The decorative Dutch breed is one of the most popular in the world due to its miniature size and variety of animal colors. The Netherland Dwarf rabbit is loved for its playful, friendly, inquisitive behavior, affection for its owner, affectionate and non-aggressive disposition. The little rabbit, which is not capricious in care and maintenance, is kept exclusively as a pet.
History of origin
The history of the origin of the Dutch dwarf breed is difficult to understand; there is not enough information.The formation of the breed began in the 1800s, when the British were breeding Danish rabbits. Due to genetic mutations, Danish rodents have acquired an unusual appearance: a white fur coat, a red iris, a muscular body, and a soft and fluffy coat. These individuals were called Polish.
Mutant rabbits continued to be subjected to selective experiments until World War II. During wartime, a unique population was on the verge of extinction. But after the war, the Danish breed was restored, and breeders began experimenting again.
The result of the experiments was the presentation of Dutch rabbits at the Amsterdam Exhibition in 1947, from which the decorative Dutch dwarf breed was later obtained.
Description of the breed of dwarf rabbits
Netherland rabbits are small, cute, their body weight does not exceed 1.3-1.5 kg. External characteristics according to breed standard:
- stocky build, with well-developed muscles, cylindrical body shape;
- head oval, small;
- the neck is not visible;
- the nose is slightly flattened;
- the hind legs are strong, sinewy, much longer than the front ones;
- the coat is dense, soft, shiny, hairs are of medium length;
- The colors are varied, but the most common are solid, tan, agouti, and shaded.
Himalayan, chocolate, red, sable and silver colors of the Netherland rabbit are popular. The dwarf rabbit is playful and friendly. This is a wonderful pet for a large family with children. Netherland rabbits enjoy human company, they enjoy communication and affection, but can show aggression, bite or hit with their paws if they are frightened or offended.Therefore, you should not get a Dutch pet if there is a small child in the family who does not yet understand that animals need to be treated tenderly and carefully, without causing pain or harm.
Like all types of rabbits, the Netherlander is shy, it takes a long time to adapt to a new habitat, it takes him several days to get used to his new owners. But after adaptation, the pet will love its owners and treat them with tenderness and trust.
Main pros and cons
The Dutch dwarf rabbit is popular because it has many advantages over other decorative breeds:
- flexible and friendly character, lack of causeless aggression;
- lack of capriciousness in care and maintenance;
- cleanliness;
- miniature size, allowing you to keep a rabbit in a city apartment;
- unpretentiousness in nutrition;
- quick training to the tray, so cleaning up after the animal does not cause problems;
- nice appearance, decorative.
There are also breed disadvantages that cannot be avoided:
- propensity to numerous diseases, including incurable ones;
- the need for large expenses on the cage, care and maintenance products;
- the need for regular cleaning of the cage due to continuous molting;
- regular checking of water and food quality;
- the pet’s habit of gnawing objects in its path (this must be taken into account when letting it run around the apartment);
- unpleasant rabbit smell;
- rodent's night activity.
Types of breed
There are two varieties of the breed: straight-eared and lop-eared Netherland rabbits. Representatives of the second variety differ from their straight-eared counterparts in having long drooping ears, which droop 2-3 months after the baby rabbit is born.Because of the drooping ears, the decorative rabbit looks like a lamb with horns from the front, which is why the breed variety is called the Dutch ram.
Externally, representatives of both varieties are similar and require the same conditions and maintenance rules. The differences are minor: lop-eared rabbit more stocky, muscular, the outlines of his muzzle are rougher, his body is more angular.
Conditions of detention and care
The room in which the Netherland rabbit is kept must be ventilated, but drafts are not allowed. The cage should be spacious (the optimal size is 150x60 cm and height 60 cm), since dwarf pets are active and playful. Every day the rabbit is taken out of the cage for a couple of hours so that it can run around and warm up.
The bottom of the cage should be made of plastic, not rods, otherwise the animal will damage its paws. The cage contains a house, a tray, a feeder and a drinking bowl. Cleanliness is maintained regularly, cleaning is carried out every week using disinfectants (but not chemicals). The feeder and drinker are cleaned and washed daily. The bars of the cage should not be covered with paint, as the pet will certainly chew on them and may be poisoned.
Dwarf rabbits do not need bathing. But you need to brush your pet regularly. If the rabbit gets dirty, wash the contaminated area of the body. If the animal is completely dirty, then it is washed in a basin with warm water, holding the ears so that they do not get wet.
Features of feeding
The basis of the diet of dwarf rabbits is hay and twigs. Vegetables are given 3-4 times a week. Compound feed is given twice a day, 40-60 g per 1 kg of animal body weight. The rabbit is treated to fruits and berries no more than 2 times a week, the daily portion is a teaspoon.Rodents eat throughout the day, but in small portions, so there should always be food in the feeder.
You should not give your dwarf pet:
- tomatoes and other nightshades, beets, onions, red cabbage;
- dairy products;
- leguminous crops;
- bakery products, sweets;
- meat, fish;
- twigs and fruits of stone fruit trees;
- ornamental plants that may be poisonous.
Do not feed your Netherland rabbit dusty food. Dust accumulates on the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, as a result the pet suffocates and dies.
Breeding conditions
Dwarf Netherland rabbits are bred in the same way as regular ones. The Dutch breed is prolific, a female rabbit brings 10-12 babies at a time, and can give birth 4-6 times during the year. Dwarf rabbits reach sexual maturity at 4 months of age, but it is better to breed them at 5 months.
The female is introduced to the male, placed next to him, and kept in the same cage for a week to two. Pregnancy in a dwarf rabbit lasts about 25 days. Before giving birth, the expectant mother becomes nervous and builds a nest. The female gives birth herself, no human help is required, and she also cares for the offspring on her own. Newborn rabbits should not be touched, otherwise the mother may abandon them due to stress. The lactation period lasts about 40 days. 2-month-old cubs are separated from their mother. From 3 months, the rabbits are placed in different cages, as sexual changes begin.
Possible diseases
Netherland Dwarf rabbits are susceptible to many diseases. The most commonly diagnosed:
- viral hemorrhagic disease;
- stasis of the digestive tract;
- coccidiosis;
- myxomatosis;
- pasteurellosis;
- urinary dermatitis.
Dwarf rabbits are given vaccines against hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis. The first comprehensive (against both diseases) vaccination is carried out when the pet reaches 45 days of age. If there is no comprehensive vaccine, then the first injection is given for myxomatosis, after 10 days - for hemorrhagic pathology. Next, the animal is vaccinated at 4.5 months, and then every 6 months. If you plan to transport a Dutch rabbit abroad, you will have to get a rabies vaccine with a note in the veterinary passport.
Where is the best place to buy a dwarf rabbit?
They buy Dutch rabbits that have reached 3-4 months of age. Select healthy, active and inquisitive individuals. You should not buy a Dutch dwarf rabbit at the market or from a dubious seller: there is a high risk of becoming the owner of a sick or outbred animal. The best option for purchasing is in a nursery, where the breeder will tell you how to care for the rabbit, provide a pedigree and all the necessary documents. You can also buy an animal at a pet store, but the seller is unlikely to provide competent advice on care rules.
