Pet Rabbits
The rabbit is the most popular of all the small pets because of their friendly nature. Rabbits have proved to be very adaptable pets; they are pretty comfortable either in an outdoor rabbit hutch or as house-rabbits in the home.
All breeds of rabbit make appealing pets, although it is not a good idea to buy an adult rabbit without knowing its age. Start out with a youngster that is approximately nine or ten weeks old. At this age it is fully independent, but is still young enough to be tamed readily. Older pet rabbits that are not used to being handled are likely to be nervous and may never settle as pets. A rabbit will usually live for between six and eight years.
Before buying any rabbit, always check its health condition. The ears should be clean and clear of scabs, which can indicate ear mite infestation. The eyes should be free from discharge, as should the nose. It is also important to open the lips so you can check the incisor teeth. If these are misaligned, you will have to have them trimmed back regularly throughout the rabbit’s life. Check that the claws are not overgrown and that there are no sore patches on the underside of the hind legs. It is important to make sure that there is no sign of staining on the fur surrounding the vent, as this can indicate a digestive upset, which can be serious
Types of Pet Rabbits
Smaller Rabbit Breeds:
The Dutch – It weights up to 5 ½ lbs (2.5 kg) and has long been a popular choice. Pet owners will enjoy its friendly nature. The Dutch has a broad white area of fur encircling the front of the body, a half-colored rear and white feet. The head & ears are colored with white blaze extending down over the nose to jaw. They currently are bred in eight colors. Dark shades, such as black or blue are the preferred to the lighter shades, such as yellow.
The English – This breed is the oldest of the fancy breed, which dates back to the 1800’s. They have dark stripe running down its back to the base of its tail, with a variable pattern of spots on its sides, mostly on its hindquarters. There are several variables of color, black, blue and chocolate, plus a tortoiseshell. The ears are dark, and its muzzle, with an area of dark fur usually encircling the eyes. The English is friendly and usually make good mothers.
The Netherland Dwarf – This breed evolved from Polish during the late 1800s but did not become well known until the 1950s. In some parts of Europe it is known as the dwarf Polish. It is the smallest of today’s breed of pet rabbits. Now it’s available in a huge range of color, it has compact nose and short ears. This breed is perhaps not always as friendly as other of simlar size.
Dwarf Lop – The appeal of this breed has been enhanced by its floppy ears, which hand down the sides of its head but do not touch the ground. It is a scaled-downed version of the larger French Lop and was created during the 1950s in the Netherlands. Young dwarf lops are born with upright ears that start to trail down as they grow older. In turn, they have been bred to create the even smaller mini lop, which was first recognized for show purposes in 1994.
The Rex - The smooth, soft, sleek coat of the rex rabbit meant that it was originally very popular with furriers, but today, the rex has become a common sight at rabbit shows, and is now bred in a large rand of colors and markings. The mini rex is a smaller version of the rex itself and, at only half its weigh, tip the scales at up to 4 lbs (1.8kg). Its thin coat means that it needs snug winter quarters in temperate climates. Make sure that these pet rabbits have sufficient bedding on the floor of their rabbit cages; the fur below the hocks on the hind legs may otherwise become thin, and this can be the cause of recurring soreness, which can prove troublesome to both you and your rabbit over the course of its lifetime.
Larger Rabbit Breeds:
Flemish Giant – The traditional color of this breed is steel grey. It is know internationally and is also and is also slightly heavier, averaging 15 ½ - 17 ½ lbs (7-8kg). These pet rabbits are known to be friendly, with calm temperaments. As house pets they will settle quickly into a domestic lifestyle and can be trained to use a litter tray form an early age. They are commonly seen in a range of color from pure whit through to blue and black is available as well.
New Zealand Varieties – Several varieties of rabbit have their origins in New Zealand. The original white variety was created as a meat breed. It has well-muscled body and relatively short ears, typically weighting up to 12 lb (5.4kg). These pet rabbits grow very quickly and are capable of reaching almost half their adult weight by just ten weeks of age. They are pure white in color, with the pink eyes that confirm they are true albinos.
Belgian Hare – This slim, athletic, long-legged Belgian breed resembles a hare, but is nevertheless a rabbit. Its highly distinctive appearance caused a stir when it was first developed at the end of the 19th century. Early attempts at cross-breeding rabbits with hares always proved futile, which confirms that the Belgian hare is in fact a pure rabbit. The coat is deep chestnut color with black shading. The long body means that it requires a tall cage to enable it to sit up on its hindquarters. It si active by nature and this coupled with its sleek appearance makes it an attractive choice for a pet.
Beveren – This rabbit originated from Belgium and was developed during the 1890s. Today, the breed is larger, typically weighting up to 10lb (4.5kg), and has a distinctive mandolin-shaped body. The cat has an attractive silky texture, with individual hairs that are over 2.5 cm (1in) long. The traditional color is a pale shade of lavender. The black form was developed in 1919, followed by albinos and dark-eyed whites, and then the brown. One of the most recent additions to this group of friendly pet rabbits is the lilac, created during the 1980s. Recognizable by its white body and dark markings on the extremities, it is now becoming more common.