Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Breed Information, Varieties & Facts

Netherland dwarf bunny is a very popular rabbit breed not only in US but also around the world. These cute critters are adorable, gentle, playful and one of the favorite for pet after cats and dogs. Compared to a dog or a cat, bunnies are actually a very low-maintenance pet. They are playful, friendly, don’t make too much noise, don’t bite and scratch or chew up furniture. Netherland dwarfs are especially great as pets as they are small in size and make it very easy to take care. Anyone looking for an indoor pet cat or dog should really consider bunnies as they do make great pets. Smaller than a cat but larger than a hamster, they really make great cuddle buddies for young kids.

About the Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Breed:

Northland Dwarfs, as the name suggests were first bred in Holland. White dwarf rabbits in Holland are known as “Pol” hence the term Polish rabbit. Netherland dwarf’s origin had been widely accepted as a result of an accidental breeding of a Polish rabbit and small breed wild rabbit in the early 1900 in the Netherlands. The Northland Dwarfs breed was made popular by their small size, cute faces, cuddly bodies and fairly calm demeanor. The bunnies made their way into hearts of people in UK as early as 1940s and over the next 25 years they were already making US their homes. American Rabbit Breeders Association or ARBA, is the one entity that tracks all rabbit breeds in US and per the records, they accepted Netherland Dwarf Rabbit officially as a breed in 1969.

Netherland Dwarfs Body Size, Shape and Weight:

Netherland dwarfs have small, well-proportioned round bodies. Their bodies are super compact supported by almost equal width shoulders, midsection and hindquarters. You can easily recognize a Netherland dwarf just by noticing their round face, round head and short neck. Erect, well furred short ears and bold bright round eyes. Netherland dwarfs’ fur is soft with natural rolling back flow that makes their body look and feel more compact. Like any other breed, the male (buck) tends to be larger than the doe (female) but on average an adult buck and doe weighs 2-2.5 lbs. When breeding some breeders prefer doe that are larger than the mating buck.

Netherland Dwarfs Color Varieties:

Netherland dwarfs are grouped by five different varieties: Self, Shaded, Agouti, Tan and Any Other Variety or AOV. Below you will find a details for each variety.

Self – Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Blue-eyed White, Ruby-eyed White

Shaded – Sable Point, Siamese Sable, Siamese Smoke Pearl, Tortoise Shell

Agouti – Chestnut, Chinchilla, Lynx, Opal, Squirrel

Tan – Tans, Sable Marten, Silver Marten, Smoke Pearl Marten, Otter

Any Other Variety (AOV) – Fawn, Himalayan, Orange Steel

In general rabbits out in the wild have a limited life-span of less than three years. Domestic larger rabbit breeds live anywhere from 5-6 years if they are kept indoors and well cared for. Indoor pet Netherland dwarf rabbits can live up to 12 years in favorable living conditions, well-balanced diet and playtime/exercise. Neutered/spayed bunnies tend to live longer and are less prone to diseases. That said, if you are breeding your rabbit, excessive breeding can also shorten the doe’s lifespan and a comprehensive breeding plan is required to ensure doe has time to recover after each pregnancy. Like with any pet animal, proper care, regular vet visits, lots of play time and love can increase their life expectancy.

Netherland dwarf rabbits are social animals, they love to play and chase each other. Rabbits that live in groups or pairs are so much happier compared to those that live alone as rabbits can easily get bored, lonely and depressed. In homes where the indoor rabbits that have a lot of human interaction or play with other pets can do fine by themselves. You can have two does or even two bucks to live together. If you prefer bucks, try to get two from the same litter as they do much better and typically won’t fight.

A well-balanced bunny diet is the key to a healthy bunny. Netherland Dwarf bunnies love their food and should contain a healthy mix of pellets, hay and fresh fruits and vegetables. They should always have unlimited access to fresh timothy hay, grass, and plenty of clean water available. Pellets should be given in limited quantities (1/3 cup) else the bunny will start gaining weight that could lead to sickness or other health issues. Similarly fruit and vegetables should be offered as treats and only added to the diet once they reach adult age. Avoid fancy mixed available at the super store, they are not good for the gentle Netherland Dwarf bunnies.

Netherland dwarf rabbits are playful, intelligent and always eager to learns new tricks. You can actually litter train a bunny fairly easily, this makes them a great indoor pet. You can call them by their name and train them to do trick and simple commands like cats or dogs. Netherland dwarf bunnies are gentle, well-mannered and make great pets. Rabbits in general are great companions, they are only third behind cats and dogs.

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