Rabbit Breed Profiles: The Giant Papillon

Often referred to as the European Checkered Giant or Great Lorrainese, the Giant Papillon actually has a few distinct differences that set this British bunny apart the standard Checkered Giant rabbits that are commonly seen in the United States. Just what sets this breed apart from their American cousins? There are many interesting facts you might want to know about the Giant Papillon rabbit.

Where Did the Giant Papillon Originate?

There is quite a bit of controversy surrounding the origins of this beautiful breed of bunny. One history suggests that he originated in Reinflaz, Germany, where a breeder by the name of Otto Reinhardt is generally credited with creating the breed. The most common sources claim that Reinhardt bred one of the Reinish Checker rabbits with a black-furred Flemish Giant (also referred to as a British Giant) and, from there, continued to develop the breed. Another popular source claims that the Giant Papillons are also descended from wild rabbits of the region.

Additionally, still other sources claim that the Giant Papillon originated in the German region of Lothringen (considered today's Lorraine in France) towards the end of the 19th century. This version claims that the Giant Papillon was the end result of crossing the Flemish Giant rabbits with large French Lops and various spotted rabbits that were native to the area.

Some claim that the American Checkered Giant is the same as the Giant Papillon, though there is definitely a noticeable difference in overall bone and body style. Rather than claim the two are the same, it's usually a safer bet to say they may have had similar origins but have been developed with different preferential characteristics.

The Giant Papillon Appearance

The Giant Papillon rabbit is one of the largest breeds of rabbit recognized by the British Rabbit Council. With seniors maturing with a minimum weight of no less than 11 pounds, it's believed that they were originally bred for commercial use. Unfortunately, the combination of their heavy bone structure, slow development and unusual fur quality were not conducive to the development of a commercial breed. Instead, they became a breed that was prized for their gentle temperament and unusual markings, something that keeps the breed alive to this day.

The European Checkered Giant, or Great Papillon, is a heavier rabbit than his American cousins though he is noted as having one of the lighter bone densities for all of the European giant breeds. Bucks, in particular, have very prominent and large heads and well-developed bodies that closely resemble that of the Flemish Giant (or British Giant). Does also possess good bone structure, though they usually appear more feminine than their male counterparts and they are allowed a small dewlap. The ears of the Great Papillon are fairly thick and are carried firmly erect; from base to tip, they should be no less than 5.9 inches in length.

The Giant Papillon is considered to be a fancy breed, meaning that he's valued for his unique appearance, rather than fur or meat quality. A great portion of emphasis is placed upon the markings of the Giant Papillon. They should be as follows:

- The butterfly: This is the pattern on the Giant Papillon's nose. Well-defined, it should consist of two wings on either side of the nose and a center fork, or thorn, that is lightly rounded at the top. When viewed from the front, the pattern resembles a colored butterfly, hence his name.

- Eye Circles: Both eyes of Giant Papillon should be well-circled in color, though it should not touch any other part of the rabbit's color pattern.

- Cheek Spots: The Giant Papillon should have a cheek spot on either side. Situated below the eye circles, they are distinct and should not touch any other part of the rabbit's color pattern.

- Ears: Giant Papillons' ears should be completely colored without white and the marking should be clean-cut and abruptly ending at the base.

- Saddle Stripe: Approximately 1.2 inches wide, the saddle or dorsal stripe begins at the back of the ears, travels the length of the spine and should extend clear back to include the tail.

- Rump Spots: Each Giant Papillon should have a minimum of 3-4 spots on each side of the flank and/or thighs. These spots should be roughly 1 1/4 inches in diameter and should not touch the saddle stripe or overlap one another.

The base color of the Giant Papillon is always white, though all recognized colors of rabbit are admissible for markings. Eye color should always match the rabbit's markings and the claws should all be white. Some self-colored, or solid, Great Papillons do exist, but they are unable to be registered.

The Giant Papillon As a Pet

Giant Papillon rabbits can make excellent pets for the right people. More docile in nature than many of the smaller breeds, they tend to enjoy being held and scratched. Their large size makes them a little more sturdy than dwarf breeds, though rabbits should always be supervised with small children or other pets, and they are quite intelligent which makes them easy to litter train.

Perhaps the greatest downfall of the Giant Papillon is their availability. Due to their slow rate of maturity, undesirable fur quality and overall bone structure, they are a giant rabbit that (unlike their other giant counterparts) is not a popular breed for commercial use. Unfortunately, their large size hampers them as pets as well, since they grow to be no less than 11 pounds as mature adults (and often quite a bit larger), and their dwindling numbers puts them in the RV (Rare Variety) category. Because of this, finding a reputable breeder is often difficult and, when you do find one, you may have to pay a bit more for your bunny.

For Giant Papillon lovers, however - it's certainly worth the trouble!

Sources:

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=194818 - Great book printout of the Giant Papillon
http://www.thebrc.org/standards/F6-Giant%20Papillon.pdf - The British Rabbit Council's Standards for Giant Papillon Rabbits