American rabbit. Californian rabbit. American fuzzy. American sable. Rabbits are wonderful and intelligent animals, but with more than 60 breeds of them in existence, we understand that narrowing down the vast amount of choices that are available is very important.
For instance, if you are interested in a giant snuggly lop-eared rabbit, you should have a basic understanding of the differences between various breeds of rabbits that have lopped ear carriage, such as the French Lop and English Lop. After all, each and every single breed is different in size, what they require, and in what their personalities are. For these reasons, we are here to help!
In the following pages of this section, we will explain the some of the distinct traits in the most popular rabbit breeds. We will go over tips regarding which ones make the best pets for small children, such as the Holland Lop. As well, we will cover which ones require the most amount of space, such as a Continental Giant ; which ones are most timid, as is the Polish rabbit or the Netherland Dwarf , and which breeds require more grooming, like a Lionhead rabbit.
If specifically marked fur patterns catch your eye, perhaps you would be interested in a Dutch rabbit. Another option may be a rabbit with fur that is velvety-soft.
In that case, a Mini- Rex breed would be right up your alley. These curiously cute bunnies are available in a wide range of color, and average about 3. Their personality makes them a great choice as a pet, or as a show animal.
In need for more information? Check out our in-depth article and learn why lionhead rabbits are great pets! Flemish Giants are notoriously one of the oldest, calmest, and largest breed of rabbit in existence.
Due to their easy-going, laid-back personalities, they are a considered as a favorite breed to have as a pet. They are dually popular in the show arenas. See our in-depth article and learn why these friendly giants are a beloved breed! Holland Lop rabbits are a small breed that have a short, stocky and almost boxy body type, somewhat resembling that of a Bulldog.
They have short, lopped ears and a pronounced tuft of fur on top of their heads. The average weight of this breed is typically plus or minus that of 3. They are available in a wide variety of colors. Due to their size and personalities, Holland Lops are very popular as show and pet rabbits. Learn why holland lops are considered to be the cutest rabbit pets!
Collectively, however, they are the largest breed in existence and can generally be found to weigh on the average of 18 — 22lbs.
They are also notorious for having very large, erect ears. Continental Giants are available in various colors, but there is a standard of 8 base colors. They are exceptionally intelligent and thrive best with high amounts of human interaction. As such, they are highly desired as pets, and their popularity is growing in the show circuits as well. Here are some of the best breeds to chose from. The Holland Lop is a relatively small breed — they weigh about 2 to 4 pounds — with a short, stocky body, according to RabbitPedia.
They are known for their sweet temperament and are relatively low maintenance. RabbitPedia says they do well with children and enjoy exercise, but they need weekly brushings for their dense coat and monthly nail trimmings, meaning they're not a pet that a small child or likely even a teenager could care for entirely on their own.
Lionhead rabbits have their name for a reason — they have a mane of longer hair around their head and neck. Though they're definitely a bit smaller than a lion, weighing an average of 3 pounds, according to LionheadRabbit.
Lionhead rabbits are well known for their affectionate and playful personalities. They enjoy lots of time outside of their cages to play with humans, making them great family pets that love to be picked up, held, and pet, according to PetGuide. Their mane does require more grooming , usually about two-to-three times a week, and once per day if they're molting during shedding season, according to PetGuide. Rex rabbits are known for their dense fur, which closely resembles the soft fur of a chinchilla, according to PetMD.
They are friendly, athletic, intelligent, and very playful, which — combined with their incredibly soft fur — makes them very popular. Mini Lops are obviously incredibly adorable, given their small size, lopped ears, and soft coat.
Though they are relatively small, their bodies are muscled, well-rounded, and "pudgy," according to PetGuide. Like most rabbits, they require weekly brushing, which might need to be more frequent during their molting months. Mini lops are known to be some of the most cuddly rabbits, and they enjoy being picked up and pet. Dutch rabbits are brown or black with characteristic white markings on their upper body and face. According to RabbitPedia, they should have an inverted "V" of white that covers their nose and muzzle and extends up in between their eyes.
They are relatively easy to groom and care for, and they are calm and enjoy being cuddled, though they do best with children who are 10 or older, RabbitPedia notes.
Californian rabbits grow to be an average of 8-and-a-half to 10 pounds, making them a pretty large rabbit, according to Rabbit Breeders. They have dark or black points on their ears, nose, and feet, making them strikingly beautiful. As a result, Californian rabbits have been bred primarily for show or meat use, but they have a very docile temperament and make great pets, according to PetGuide.
They require more socialization , with lots of time outside of their enclosure, but they will eventually become very close with their human families and more playful. Though Netherland dwarf rabbits are very small, they are actually a highly active, almost wild breed, according to RabbitPedia. They can also be stubborn and skittish , according to PetGuide, meaning they're not good pets for families or children.
Polish rabbits are on the smaller side because they carry the dwarf gene, according to PetGuide, so their average full-grown adult weight shouldn't exceed 3. Their fur is soft and much easier to maintain than some other breeds, requiring brushing about once a week or biweekly.
PetGuide does not recommend small rabbits like the Polish as a pet for small children, because smaller rabbits are easier for kids to drop and hurt. But the affectionate, calm nature makes them great for adults or families with older children. The medium-sized Thrianta rabbit is known for its striking scarlet and orange fur, according to Roy's Farm.
Another of the adorably fluffy rabbit breeds , the Jersey Wooly is the invention of a New Jersey breeder who wanted a pint-sized, wool coat breed that was easier to maintain than an Angora. The product of a breeding project involving Angoras, Chinchillas, Netherland Dwarves, and a Silver Marten, this miniaturized rabbit has a friendly disposition and comes in a wide variety of colors. They are ideal for anyone who loves the look of Angoras but is afraid of the grooming requirements.
So named for the pinkish hue of its gray coat, the Lilac has been a recognized breed by the ARBA since Initially developed for meat and fur, their beautiful coats led them to being kept as show and pet animals as well.
Capping out at 8 pounds, they make excellent pets for people who prize a shiny coat. As you might expect, the diminutive Lionhead is most easily recognized by its crested mane of fur extending from its head and chest.
A popular small breed rarely exceeding 4 pounds , it is available in ruby-eyed white or tortoiseshell coat colorations. Though not nearly as grooming intensive as the Angora, prospective owners should be prepared to do light trimming around their manes.
While certainly not a large rabbit, the Mini Lop may be better recognized as an average-sized breed — especially in comparison to the tiny Holland Lop. Their added weight approximately 2 pounds heavier than Holland Lops may contribute to their overall calmer and more sedentary demeanor. Like all other lops, they are available in a wide palette of color choices. All hail the king! This 5-pound rabbit is equipped with rich, velvety fur and a friendly disposition.
Due to their complex breeding history, the available colors for a Mini Rex continue to multiply, with hues from chocolate to Himalayan to blue-eyed white and everything in-between. Indeed, because of their characteristically aggressive attitude, many mini breeds display their same zest for life and high energy!
Renowned for their incredibly small size around 2. Perhaps the most popular multipurpose rabbit that America has ever produced, the New Zealand has been used for meat , fur, laboratory, and show purposes since its inception.
In fact, most commercial rabbit meat production today comes from the New Zealand breed. Quite easy-going, they also make fantastic house pets. Named for its resemblance to the beautiful golden coloring of Palomino horses, this rabbit breed was established in the s in Washington state.
Averaging around 11 pounds, they are said to have a pleasant disposition and be readily trainable. They are available in black, blue, chocolate, blue-eyed white, ruby-eyed white, or a broken white dappled with any of the previous colors. Unlike the Netherland Dwarf, they do not have a reputation for being quite so feisty! Once they were introduced to the U. This German-born bree d is most well known for its very specific color pattern: A white body is home to two-color markings along the sides, a streak of color down its spine, dark eye bands, and a dark snout.
A medium-sized rabbit, it is an uncommon breed in the United States. Owing to its Satin and French Angora heritage, the Satin Angora may have the most plush and luxurious coat of any rabbit breed today. Of medium size, they are prized for their wool production. Prospective owners should be prepared to potentially spend hours each week grooming, trimming, and collecting the wool from a Satin Angora.
On the smaller side of medium, most Silvers weigh only around 6 pounds. While it is one of the oldest known rabbit breeds, it is also one of the rarest to find in North America today. Their silver guard hairs distinguish their otherwise plain black, brown, or fawn-colored coats, making them instantly recognizable. The Silver Fox is one of the only known rabbit breeds whose fur will stand up rather than fly back when brushed against the grain. Though sometimes unwanted as offspring of Chinchillas, Silver Martens have dense, dark fur with white-tipped guard hairs giving them their name.
Firmly medium-sized, their distinctive coloration around the eyes, nose, and chin have given many owners reason to love them.
Weighing around a maximum of 7. Their eye-catching two-tone coats and moderate weight around 6 pounds at most have made them a popular option as a show rabbit or pet. Bred from Tans, English Spots , and Havanas, the Thrianta is distinctly pumpkin-colored — an absolute rarity among rabbits.
With a short, compact body and weight under 6 pounds, they stand out from other similarly sized rabbits due to their vibrant coats. Our first choice is the Columbia Basin Pygmy. This is not only the smallest rabbit in the world but also the rarest. They nearly became extinct in the s, but have managed to make a comeback.
They are tiny, soft, with long ears, and a tiny nose. Last, but most certainly not least, this tiny treasure has soft fur and floppy ears. Their coat comes in many different colors and patterns, plus as mentioned, they are one of the most popular rabbit breeds for pets, as mentioned to us by the team at Rabbit Spot. Big or small, feisty or gentle, and with any color you could possibly want, rabbits make excellent pets. We hope that this ultimate guide to rabbit breeds has given you plenty of help and great ideas in choosing the right rabbit for your home!
Oliver Ollie Jones — A zoologist and freelance writer living in South Australia with his partner Alex, their dog Pepper, and their cat Steve who declined to be pictured. Oliver Ollie Jones - A zoologist and freelance writer living in South Australia with his partner Alex, their dog Pepper, and their cat Steve who declined to be pictured.
Ollie, originally from the USA, holds his master's degree in wildlife biology and moved to Australia to pursue his career and passion but has found a new love for working online and writing about animals of all types.
Skip to content. Nov 03 Oliver Jones. American Rabbits 2. American Chinchilla Rabbits 3. American Fuzzy Lop 4. American Sable 5. Argente Brun 6. Belgian Hare 7.
0コメント