Argente

One of the oldest breeds of show rabbits, the Argente is a small, rounded rabbit that makes an excellent pet due to its good nature. The coat of the Argente rabbit is mottled and comes in a variety of colourways including bleu, champagne, brun, crème and noir, all of which are recognised by the British Rabbit Council; while the ARBA recognises only the Champagne and crème types. Despite the mottled appearance of the adult coat, the kits are born with solid-coloured coats.

Originating in France in the 19th Century, the Argente breeds were popular with fanciers because of their unusual coat. In the early 20th Century crème examples of the breed were exported to the US from Germany, England and France and although the breed was not popular at first, its striking appearance quickly won over American fanciers.

Today, the Crème D’Argent is a rare breed, but its bleu cousins thrive and are still proving popular as pets and show animals.

• Main colourways: Champagne, bleu, brun, noir and crème
• Average weight: 2.7kg

The bleu and the brun types have extremely dense coats that are incredibly shiny and lie flat to their bodies. Their ears are short, well-rounded, wide and held erect. The eyes of the bleu are bright and very blue and the toenails should be coloured.

The underside of the bleu should be a lavender shade and in order to meet show standards the colour on the belly should be even, with darker blue hairs dispersed through the lavender blue.

All Argente’s are quite small and compact, with powerful hindquarters and pronounced arches to the back. Extremes of either raciness or bone are undesirable and considered faults, and ideal examples should be fine, with wide heads and strong front legs.

The Argente types are all placid and relatively easy going. They have an even temper and love cuddles. Many breeders state that Argente kits will crowd round the front of the cage jostling for attention. However they are still an unusual breed and are not easy to source and because of this they can be a costly purchase. Fans of the Argenet will say though, that their pet is worth every single penny because of its striking looks and sweet, placid demeanour.

Exponents of the breed say that because they are so uncommon, the best way to source an Argente Bleu is to visit a rabbit show and talk to breeders there. If you are looking to purchase a kit you may find just what you’re looking for at a show, and if you don’t, someone will know how you can get an Argente. Attending a rabbit show is a great way to pass the day and will certainly help any potential Argente owner understand the commitment needed to care for a rabbit and the joy these creatures can bring to the lives of their owners.

The Argente is fine-boned animal and should only be handled carefully by someone experienced at holding rabbits; children should be supervised when playing with them and should be discouraged from picking the animal up. Rabbits can sustain serious spinal injuries when handled incorrectly or could become fearful, which can lead to aggression and struggling. Rabbits have very powerful back legs and if they kick out with them while being handled they can cause injury to the handler.

Special attention should be paid to the teeth. All rabbits’ teeth grow continuously and their diet must contain enough roughage to keep the teeth worn down. Feeding plenty of good quality hay and fibrous green vegetables such as cabbage, kale and dandelions will help prevent overgrown molars and enamel spurs which can cause injuries in the mouth and can even prevent him from eating properly.

His diet should also contain a quality brand of rabbit pellet. This should be fed according to the weight of your animal and the manufacturer’s guidelines to prevent your animal becoming overweight. An overweight rabbit has difficulty grooming himself and soiled fur can leave him susceptible to flystrike, a condition where flies, attracted by urine and faeces in the coat, lay their eggs in his coat and the resulting maggots burrow under the skin, causing serious wounds that will require veterinary attention.

Argentes can also suffer with sore hocks, and must be treated for fleas, ticks and worms regularly. They must also be vaccinated against Viral Haemorrhagic Disease and myxomatosis – both potentially fatal and highly infectious diseases. Unless you are planning to breed with her, a female rabbit should be spayed as they are prone to uterine cancer.

Before you bring your Argente Bleu home you must decide whether it will live indoors or outdoors. Because of his pleasant disposition the Argente Bleu will live indoors quite happily and will learn to get along with other pets and children. However because he is small animal care should be taken around him and small, tight spaces should be blocked off. Cables, wires, clothes shoes and important documents should be kept out of the way as he will have a tendency to chew. He must also be provided with a safe place to rest and get away from it all. An indoor rabbit cage or small dog crate is ideal for this.

Regardless of whether you keep your rabbit indoors or out, he will need space to run and play outdoors – rabbits love to sunbathe! A secure area of garden or a large run should be provided and it must have a covered area so he can get out of the sun or if the weather turns.

If he’s going to live in a hutch it would be wise to make sure he has a companion. Rabbits are social animals and two neutered males or a buck and a spayed doe will get along quite nicely providing they are introduced early enough. Any hutch should be weatherproof and a cover should be placed over the mesh front in the very worst weather. Place the hutch out of direct wind and sun, or in a well-ventilated, well-lit shed. The hutch should be big enough for him to hop around and stand on his back legs and should have a covered area where he can build his nest. Line the hutch with shavings or sawdust and clean it out completely once a week. Remove droppings every day and provide him with logs, cardboard tubes and gnaw toys, as well as plenty of fresh, clean drinking water and you’ll have one happy bunny.