Netherland Dwarf rabbit is one of the most popular domestic rabbit breed. It is a smaller rabbit breed and mainly raised as pets. As the name suggests, the Netherland Dwarf rabbit originated in the Netherlands.
The breed is significantly smaller than many other breeds of rabbit. Mainly because of the small body size of this breed, they are usually kept as show animals and as pets. And they are are not popular as meat or fur producing breed.
The Netherland Dwarf rabbit is very popular as pets mainly for their babyish appearance. And there are many other dwarf rabbit breeds which are derived form the Netherland Dwarfs. The Netherland Dwarfs were developed in the early 20th century.
Small Polish rabbits were bred with smaller wild rabbits for creating Netherland Dwarfs. After several generations, the resulting animal was a very small domestic rabbit available in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
Early dwarf rabbits had fearful and sometimes aggressive temperaments. But through generations of selective breeding, the modern Netherland Dwarf rabbit has become a friendly, gentle pet rabbit. Although the breed is still can retain more energetic disposition than larger breeds.
The Netherland Dwarfs were first imported into the United Kingdom in 1948. And the United States imported it’s first Netherland Dwarf rabbits in the 1960s and 1970s.
Netherland Dwarf breed was accepted by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 1969 and it is also accepted by the British Rabbit Council. Today, the Netherland Dwarf rabbit is a very popular breed as pets throughout the world.
Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Physical Characteristics
The main feature/characteristics of the Netherland Dwarf rabbit is their small size. They have a similar appearance to the Polish rabbit, but they are the smallest of all rabbits. The breed has a small compact body, short neck and a compact broad head with curved profile and a rounded face.
The coat is short and soft and the ears are small, erect, rounded at the tips and just under a quarter of an inch (5cm) in length. Their head and eyes are disproportionately large with respect to their body. They are really cute looking rabbit, they look infantile even in full adulthood.
The Netherland Dwarf rabbit crosses frequently retain some of these characteristics, depending on the breed the dwarf is crossed with. However, crosses rarely look as babyish as the purebred dwarfs and are usually somewhat larger.
The breed has short fur. They come in a variety of colors, from white to black, brown and tan, orange and dual colored with various patterns. There are also white Netherland Dwarf rabbit with blue eyes and red. However, most Netherland Dwarfs with patterns are disqualified for show.
Purebred Netherland Dwarf rabbits exist in an extensive variety of colors. The color varieties include Black, Bley, Blue, Blue-Eyed White, Broken, Chestnut, Chinchilla, Chocolate, Fawn, Himalayan, Lilac, Lynx, Opal, Orange, Otter, Ruby Eyed White, Sable Marten, Sable Point, Siamese Sable, Silver Marten, Smoke Pearl, Smoke Pearl Marten, Steel, Tan and Tortoiseshell.
Other colors exist in non-show-quality Netherland Dwarfs and in dwarf mongrel rabbits. The Netherland Dwarf is a small rabbit breed. And their average body weight is between 0.5 and 1.13 kg. Photo from Wikipedia.
Uses
The Netherland Dwarf rabbit is mainly kept as show animal and as pets. It is very popular as pets throughout the world mainly for their babyish appearance. They are too small for raising as meat and fur producing animals.
Special Notes
The first Netherland Dwarf rabbits had an aggressive temperament and were fear of humans. But through selective breeding, the modern Netherland Dwarfs are much more gentle, friendly and are of good behavior.
They are more active, energetic and skittish than many other rabbit breeds. They have same basic behavioral traits as cats or dogs. This small animals can be cute, but they require as much care as the largest breeds.
If given enough space and time, the Netherland Dwarf rabbits can make good family pets. The average lifespan of these rabbits is about 7-10 years. But they can live longer if properly cared and kept in captivity. However, review full breed profile of this rabbit breed in the chart below.
| Breed Name | Netherland Dwarf |
| Other Name | None |
| Breed Purpose | Mainly kept as show animal and as pets |
| Breed Size | Small |
| Weight | Average body weight is between 0.5 and 1.13 kg |
| Suitable for Commercial Production | No |
| Good as Pets | Yes |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Color Varieties | Purebred Netherland Dwarf rabbits exist in an extensive variety of colors. The color varieties include Black, Bley, Blue, Blue-Eyed White, Broken, Chestnut, Chinchilla, Chocolate, Fawn, Himalayan, Lilac, Lynx, Opal, Orange, Otter, Ruby Eyed White, Sable Marten, Sable Point, Siamese Sable, Silver Marten, Smoke Pearl, Smoke Pearl Marten, Steel, Tan and Tortoiseshell. Other colors exist in non-show-quality Netherland Dwarfs and in dwarf mongrel rabbits. |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country of Origin | Netherlands |
