color photos are lumped together in the center. I do wish there were more, and larger, photos, and more breeds represented.

I am also still looking for a good "picture book" of rabbit breeds. Lots of rabbit breed books are cluttered with general rabbit care instruction, which is not specific enough for me, and in many cases, too general to be correct. I'd like to see something available in rabbit breed books, which explains the behavior traits, health concerns, and judging qualities of all the breeds, both extinct, and current. -Sharon Warren, www.rabbitsandribbons.com

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent work on show rabbit history, April 5, 2008

By	Weed Flemish Giants "Weed Rabbitry" (Weed, Ca.) - See all my reviews

Caldwell has done an excellent work in describing the origins of each domestic rabbit breed, the founding breeder, the evolution of type, or color or use of each rabbit. Included are interesting sections on the evolution of rabbit housing, feeds, clubs and associations. Some of the breed histories mentioned such as the Enderby Island Rabbit are simply fascinating in Caldwell's relation of the breed to the world historical events of the time.Domestic Rabbits & Their Histories: Breeds of the World