Did you know Dutch rabbits have a misleading name? Where do you think these adorable little bunnies come from? No, they are not from Holland. If you want to learn more about the subject and discover other curious and interesting facts about the Dutch rabbit, stay with us!
The Dutch Rabbit has been one of the most common pet rabbit breeds for many decades, as well as one of the most famous in the world. With the arrival and development of other breeds, especially those of dwarf rabbits, it lost popularity, although it is still one of the favorite breeds of rabbit enthusiasts.Continue reading this PlanèteAnimal page and find out all about the Dutch rabbit!
Origin
- Europe
- United Kingdom
Origin of the Dutch Rabbit
Despite its name, the Dutch rabbit does not come from Holland. Indeed, this breed of rabbit was born in England in 1830 from rabbits imported from Belgium for food purposes. These rabbits were the little brabançons (from the name of the former Belgian province of Brabant). It was in England that the Brabants were selected and crossbreeding between rabbits took place, which gave rise to the first Dutch rabbits, or “Dutch rabbits” in English.
This breed is currently one of the ten most popular and common breeds of rabbits among households around the world. The Dutch Rabbit was once even more popular, but today other breeds have taken the top spots on the list, leaving the Dutch at the bottom of the list, although it is still one of the most famous rabbits and the most appreciated.
Dutch Rabbit Characteristics
The Dutch rabbit is a medium-sized rabbit, but there is a differentiated breed which is the Dutch dwarf rabbit whose size is logically smaller. The Dutch rabbit weighs between 1.78 and 2.3 kilograms and its average life expectancy is between 5 and 8 years.
Its body is compact, small in size compared to its head, the hind legs are much longer than the front legs. Its head is large and round, with almond eyes of the same color as the coat, and pointed ears.
Dutch Rabbit Colors
His coat is short, always white at the base, with a mixture of another color. Depending on this color, the following types of Dutch rabbits are distinguished:
- Black: with a bluish base and dark brown eyes.
- Blue: with a grayish blue base and eyes the same shade of blue.
- Chinchilla: the latest recognized variety, with an agouti-colored coat (brown with black accents) and both pearl-white and bluish-black stripes. The eyes should preferably be brown.
- Chocolate: with a chocolate dress and brown eyes.
- Grey: called grey-brown in the UK, agouti handle with caramel colored bands at the base of the hair. The eyes are dark brown.
- Steel: black and some white parts. The eyes are dark brown.
- Tortoise: orange coat with bluish shadows on the ears and legs, dark cream base. The eyes are dark brown.
There are other varieties, only recognized in the UK, such as yellow and light grey.
Dutch rabbit character
It is no coincidence that the Dutchman is one of the most popular rabbits, as this is mainly due to his friendly and affectionate character.They are very endearing bunnies for this reason, and many consider them one of the best breeds of rabbits to have in the home.
There are slight differences in temperament between Dutch rabbits depending on whether they are male or female. Males tend to have a calmer and gentler character than females, who are more independent.
The Dutch rabbit gets along well with children as well as with other rabbits. If you have children, we recommend that you teach them to handle the rabbit very gently and carefully, because like all rabbits, they are delicate and can be injured easily. That's why you also have to be careful not to startle them, because then they could suddenly jump up and hurt themselves.
How to take care of a Dutch rabbit?
We must provide our Dutch rabbit with a suitable space to live. If we consider the cage necessary, it must be limited to the bare necessities and it must also be large in size.Also, the floor should never be gridded as this seriously damages rabbits' paws and causes calluses on their feet.
You must also pay attention to the condition of the rabbit's teeth, because they continue to grow without stopping throughout its life. That is why it is important that we give them specific toys so that they can gnaw and thus wear down their teeth, although if their diet is adequate it is not necessary to do much more, since they 'will naturally wear out, except in exceptional cases.
As for their cleanliness, it is advisable to brush them frequently. However, it is not advisable to give them a bath, as this eliminates the oily layer that protects them and isolates them from temperatures and external agents that can be irritating to their skin. In addition, in winter or in a draft, if they are wet, they often get seriously ill.
Dutch Rabbit Feeding
Rabbits must be given an all-vegetable diet because they are herbivorous animals. This is why their diet should consist mainly of hay along with fresh vegetables and some occasional fruit.
The most beneficial foods for their he alth are, in moderation in all cases, parsley, carrot leaves, lettuce or spinach. It is important to provide them with green leafy vegetables as these contain calcium and vitamin C which are very important for their he alth. On the other hand, we detail in this other article which foods are prohibited for rabbits.
Rabbit feeding should always be accompanied by proper hydration, so it's vital that your Dutch rabbit has access to fresh, clean water at all times.
Dutch Rabbit He alth
The Dutch Rabbit is not a particularly delicate or sickly breed, however, like all rabbits, they are very prone to bone fractures when faced with blows or overexertion. Some of these injuries are particularly serious, such as those affecting the spine, because in these cases they can cause paralysis. To avoid this, it is essential that we avoid falls and blows at all costs.
It is also important to keep in mind that if our rabbit does not wear his teeth properly, he can suffer from severe pain, malformations as well as significant discomfort. We must therefore frequently check the rabbit's mouth, going to the veterinarian in the face of any alarming sign.
If our Dutch rabbit shows symptoms of illness such as fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, lack of thirst or sudden aggression, it is very important to go to the veterinarian because his life could be in danger.Also, we must follow his vaccination schedule and keep him wormed to avoid viral and bacterial infections, some of which are fatal, such as myxomatosis.
Adopt a Dutch Rabbit
Before adopting a pet, it is important that we assess their needs, be critical of ourselves, and see if we are capable of caring for them properly.
If you decide to adopt a rabbit, you must take into account that it is a very special animal, because although it is very affectionate and tender, in addition to being adorable , he can be furtive and fearful, especially if he is not used to contact with humans.
Nowadays, there are many animal associations and SPAs that have rabbits for adoption. We recommend visiting the ones near you, as you may find a Dutch Rabbit looking for a new home.
Dutch Rabbit Pictures
