On the whole, this breed lacks the placid demeanor to make a friendly lap pet.īut get them used to the idea of you as a gentle friend who brings great food, and you’ll still be sure of a warm greeting at the hutch door! Do Netherland Dwarf Rabbits Bite?Įven the smallest bunnies can deliver a fierce nip if they think you’re about to hurt them, or you make a sudden and unwelcome arrival in “their” territory. However many Netherland Dwarves still retain much of the twitchiness of their wild ancestors and resist being handled. Kittens well socialised from a young age have the best chance of being calm and confident around people. They enjoy having a stash of toys to explore. In small groups and in familiar surroundings the Netherland Dwarf rabbit personality is often playful. They are very alert, energetic, and constantly on the move looking for tasty food sources. Netherland Dwarf rabbit personality is still very close to wild rabbit temperament. To a casual observer, they still look very much like a Netherland Dwarf bunny.įalse Dwarf does are also important for breeding more True Dwarf kittens, and False Dwarf bucks still make great pets.ĭepending on their parentage, it is possible for a single litter to contain Peanuts, True Dwarf and False Dwarf kittens.Īnd that’s enough genetics for now, next let’s see what your Netherland Dwarf bunny’s personality will be like… Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Temperament Dwarf Rabbits Without any Dwarf genes?Įven without the Dwarf gene, a Netherland Dwarf rabbit doesn’t suddenly become massive. Netherland Dwarf Rabbits with two Normal genes are false Dwarves. Rabbits with the Dwarf/Normal combination are true Dwarves – these are the Netherland Dwarf bunnies that are eligible for the show ring and command the most money. Sadly for them, inheriting two copies of the Dwarf gene is fatal – kittens are invariably stillborn, or die shortly birth due to abnormalities in their brain and digestive system. Rabbits with Dwarf/Dwarf genes are called Peanuts, because they barely measure two inches long at birth. So Netherland Dwarf rabbits can either inherit a matching pair of Dwarf genes (Dwarf/Dwarf), a Dwarf gene from one parent but not the other (Dwarf/Normal), or a matching pair of Normal genes (Normal/Normal). Lots of genes influence a rabbit’s size, but one has special significance – the Dwarf geneĪnd because genes come in pairs, the Dwarf gene also has an analogue, called Normal. Rabbits inherit all their genes in pairs – one half from each parent (just like we do!). Netherland Dwarf Rabbit facts – True and False Dwarfism The difference is small, and only really significant if you plan to breed baby Netherland Dwarf bunnies.īut it’s also quite interesting, so let’s go there briefly. Size and StructureĪnd these pets truly are petite – fully grown, true dwarves rarely weigh more than 2 lbs.įalse dwarves are a little longer and heavier, with ears set slightly further apart. Their short fur comes in a vast array of colors and patterns from black to opal and tortoiseshell to patchy. They have shorter ears than most rabbits, and their nose and jaw are very short so their head looks small and babyish. Their body shape is known as cobby, which means short and thickset. These rabbits are very round, and very small. Netherland Dwarf rabbits actually come in two sizes, known as true and false dwarves (more on this coming up). One Japanese Netherland Dwarf rabbit called Sora has over 13,000 followers on Instagram! Netherland Dwarf rabbits are very popular in Japan, where they fit perfectly into “kawaii”, or the culture of cuteness. Fun Facts About the Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Your rabbit needs sufficient hay, vegetables and water to keep their digestive system in good working order. Pellets are better than mixed muesli or cereal type foods which allow rabbits to pick out the sweetest and least nutritious components. And commercially prepared dry food should be limited. The majority of your rabbit’s diet should consist of a good quality hay, such as Timothy hay.
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