Smoke Pearls are a medium sized fur rabbit (this means that they were origionally developed for their fur qualities.) They are a beautiful blue-grey colour and have exquisitly soft, thick fur. But what makes smoke pearls (and sables, whites & satins) so special is their loving and laid back personalities. They are a very people orientated breed, they love being cuddled and stroked and are exceptionally docile in nature, unlike smaller breed rabbits (such as nethies and mini lops) they are quiet and calm and very tollerant, Which obviously makes them excellent pets.

Smoke Pearls are very sociable and love the company of both people and other rabbits, they are extreemly easy to bond (i've never yet had to do more than just introduce two rabbits) and have had success keeping them in same sex groups, however i would always reccomend that young bucks be neutered as they can get a little frisky with each other during their hormonal phase, however i do keep my older and retired in tact buck in pairs as well, which with most breeds would be impossible.

Unfortunatly Smoke Pearls are an extreemly rare breed, they are british in origin and only found in the UK, Australia and a few European countries. They have been in drastic decline for a number of years. A few dedicated breeders are now keeping the breed alive and striving to improve and widen the gene pool, 2011 saw several new breeders take up the breed and wonderfully high entries at the club shows so things are starting to look up for this beautiful breed.

1. Colour
In the Marten Type - The saddle to extend from the nape to the tail, to be smoke in colour, shading to pearl grey beige on flanks and chest. Head ears, feet and upper side of tail to match saddle as near a possible. Nose flash permitted, but to be as small as possible. Chest, flanks, rump and feet to be well ticked with longer white hairs, the light nape of the neck to be confined to the triangle behind the ears and to be as small as possible. Eye circles, inside the ears, line of jaw, inside nostrils, inside of legs and feet, belly and underside of tail and triangle to be white.
In the Siamese Type - Saddle to be smoke in colour. Shading to pearl grey beige on flanks, chest and belly and to be totally free from white throughout. Head, ears and legs to match saddle as near a possible. In both types, all shading to be gradual avoiding blotches or streaks. General undercolour to match surface colour as closely as possible, folowing the varied shadings throughout, except that in the Marten type the colour under white belly fur should be fawn.

2. Texture and density of Fur - To be soft and very dense, under fur to be exquisitely silky and excedingly full and dense. Length of fur to be about 2.54cm (1in), but, texture and density shall always rank above mere length.

3. Type - Neat with moderate length of body, slightly arched back, tail carried in a straight line with spine, feet and legs to be straight, neat and of medium bone. Medium size, Adult weight 2.26-3.17kg (5-7lb).
Head - Medium size, rather long than square, but not snipy, free from coarseness, well carried on short neck.
Ears - Small, erect and evenly carried, free from white ticking, well furred.
Eyes - Bright and bold with distinct ruby glow.
Condition - Firm in flesh, bright glossy coat and bright eyes.

FAULTS - Dropping or lopped ears, short, harsh or fly-back coat, lack of dense undercoat, white patches, excessive dewlap, paleness of undercolour, white feet, putty nose, any trace of tan in white, excessive nose flash in Marten type.

The smoke pearl is a truely british breed, in fact it is one of just two breeds known to have been developed in Scotland (the other being the now extinct Squirrel). It is believed to have been developed by Mr. Lawrie Stenhouse who successfully kept sables and chinchillas. He used sables and 'blue rabbits' possibly blue beverans, polish or the now extinct blue imperial (developed by Miss Mabel Illingworth in the late 1800's). In essence the smoke pearl is a sable rabbit (which was very popular at the time with both furries and exhibitors) with the dilution factor, turning the brown rabbit blue.

The breed was first seen on the show bench in 1926 under the name 'Smoke Beige', however in 1932 the name was changed to the more 'appealing' Smoke Pearl when the breed was accepted by the 'British Fur Rabbit Society'.

In 1930 Mr Stenhouse revealed another new breed, he is believed to have used his new breed 'the smoke beige' and crossed it into his chinchilla stock resulting in the creation of the squirrel breed. Sadly this beautiful blue chinchilla is now believed to be extinct... but could be recreated with the beautiful smoke pearl.

This history of the smoke pearl was compiled from information kindly shared with me from Bob Whitman and Meg Brown, who are sadly no longer with us but their dedication to working with and researching rare breeds will have an impact on the fancy for many years to come.