Everything began back in the early 20th century, by breeding small wild rabbits with small Polish rabbits. After several generations, the resulting animal was one of the smallest domestic rabbit breeds – the Netherland dwarf rabbit.
The breeding of the Netherland dwarf rabbit allowed for them to come in many different and wide variety of colors and patterns. They were first brought into the UK in 1948. In the 1960s and 70s, they were then imported into the USA. The ARBA accepted them as an official breed in 1969.
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Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Size and Appearance
The Netherland dwarf rabbit weighs about 1.1–2.5 pounds (0.50–1.13 kg). They have short coats and grooming is relatively easy. These rabbits have a large variety of colors that are accepted by the breed’s standards.
They have a large head with big eyes. Their faces are round and short which, combined with their small ears, gives them a rather “baby-ish” look. Their heads are rather disproportionate in comparison to their round and short bodies. These rabbits, like all dwarf rabbits, are social creatures who crave companionship, so they should be kept in pairs.
One thing that hasn’t changed is their high energy level. They need plenty of room to exercise and need to be able to burn their energy regularly. They can also be quite stubborn when they choose to be.
Netherland Dwarf Care
These small rabbits should also be given plenty of space. Even though they’re small, they need to be able to move around and burn some energy.
As already mentioned, these are active rabbits and require more exercise than most other smaller breeds. Keep this in mind if you are planning to buy or adopt Netherland dwarf as a pet. The Netherland dwarf bunnies can be kept in a cage or they can live freely in the apartment.
If you plan to keep your rabbit outside of his cage, be sure to take care of any cables and poisonous plants. The Netherland dwarf cage should be at least 25 x 25 in (60 x 60 cm). The cage must have a place for food, water, sleep, and additional space for the movements of the Netherland dwarf bunny.
It would be ideal to place a toilet in one corner (known as Litter Box). At the bottom of the cage, it is best to put straw, sawdust, or hornbeam for odor control.
It is important to put some toys in the cage so that the rabbit is not bored.
They are very clean pets, even cleaner than cats. They spend most of the time cleaning their fur and so they do not have any smell.
Netherland Dwarf Diet
Their diet is very important because they tend to have a very sensitive digestive system.
It’s imperative to make sure they’re fed proper food in the appropriate amount.
70 -80% of the daily diet should be hay. Some fruits and veggies are also okay to give in small portions.
See also: Best Hay For Rabbits.
Make sure they have a constant source of water to drink from. Fresh and clean water should ALWAYS be available in the daily Netherland dwarf diet. Water is essential for the rabbit’s health. In addition to all commonly known water benefits, it prevents Ileus.
Before buying a Netherland dwarf rabbit, you should be aware of potential health problems. As with all rabbits, they’re likely to develop dental disease if not fed the proper diet. If kept healthy, the Netherland rabbit lifespan is up to nine years.
Are Netherland Dwarf Bunnies Friendly?
These bunnies quickly became a very popular pet and exhibition breed. Mostly because of their size; however, they do not actually make good pets for children.
They can be quite skittish and even aggressive in some cases. This was a larger problem in the past, but careful breeding has reduced the risk of obtaining a rabbit with these qualities.
It is still possible though and care should be taken when considering purchasing one of these rabbits. If not socialized enough when young, they can still be fearful.
Netherland Dwarf Rabbit for Sale and Price
If you’re interested in getting one of these rabbits, make sure you do your research and go to a good breeder or reliable rescue. I will say please search for rabbit rescues in your area before buying from a breeder. However, if you have decided to buy a Netherland dwarf rabbit from an official breeder then check the list of US breeders below.
Netherland dwarfs for sale: The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) – ARBA breeders list
Netherland dwarfs for sale can also be found from breeders on the official US Netherland dwarf rabbit club (ANDRC).
You can expect to pay around $50, which is the average Netherland dwarf rabbit price and you’ll want to make sure you get a well-raised rabbit to avoid ending up with one that’s potentially aggressive.