MR Breed Info

The Mini Rex first "officially" became a breed with it's third and final showing at the ARBA Convention in Madison, Wisconsin in the fall of 1988. Only six varieties were accepted - but the following year the number jumped to eleven.

The mini-rex rabbit is a very diminutive rabbit with a maximum senior show weight of only 4 1/2 pounds for does and 4 1/4 pounds for bucks. Its body is rather short and close coupled. The top body line rises gradually from the base of the ears to a high point over the center of the hips and then rounding downwards to the base of the tail. When viewed from the tail end, a Mini-Rex is approximately as wide as it is high. When viewed from above, the body tapers down slightly from the hips to the shoulders. The ears are rather short and thick and are carried erect. The fur is one of the most notable features of this breed. The guard hairs are the same length as the underfur giving an extremely plush, silky, feeling to it when stroked. The fur has a lustrous appearance and has a distinct springy feel when depressed. The fur type has earned the Mini-Rex the name "Velveteen Rabbit." ARBA standards recognizes many colors/varieties for the Mini Rex including: black, blue, castor chinchilla, chocolate, himalayan, lynx, opal, red, seal, tortoise, white, lilac and broken pattern. Breeders are continually trying to develop new colors.

The Mini Rex Rabbit was originated by Ken and Mona Berryhill of Wortham Texas in December 1984. Mona won a pair of dwarf Rex in the Rabbit Research and Development auction at the 1984 ARBA convention in Orlando Florida. The buck was bred to an undersized Rex Lynx doe which was purchased at the same convention. The mating produced 7 uniform miniature bunnies with rex fur. Three of these bunnies, does, were bred back to their sire, and, again, uniform miniature bunnies with rex fur, i.e., Mini Rex bunnies, were produced. From there, the Mini Rex blossomed to every corner of the nation. The first presentation of the new breed to the ARBA Standards Committee was made in Columbus OH on November 1, 1986. The final presentation was made at the 1988 convention in Madison WI where the breed achieved formal recognition of the American Rabbit Breeders Association.