At a glance the quick version
Wikipedia: bucks 7-9 lb, does 8-10 lb; PetGuide: 8-10 lb with males a little lighter. ARBA lists a 9 lb maximum.
Coat and looks how to spot one
dense, soft commercial-type coat
A medium, well-rounded commercial-type rabbit built like the Chinchilla it came from. Its rich coat is darkest sepia on the head, ears, feet, back and top of the tail, softening to a lighter tan elsewhere, much like a Siamese cat's colouring. The eyes are dark with a ruby glow.123
Personality what they are like
Usually docile and easy-going, happy to doze for much of the day, yet playful and sociable when awake. It likes company from people and other rabbits, preferably at its own pace.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Active when awake, so it needs plenty of time outside its enclosure each day, plus toys for play and chewing.24
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The dense coat needs a little more care than a very short coat: brush about every two weeks normally and once or twice a week while moulting.2
Home where they are happiest
The RSPCA recommends a living area of at least 3 m x 2 m x 1 m high so a rabbit can hop, stretch, hide and play; a hutch alone is not enough and should be combined with a large run or daily free-roam time. It copes with indoor or outdoor living if kept away from temperature extremes and, outdoors, protected from predators.42
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Around 70 percent hay, topped up with pellets, leafy greens and vegetables, and constant fresh water.24
Company who they like around
Rabbits are a highly social species and the RSPCA advises keeping them with at least one compatible, neutered rabbit companion, plus calm, regular time with people. Sables are known to enjoy the company of other rabbits.41
The story where it all began
Otto Brock of San Gabriel, California, noticed dark-shaded babies appearing in his purebred Chinchilla litters in the 1920s and developed them into a breed of their own. Numbers fell in the 1970s, and in 1982 enthusiasts formed the American Sable Rabbit Society to keep the breed going.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
Recognised by the official bits
- ARBA
- Recognised breed with a single sable variety; ARBA lists a maximum weight of 9 lb and describes it as suited to show, meat and fur. PetGuide gives ARBA recognition as 1931.3
- American Sable Rabbit Society
- Breed society formed in 1982 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to protect the breed's numbers.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a American Sable. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily while moultingevery week
- Nail trimevery 6 weeks
- Teeth checkTeeth never stop growingevery week
- Fresh hayUnlimited hay every dayevery day
- Spot cleanevery day
- Full cleanevery week
- Bottom checkCheck the fur around the tail stays clean, especially in summerevery day
- Free roamAt least 4 hours of running space a dayevery day
- VaccinationsSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upevery year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- American Sable rabbit - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, history, weights, colour, temperament, breed society, fun facts
- American Sable Rabbit - PetGuide petguide.comused for recognition year, weight, lifespan, temperament, grooming, diet, housing
- Recognized Breeds - American Rabbit Breeders Association arba.netused for ARBA recognition, maximum weight, colour description, uses
- Rabbits - RSPCA rspca.org.ukused for space guidance, companionship, general care
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.