When I got back into rabbits a few years ago I did not know what any of the rabbit terminology meant, especially when it came to shows and earning legs, sanctions, classes, varieties, BOB, BOS and so on. I found a website that had a lot of this information on it and it was so helpful figuring out what everything meant, I thought I would create my own. So, I hope it helps you out too!
BIS - Best in Show - This is the best rabbit out of all breeds at the show that day. All rabbits who were best of their breed (BOB) go up for this honor of being the Best in Show.
RIS - Reserve in Show - This is the second best rabbit at the show that day out of all breeds.
BOB - Best of Breed - This is when your rabbit is the best rabbit at the show that day for your breed.
BOS - Best Opposite Sex - This is the best opposite gender rabbit at the show that day for your breed. If the BOB is a buck, the BOS will be a doe.
BOV - Best of Variety - Many breeds have different varieties (colors) and each variety shows together. The best rabbit of that variety will be BOV. All rabbits who were BOV/BOSV go up for their breeds BOB/BOS.
BOSV - Best Opposite Sex Variety - The best opposite gender rabbit for that variety will be BOSV. If the BOV is a doe, the BOSV will be a buck.
Class - This is the age group that your rabbit will show in. Junior, Intermediate or Senior
4 Class Breed - Breeds that only have 4 classes (junior buck, junior doe, senior buck, senior doe) are called a 4 Class Breed.
6 Class Breed - Breeds that have 6 classes (junior buck, junior doe, Intermediate (or 6/8) buck, intermediate (or 6/8) doe, senior buck, senior doe) are called a 6 Class Breed.
Variety - Some breeds have multiple varieties (colors) and are shown together. In mini rex, I raise the otter variety. All otters show together. All blacks show together, all blues show together and so on. In Giant Chinchillas, there is only 1 variety and that is the standard color. No other colors are accepted by the breed. In Silver Fox, blacks are currently the only accepted variety but blues and chocolates have a COD to become an accepted variety.
COD - Certificate of Development - When a person or group of people want to create a new breed/variety they get together and create a Certificate of Development. The creator(s) of the COD then bring specific animals to the ARBA Convention and they must have three (3) successful presentations within a five year period, meaning they must pass the ARBA Standards Committee three times before they can be an accepted breed/variety. If they get 2 back to back fails and not passes, the COD passes along to the next person in line (if there is one). Creating a new breed/variety can take many years to get accepted (I have seen them work on varieties for 15-20 years to get everything right).
Registered Rabbit - Any rabbit can have a pedigree (a record of its ancestors) but only rabbits who are free from DQ's (disqualifications), at least 6 months of age, meet their breed's standard and have all names/ear numbers, varieties and weights on their 3 generation pedigree can be registered by an ARBA Registrar. The person registering the rabbit must also have a current ARBA Membership. NOTE: A rabbit does NOT have to be registered in order to show. It does not have to have a full pedigree to show either it just needs to fit its breed standard.
Leg - A leg can be earned multiple different ways by a rabbit. There must be 5 rabbits and at least 3 exhibitors for any class in order for the rabbit to earn a leg. If there are only 5 total rabbits and 3 exhibitors for the entire breed, the only way to earn a leg is with a BOB win. If there are 5 bucks (3 exhibitors) and 4 does (2 exhibitors) and the doe win's the BOB she will earn a leg for BOB (over 5 total rabbits and 3 exhibitors) and the buck will also earn a leg for BOS since there were 5 bucks with 3 exhibitors. If the buck won BOB and the doe was BOS, only the buck would earn a leg since there were not enough does or exhibitors to make the 5/3 rule. Any first in class (jr buck, jr doe, sr buck, sr doe, etc) can also earn a leg if there at least 5 rabbits in the class and 3 different exhibitors. BOV and BOSV can also earn legs if there are enough for the 5/3 rule.
Grand Champion - A rabbit who has won at least 3 legs, with 1 of those legs coming as a senior or intermediate and the wins coming under at least 2 different ARBA judges can be awarded a grand champion certificate. The rabbit must also be registered in order to get its grand champion certificate.
Sanction - When a show is sanctioned for a specific breed this means that points earned from showing a rabbit at that show for that breed will go to the breed club for points (year end awards, etc). Many shows only give BOB/BOS awards for breeds that are sanctioned.
RIS - Reserve in Show - This is the second best rabbit at the show that day out of all breeds.
BOB - Best of Breed - This is when your rabbit is the best rabbit at the show that day for your breed.
BOS - Best Opposite Sex - This is the best opposite gender rabbit at the show that day for your breed. If the BOB is a buck, the BOS will be a doe.
BOV - Best of Variety - Many breeds have different varieties (colors) and each variety shows together. The best rabbit of that variety will be BOV. All rabbits who were BOV/BOSV go up for their breeds BOB/BOS.
BOSV - Best Opposite Sex Variety - The best opposite gender rabbit for that variety will be BOSV. If the BOV is a doe, the BOSV will be a buck.
Class - This is the age group that your rabbit will show in. Junior, Intermediate or Senior
4 Class Breed - Breeds that only have 4 classes (junior buck, junior doe, senior buck, senior doe) are called a 4 Class Breed.
6 Class Breed - Breeds that have 6 classes (junior buck, junior doe, Intermediate (or 6/8) buck, intermediate (or 6/8) doe, senior buck, senior doe) are called a 6 Class Breed.
Variety - Some breeds have multiple varieties (colors) and are shown together. In mini rex, I raise the otter variety. All otters show together. All blacks show together, all blues show together and so on. In Giant Chinchillas, there is only 1 variety and that is the standard color. No other colors are accepted by the breed. In Silver Fox, blacks are currently the only accepted variety but blues and chocolates have a COD to become an accepted variety.
COD - Certificate of Development - When a person or group of people want to create a new breed/variety they get together and create a Certificate of Development. The creator(s) of the COD then bring specific animals to the ARBA Convention and they must have three (3) successful presentations within a five year period, meaning they must pass the ARBA Standards Committee three times before they can be an accepted breed/variety. If they get 2 back to back fails and not passes, the COD passes along to the next person in line (if there is one). Creating a new breed/variety can take many years to get accepted (I have seen them work on varieties for 15-20 years to get everything right).
Registered Rabbit - Any rabbit can have a pedigree (a record of its ancestors) but only rabbits who are free from DQ's (disqualifications), at least 6 months of age, meet their breed's standard and have all names/ear numbers, varieties and weights on their 3 generation pedigree can be registered by an ARBA Registrar. The person registering the rabbit must also have a current ARBA Membership. NOTE: A rabbit does NOT have to be registered in order to show. It does not have to have a full pedigree to show either it just needs to fit its breed standard.
Leg - A leg can be earned multiple different ways by a rabbit. There must be 5 rabbits and at least 3 exhibitors for any class in order for the rabbit to earn a leg. If there are only 5 total rabbits and 3 exhibitors for the entire breed, the only way to earn a leg is with a BOB win. If there are 5 bucks (3 exhibitors) and 4 does (2 exhibitors) and the doe win's the BOB she will earn a leg for BOB (over 5 total rabbits and 3 exhibitors) and the buck will also earn a leg for BOS since there were 5 bucks with 3 exhibitors. If the buck won BOB and the doe was BOS, only the buck would earn a leg since there were not enough does or exhibitors to make the 5/3 rule. Any first in class (jr buck, jr doe, sr buck, sr doe, etc) can also earn a leg if there at least 5 rabbits in the class and 3 different exhibitors. BOV and BOSV can also earn legs if there are enough for the 5/3 rule.
Grand Champion - A rabbit who has won at least 3 legs, with 1 of those legs coming as a senior or intermediate and the wins coming under at least 2 different ARBA judges can be awarded a grand champion certificate. The rabbit must also be registered in order to get its grand champion certificate.
Sanction - When a show is sanctioned for a specific breed this means that points earned from showing a rabbit at that show for that breed will go to the breed club for points (year end awards, etc). Many shows only give BOB/BOS awards for breeds that are sanctioned.