See files for Rabbits. Dwarf rabbits are becoming increasingly popular as pets. There is a trend in animal companions to have smaller and smaller pets, sometimes causing health problems such as with teacup dogs.
However, dwarf rabbits are known to actually have a longer lifespan than larger rabbit breeds [1]. They are also particularly adorable, not to mention intelligent and able to create strong bonds with humans. It's important to know that just becuase they are small and cute, doesn't mean the responsibility of their guardians is any less.
We need to take care of all their basic needs as well as known some specific characteristics and health issues they may need addressed. AnimalWised brings you the top 10 dwarf rabbit breeds to help you know what to expect when adopting one of these beautiful lagomorphs into your family.
The Mini Lop, sometimes known as the dwarf lop rabbit, is one of the most popular dwarf rabbit breeds, despite being relatively new. Some theories affirm that this is a French rabbit breed, while others claim it is descended from the Flemish Giant rabbit.
This would give it a Belgian origin, but some believe it was truly developed in Germany in the 's. They are characterized by a short and wide body with a rounded shape. For a small rabbit breed, they have a strong musculature and their head is relatively big when compared to the rest of their body.
They have a rounded tip, but are not as long as some lop rabbit breeds. The cat of the Mini Lop is dense, soft and of medium length.
They have quite a large proportion of guard hairs, the hairs which make up their outer coat. A wide range of colors is accepted when showing Mini Lop in rabbit shows, which can be in either solid or patched patterns. Their body weight should vary between 2. Even among the small dwarf rabbit breeds, the Netherland Dwarf rabbit is particularly diminutive.
Their body weight weighs from around 0. Despite this compact size, they are strong and muscular , allowing for great flexibility in their movements. Their head is also large in relation to the rest of their body, but they have a very short neck. Unlike the lop breeds, their ears are small and stand erect. Their fur is shiny and soft, making them particularly popular lap pets. As their name suggests, this rabbit breed's origins lie in the Netherlands. The specimens we know today may differ greatly from their ancestors which were developed at the beginning of the 20th century.
After export to other countries they were particularly popular in England , these small lagomorphs underwent numerous cross-breeding programs to obtain their small stature and to vary the color of their coat. We should not confuse them with the similarly named Dutch rabbit. This is a medium sized rabbit which, perhaps confusingly, has its origins in England. The Columbia Basic pygmy rabbit is one of the smallest of all dwarf or toy rabbit breeds. Compared to other breeds they have a higher risk of developing malocclusion.
The Holland Lop is the smallest rabbit breed with lop ears. Holland Lops come in most colors and patterns. They are known for having terrific personalities and are a very popular choice for a pet. They are known for not enjoying too much handling, so they are a better choice for families with older children.
They do tend to chew more than some other breeds, so they'll need lots of enrichment items to keep them happy. They also tend to need more exercise and room to move about than other small breeds. They have very thick, long fur on their bodies and will need a lot of grooming as well as a specific diet to keep their coat healthy. They come in most colors and patterns. Despite their grooming needs, they are not difficult to care for and can make a great calm pet with a very distinctive look.
They are known for being good with children and have a reputation for never, or rarely, biting. They don't need a great deal of room or extra exercise. They do have a risk of wool block if they're not groomed properly. They have thick, medium-length fur and get their name from the "mane" formed by the fur around their head. The rest of the fur on their body is shorter and not as dense as the mane.
They come in many colors although only two are recognized as a breed standard which are REW red eye white and tortoiseshell. They do require some extra grooming to care for their mane and they will molt their coats a few times a year.
They are at a higher risk of malocclusion , hairballs, and digestive and respiratory health conditions. Lionheads have a reputation for being very affectionate, love playing and handling, and are a popular pet choice. The breed gets its name from its "rex" coat which has a velvety feel to it. They are a popular pet choice because of their incredibly soft and plush fur that comes in many colors.
They also have docile, friendly temperaments and make pleasant companions. They may not be a good choice for very small children as they don't enjoy being held tightly and do better with children old enough to respect their space. Short haired dwarf breeds will require a weekly grooming with a bristle brush. Long haired breeds will require more frequent grooming with a slicker brush and steel comb. Long haired rabbits can also develop mats.
Their nails will require regular clipping. Your vet will assist you with tooth trimming, a must for dwarf breeds. Rabbits have sensitive digestive systems that require a diet high in fiber. A proper diet includes quality commercial pellets, daily servings of quality hay, fresh water, and fresh greens. Favorite rabbit foods include salad greens, parsley, carrots with the tops , celery, broccoli, and radish tops. Remember that food quantity guidelines for larger rabbits need to be scaled down for dwarf rabbits.
Rabbits also love to chew, so provide them with commercial chew sticks and apple, willow, or aspen branches. Is a dwarf bunny the right rabbit for you? Very small dwarf rabbits are not generally recommended for households with young children. They are delicate and can become frightened or injured with improper handling.
Dwarf rabbits are also not recommended if you plan on keeping your rabbit outside. Remember that many rabbit experts recommend keeping your bunny indoor-only. Dwarf rabbits are especially sensitive to extreme outdoor conditions. The most important thing to keep in mind when considering a dwarf rabbit is dental problems. Tiny rabbits with babylike faces are prone to dental malocclusion.
Without proper veterinary care, dwarf rabbits can face a lifetime of malnutrition and pain due to misaligned and overgrown teeth. These smaller breeds include the Dutch rabbit, the Silver rabbit, the standard Chinchilla rabbit, and the English Angora if you like your bunnies fluffy! Also, I never knew that this type of pet is prone to have dental problems. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Squeaks and Nibbles. Home Pet Rabbits Dwarf Rabbits.
Pet Rabbits. Share on Facebook. Bunny Standing Up. Why Is My Bunny Shaking? Please enter your comment! Please enter your name here. You have entered an incorrect email address! Are Rabbits Smart? And because of the charm they possess, they have been opted by many families as pets. But then again, they come in varying breeds. While some are quite common, others are extremely rare and unique-looking.
Even so, all of them are indeed little bundles of enjoyment and fun. If you are wondering what happened to my friend and to his son after that question, well, they went home with lots of new learning. I ended up sharing with them everything I know about rabbits. If you wish to learn some of them, just give me your name and email address and I will send you an eBook via email.
Image Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]. Currently, I am the lead content curator for Coops And Cages and write exclusively for a few other pet industry magazines, blogs and columns. I had one named sora and at about 3 months old he was bigger than my cousins 2 year old black rabbit. Not a species that should be on here really.
Mine hopped over my 2 foot tall fence and they need a lot of space and cleaning them is a blimmin difficult task. Grooming is the worst too. If they were not groomed from day one you may as well be prepared for lots of vet visits and bills..
Phred would have to be put under just to groom her she hated it so much. We have a mini satin and she weighs a whopping 2 lbs 8 oz! We have a lion head dwarf … he has such a unique personality, is very lovable , was easy to train..
He has proven to be a positive emotional support to our son … wish we would of thought of getting a rabbit years ago! What a wonderful pet this little guy has turned out to be.
Even brighter than our dogs which were terrified of him. He dominated our entire back yard and an amazing architect digging dirt from a tunnel and then moving all of it into his domed dog house. How long do they live, temperatures for each species and if you have any videos and photos, that would be terrific.
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