ARBA General Faults (All Breeds)

Specimen in molt or otherwise out of condition (but not diseased)
Hutch stains
Stray white hairs in colored fur
Poor tail carriage (one that is not permanently set to either side)
Poor ear carriage
Poor eye color
Flabby or overly fat.
Thin and extremely poor flesh condition

ARBA Disqualifications from competition (All Breeds)

Ailments (*)
GENERAL- Ear canker, slobbers, pot belly, vent disease, or abscesses. Mange or scurvy condition with flakes resembling dandruff or scale on the skin or at the base of the fur. Fungus growth or scabby condition. Infestation by mites, fleas, or lice.

COLDS (*)- The animal must show a white purulent nasal discharge. (A wetness around the nostrils or roughened fur on the inside of the foreleg is not sufficient evidence of a cold.)

TUMOR OR ABNORMAL SWELLING (*)- A swollen or distended mass forming a lump.

RUPTURE OR HERNIA (*)- Protrusion of abdominal viscera through the muscle in the abdominal cavity abd collecting between the skin and muscle.

ABNORMAL EYE DISCHARGE (*)- Must be noticeable and pronounced

General
ABNORMALITIES (*)- Any deviation from the normally accepted condition of the body structure. Indications of ill health, or other departures from generally accepted healthy condition.

PERMANENT EAR MARK (*)- Illegible tattoo, or tattoo not in the left ear. Tattoo obliterated by tattoo ink so as to be unreadable.

OVERWEIGHT OR UNDERWEIGHT- Not within the minimum and maximum weight limits specified in the breed standard. (Disqualification from Competition suspends the rabbit from competition in fur or wool classes.) The minimum junior weight will be at least 1/2 of the lowest top junior weight for the breed. If the breed does not have a top junior weight limit, the minimum, single junior weight will be 1/2 of the bottom senior weight for the breed.

GENITALIA- Split penis

TESTICLES- All male animals, in the regular showroom classes, must show two normally descended testicles at the time of judging. Juniors and Pre-Juniors are exempted. Juniors and Pre-Juniors must show both or neither testicle. These showing only one at time of judging are to be Disqualified from Competition.

WRONG SEX, BREED, GROUP, OR VARIETY- Disqualification from competition suspends the rabbit from competing in fur or wool classes and changes the number in the class.

STRUCTURAL
BLINDNESS IN ONE OR BOTH EYES (*)- Usually indicated by a filming of the cornea, obstructing the pupil

CROOKED LEGS(*)- Bent, bowed, deformed, or cow hocks, if severe

DEWLAPS (*)- Disqualify when noted in the breed standard

EARS (*)- Ears carried below horizontal in regular eared breeds. Ears naturally carried above horizontal in lop eared breeds. Torn ears or ears with portion missing (must noticeably detract from the general appearance of the animal)

CONJUNCTIVITIS- An inflamation of the inner membrane of the eyelid and sometimes the portion of the membrane that covers the white of the eye.

OFF COLORED EYES- Eyes other than called for in the breed standard.

WALL EYE- Sometimes called moon eye. Eye with whitish cornea, giving milky appearance to the eye.

UNMATCHED EYES- Two eyes not of the same color

SPOTS OR SPECKS ON EYE- Spots or specks in iris or on cornea

MARBLING- A mottling of eye color (do not disqualify for marbling appearing in the eyes of some Chinchilla breeds and varities allowing blue-gray eyes)

MALOCCLUSION- Buck or wolf teeth, which have the lower incisors extending in front of the upper incisors, sometimes curving to the sides, and usually long

SIMPLE MALOCCLUSION(*)- When teeth meet head on, with no overlap of upper teeth. Top incisor teeth must overlap the bottom incisor teeth to be acceptable.

PIGEON BREAST- A narrow chest with prominent "V" protruding breast bone

SORE HOCKS(*)- The foot portion showing infection or bleeding, not merely bare

TEETH (*)- Missing or broken tooth or teeth

TAIL (*)- Permanently set to either side pr permanently out of line (the tail is to be considered as an on line extension of the spine.) Screwtail or bobtail. Portion missing, so as to be conspicuously out of porportion. A tail which is hard and brittle due to the loss of circulation is not a disqualification unless broken and out of alignment.

TOENAILS (*)- Missing toenail(s), including dewclaw. Toenail too short to determine coloration. (A portion of the toenail missing, but allowing the determination of the pigmentation is acceptable.) Unmatched toenail(s) on the same foot or corresponding foot, including the dewclaw. (Toenails lighter than called for in the breed standard are considered a fault.) White toenail(s) disqualify in all colored breeds and varities, including Himalayan, Californian and Pointed Whites. Colored toenail(s) disqualify in white or marked breeds and varities and combination with white, unless specifically exempted in the breed standard.

CONDITION
All animals are to have a definite appearance of health and vigor. They are to be bold and bright of eye. All animals are to have a good coat, firmly set in the pelt. They are to be firm in flesh covering, neither too fat, with soft, flabby flesh; nor too thin in flesh, creating a bony effect when examined. Flesh is to be deep and even over the entire body.

**All General Faults and Disqualifications from Competition apply to each breed's standard, unless specifically exempted.**

Some of the preceding are considered judgmental in nature, and as such, are not subject to protest. These Disqualifications from Competition are indicated with and asterisk (*).

ARBA Standard of Perfection 2001-2005