All about rabbits

There are now over 100 different breeds of rabbit and, if you are interested in seeing a wide range, a visit to a local rabbit show will give you a clear idea of the size and appearance of many of the breeds. One of the most important things to consider when fully grown.

Choosing at right size

Smaller rabbits such as the Dwarf Lops or the Dutch are often the best choice as a pet. Their small size makes them easy to handle, whereas the larger breeds such the British giant or Californian are much heavier

Dutch rabbit

In spite its name, this breed was developed in Britain in the late 1800s and it has very attractive markings. The front part of the body,including the legs and feet, are white and there is prominent V-shape of white fur on the face. Dutch rabbits are traditionally black and white but they are also available in other colours such as yellow ,chocolate and grey with white.

Netherland Dwarft

Netherland Dwarft rabbits were bred from crosses between Dutch and Polish rabbits and have soft , dense fur. They are fairly small,weighing just 1kg (2 ¼ lb) and have short ears which are no longer than 5cm (2in). There is a wide choice of colours,ranging from pure white wiyh red eyes to patterned varieties. It is particularly important to check the teeth of these rabbits as Netherland Dwarft rabbits are particularly prone to dental problems. In some cases, the teeth do not fit together properly which makes eating difficult.

Lops

One of the most distinctive types of rabbit is the Lop, which has large ears that hang down permanently.Other breeds of rabbit only keep their ears down when they are resting. Lops have been bred for nearly 200 years and the oldest of these breeds is the large rabbit has wide, trailing ears which can be over 60 cm (24in) long.

Dwarf Lops

Dwarf Lops are smaller than standard Lop, weighing just over 2kg (5lb). They have shorter ears and make better pets than the english Lop as they need no special care and friendly by nature.

Chasmere Dwarf Lops

The Chasmere Dwarf Lop is a cuddly-looking rabbit with longer, softer hair than similiar breeds. The coat needs regular grooming to prevent it from becoming matted

Angora

The Angora is one of the oldest of all rabbit breeds and has been kept for centuries for its wool which can be woven into clothing. However, Angoras to keep because of theirloang coats and they need special housing and grooming.

Belgian Hare

Altough it is confusingly called a hare, The attractive Belgian here is in fact a rabbit! It was given its name because of its slim shape and tall build. Thes medium-sized rabbits can weigh up to 4kg (9lb).

Rex

Rex rabbits were first bred in France in 1919 and have a soft, velvety coat. Their fur is soft because it has none of the coarser guard hairs usually found in a rabbit’s coat. These rabbits do need some special care and you will need to provide a good layer of bedding as the fur on their lower legs can wear thin on a hard floor.

Among the most popular colours are Chocolate and Orange Rexes. A young rex rabbit may seem to have a coarse coat as there are usually some guard hairs at this age, but these wiil be shed and not replaced as the rabbit grows older.

Black and Tan

Smaller and less common is the Black and Tan breed of rabbit which was bred by chance from wild and Dutch rabbits. Weighing just 2kg (4 ½ lb), it has soft, sleek fur. Other colours combined with tan, such as lilac or chocolate, are also available. These are known under separate name such as the Lilac and Tan.