DUTCH RABBITS: Characteristics and Care

The dwarf dutch rabbit is characterized by, in addition to its size, Much smaller than that of any common rabbit, it has a very characteristic coat. And it is that it has a strip, usually white, that divides its body into two parts.

Cphysical characteristics of the dwarf dutch rabbit

• Their coat color is usually black, chocolate brown, and even ash gray.
• Its period of life, giving it adequate care, can range between 8 and 10 years of life.
• Its weight reaches a minimum of 1.5 kilograms and a maximum of 2 kilos.
• Their pointed ears are small when compared to other similar breeds.
• His bulging eyes give him an expressive and peculiar touch.

To learn more about the physical traits of these small mammals, we recommend this other oneHOWTO article on How to tell if a rabbit is dwarf.

Character of the dwarf dutch rabbit or dutch rabbit

• An affable and very affectionate character as well as calm. In the case of females, they are more independent, needing, at times, their own space. Males, on the contrary, are much more sociable and always seek human contact.
• An intelligence that allows them to learn little tricks. With sweets or prizes for dwarf rabbits and, a little patience, you will be able to teach him little tricks such as, for example: lie down, come when you call him or, even, let him put on a special harness to go for a walk.

Caring for a Dutch rabbit it’s easy and it won’t take too long. If you are thinking of acquiring or adopting one as a pet for a child, it is important that first of all, you teach them that a pet or companion animal is a living being that will depend on us and never a toy. And that, as such, should be treated with love and care. To properly care for a dwarf Dutch rabbit you will have to follow the following guidelines:

Dutch rabbit feeding

• Always make available a good amount of hay. Hay is an essential element in the diet of Dutch rabbits as it helps them to digest and avoid undesirable hairballs. Sometimes these animals stop eating this food and this is a sign that must be present, since it is part of their food base. Here we explain why a rabbit does not eat hay.
• Provide cool water throughout the day to prevent dehydration. You should always have some fresh, clean water within reach.
• Offer him dry feed that, in addition to cereals, contains wild plants, dehydrated vegetables, flowers and, of course, vitamins. These feed must be purchased in stores specialized in animal care, since they are formulated to meet the real needs of each species.
• It includes some type of juicy vegetable, that is, it contains some water but has a lot of fiber. Carrots are an excellent treat.
• Avoid giving food such as lettuce in excess, a little from time to time is fine but it should not be part of their basic diet, unless you offer it something dry or dehydrated. The problem with foods that contain a lot of water is that small mammals, such as rabbits, can eat them and ingest too much water at one time, which easily leads to diarrhea. In these animals, diarrhea is dangerous because being so small they dehydrate in a short time. If this happens to your little furry, we recommend you go to the vet as soon as possible and learn more here about What to do if my rabbit has diarrhea.
• Never give leftovers or leftovers of our food as this could negatively influence your health.
• Never give wild plants that you do not know well or other foods of which you do not know the origin. If you want to offer flowers or roots from the field, make sure they are not contaminated with some type of pesticide or other harmful product.

Here you can learn more about how to feed a domestic rabbit.

Caring for rabbit hair and teeth

• Brush his hair, with a special brush, at least once a week and, especially during the change of coat (in autumn and spring). You will help them avoid knots and ingest excess hair that can form balls in their stomach.
• Make sure their incisors and nails are not excessively long. In that case, it is recommended that you take your pet to the vet for examination and proper care.
• Provide natural materials to gnaw on. In pet stores you will find gnawing toys made with 100% natural and suitable ingredients, which will help you file your teeth, preventing them from growing more than necessary. In addition, we recommend you learn more about How to take care of rabbit teeth with this other post from oneHOWTO.

These are some tips for preparing the cage, pen or house for a Dutch rabbit:

• If you are going to keep it in a cage, you must take into account its dimensions. The ideal would be to have a house or corral conditioned for rabbits, with walkways and bridges so that they can run around and play but if, due to space problems, you do not have such a possibility, keep in mind that the measures of the cage that house your small pets must be a minimum of 90 cm long by 50 wide and high.
• You should let him out of the cage several times a day, so he can stretch and run around at will. however, there should always be someone watching over it to prevent it from reaching and chewing on cables. Keep in mind that keeping an animal like this 24 hours a day and every day in a cage is totally inappropriate and will make it suffer unnecessarily, you have to have empathy and put yourself in their place.
• Cover the floor of the cage with suitable materials, shavings, pellets, straw, … Never with newspaper or other materials that contain artificial or toxic elements for the animal.
• In one corner of the cage, you can put a special tray to fulfill its needs, although if you don’t put it, it will also do so on the substrate in an area far from the area where it sleeps and has food. For this reason, we recommend putting his bed or nest and his food and water on one side and leaving the rest of space for him to move and, in one of the opposite corners, do his business.
• Keep your pet’s cage or house, always, in a place away from direct sunlight or any source of heat as well as drafts or excess humidity.
• Change the cage bed frequently. The packaging of such products usually indicates how often they need to be renewed.
• Clean the cage thoroughly every month with non-harmful products (natural soaps, vinegar, …).

We explain more about How to choose and prepare a rabbit cage in this other article.

In addition to the dwarf Dutch rabbit, there are other breeds of dwarf rabbits or small, equally adorable and ideal as pets. Among the best known and desired by all are:

• English Angora Rabbit: its long and thick coat makes it the favorite of those who love furry animals. Of course, you must bear in mind that it will require greater care regarding brushing and diet to prevent the hair from becoming an indigestible problem.
• Columbia Basin Dwarf Rabbit: when it reaches adulthood, this small specimen does not exceed a kilo and a half.
• Britannia Petite: The Britannia Petite bears some resemblance to hares albeit in a much smaller size.
• Mini lop: With a maximum weight of 2 kilos, the Mini lop is characterized by having funny ears that hang on both sides of the head.
• Lionhead: The Lionhead is one of the most peculiar breeds of dwarf rabbits. His curious mane, around his head, makes him a funny little lion.
• Dwarf hotot: The Hotot is preferred by many due to its beautiful and soft white fur and that spot, around the eye, which gives it a very peculiar appearance.

As you can see, there are many breeds of dwarf rabbits that, today, can be found. Before choosing one, it is important that you take into account the time and attention that you can dedicate to it. Remember that, as we have mentioned in the previous section, a pet is, above all, a living being and must be respected and cared for as such.

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