The Beginners Guide to Learning about the best house bunny pets
- It can be so exciting to get a new bunny. Once you make that decision to get the bunny the next important decision is which kind of bunny is the best to have in your home, and around your kids.
- Below we will tell you about 10 amazing bunnies to consider and a little bit about each one.
Mini Rex bunny
- Mini Rex rabbits are a small, compact breed that has a very plush undercoat and extremely soft, velvety feeling fur, which comes in a wide variety of colors.
- They Weigh 3.5 – 4.5 lbs
- Mini Rex Rabbits are often livelier than their larger counterparts. However, they are still as friendly and gentle as their larger cousins. Mini Rex rabbits love to jump and play. They have bouts of energy and are extremely playful
- The life span for this rabbit is up to 10 years, perhaps longer but the life span of any rabbit is dependent on the care and diet given.
- Mini Rex, like other rabbits, need good food and a safe, enriched environment to thrive. The adult rabbit diet is mainly fresh, loose grass hay. Hay is needed for the fiber, which keeps their gastrointestinal tract moving properly and also helps wear down their constantly growing teeth.
- The small, round Mini Rex is cute enough on its own, but when you run your hand over their velvet-like coat, you’ll be in love. … Many rabbits do not enjoy being held or cuddled and may bite or kick to get away, and rabbits can easily be seriously injured in such a struggle. See our article on how to bond with your bunny.
Holland Lop
- Holland Lops are miniature rabbits. They are muscular, relative to their compact stature, and have a wide variety of coat colours. Their lopped ears are one of their most distinctive features.
- They have a wide, yet short body. This consequently gives these rabbits a compact body shape. They pose similarly to a cat, resting mostly on their hind legs and only slightly on their two front feet. The Holland Lop’s head is broad with a distinct puff of fur at the back, that has become known as the “crown”
- Individual rabbit personalities vary, but the majority of Holland Lops do share some personality traits. Holland Lops as a breed are friendly, and male Holland Lops might be friendlier than females. … Does are a little shyer and can go through a nippy stage when they want to be bred, but this passes with age
- They weigh about 2 -4 lbs
- The average lifespan for a Holland Lop is 6 to 8 years. The oldest verified Holland Lop was 15 years old, though there are claims of 17 years.
- It is commonly known that neutered bucks make for less aggressive companions (although admittedly Holland Lops are not known be aggressive at all, so neutering the buck may not do much).
Dwarf Hotot
- A Dwarf Hotot has the short, erect ears and compact body of a Netherland Dwarf, but its dark eye band on a field of now fur is distinctive. The Blanc de Hotot shares the Dwarf’s color scheme, but it is a much bigger rabbit
- Dwarf Hotot Rabbits are some of the most striking breeds of bunnies. … Dwarf Hotot Rabbits, sometimes called the “eye of the fancy” for their distinctive markings, are known for their ridiculous levels of cuteness. From their little size to their dark, eye-shadow coloring, they are distinct and unique among bunnies.
- They weigh 3- 8 lbs
- They cannot be shown for competitions like their cousins, but otherwise they make great pets, same as their show-quality cousins. The Dwarf Hotot is friendly and suited for life as a pet.
Mini Satin
- The Mini Satin Rabbit has a compact body that weighs anywhere from 3-4.5 lbs once it is fully grown. It is short and well-rounded when viewed from any direction and has a round, full head. They come in many colors.
- Mini Satin Rabbit’s coat has a beautiful, shiny fur that is appealing, especially at shows. It does not need much maintenance in order to keep its fur in tip-top shape; a bi-weekly brushing with a slicker brush is sufficient
- They weigh about 3 – 4.5 lbs
- The average lifespan of a Mini Satin Rabbit is around 5 to 8 years and in captivity can live up to 12 years. Mini Satin Rabbits have 28 teeth and an incredible fact, a rabbit’s teeth never stop growing throughout its life
Netherland Dwarf
- The Netherland Dwarf is a breed of domestic rabbit that originated in the Netherlands. It is one of the smallest rabbit breeds. Its popularity as a pet or show rabbit may stem from its neotenic appearance.
- They weigh 1 – 2.5 lbs
- The Netherland Dwarf rabbit is a tiny bundle of energy, but this dwarf breed makes for a great pet rabbit. … When handled well, they’re friendly and docile, and are good pets
- The expected lifespan of domesticated Netherland Dwarfs is 7-10 years.
Lionhead Bunny
- Lionhead Rabbits are small bunnies with compact, rounded bodies and are considered to be a fancy breed. The distinguishing factor between Lionhead bunnies and other breeds is that this breed has a “wool mane”
- They’re generally smart, good-natured and playful, but they’re also one of the more timid domestic rabbit breeds. They can become easily frightened, and this can result in aggressive behavior. … Lionhead Rabbits are intelligent little creatures
- They weigh about 2.5 – 3.5 lbs
- Lionhead rabbits live about 4 to 7 years
Himalayan
- The Himalayan rabbit is a rare medium-sized breed of rabbit easily mistaken for the Californian rabbit. The body is white with colored points, recognized colors are black, blue, chocolate and lilac. They are one of the oldest and calmest breeds
- They weigh 2.5 – 5 lbs
- Himalayans are very calm, easygoing and are very easily handled.
- A properly cared Himalayan rabbit’s lifespan is about 7-10 years.
- Why are Himalayan rabbits black and white? Some speculate that their origin may be in the Far East as opposed to the Himalayas, as their name suggests. When Himalayans are raised in cold climates, they can exhibit black coloration of their coats, making them a phenocopy of the black rabbit.
Jersey Wooley
- The Jersey Wooly is a breed of domestic rabbit weighing about 3 pounds with a bold head and easy-care wool fur on their body. They are noted for their docile nature, and gentle disposition.
- To care for your Jersey wooly rabbit, make sure you keep it in a cage of at least 3 square feet, so it has plenty of room to move around. Inside the cage, provide at least 1 hiding place, like a cardboard box or tunnel, since rabbits like to hide from loud sounds and other things that scare them.
- The average life span of a Jersey Wooly can depend on many factors, including genetics and care. It is not uncommon for a Jersey Wooly to live 7-10+ years when properly cared for. There is a common myth that those who have had litters die sooner, but this has not been scientifically proven.
- They are kinda high maintenance to keep fluffy and clean. You need a good rabbit brush, a blow dryer is also helpful.
Harlequin
- The Harlequin is a colourful breed of rabbit originating from France. It is a breed based around the coloration and markings, rather than fur and body type
- They will weigh 6 – 9.5 lbs
- Harlequins are nicknamed the clown of the rabbits and the royal jester because of the color separations and markings.
- The average life span for the Harlequin rabbit is 5 years or more.
- harlequin rabbits are endangered. This is super sad, and we hope this will change for the better sooner than later.
Havana
- The Havana is a breed of rabbit that first appeared in the Netherlands in 1898. The breed is ancestral to several others, including the Fee de Marbourg, Perlefee and Gris Perle de Hal. Havanas are recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in five color types: chocolate, lilac, black, blue, and broken
- Havanas are known to be one of the most calmest breeds of rabbit. They make ideal pets. But are not recommended for very small children unless they are closely supervised. Havana rabbits are very affectionate and attention seeking
- They weigh about 4.5 – 6.5 lbs
- Average lifespan of the Havana rabbit is about 7 to 10 years and sometimes more if properly cared and if kept in captivity
The Last Thing You Need to Know about Your Bunny Choice.
- It is very important to know how to care for your bunny before you get one. You need to know about their food, their cage/home and so on.
- Check out our how to How To Bond With Your Bunny Rabbit, How to Potty Train a Bunny, and Keeping Rabbits as Pets Know Before You Buy.
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