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16 Top Rabbit Breeds For Pets (With Pictures)

Choosing a breed of bunny is not easy when choosing what you want to be your new addition to the family. One of the problems is that they are all so cute! Not to mention there are over 60 different bunny breeds. But it’s important to note that different bunny breeds often have varying temperaments and can differ in the care they need.

Owning a bunny is a huge responsibility. They may seem like easy pets to own but they require a lot of love and attention to keep them happy and comfortable. Some rabbits are more suited for families with young children while others make great companions to older individuals.

BreedTemperamentWeightFur LengthEar TypeLife SpanGood for Young Children
AmericanQuiet, calm, lazy, “mothering”9-12 lb (4.1-5.4 kg)ShortErect8-12 yearsNo
DutchGentle, calm, sociable3.5-5.5 lb (1.6-2.5 kg)ShortErect5-8 yearsYes, if handled carefully
English AngoraGentle, curious, calm5-8 lb (2.3-3.6 kg)LongErect7-12 yearsYes
English LopCurious, friendly, energetic, playful10-11 lb (4.5-5.0 kg)ShortLop5-7 yearsNo
Flemish GiantSweet, docile, and intelligent14-25 lb (6.4-11.3 kg)ShortErect5-8 yearsYes
French AngoraFriendly and sweet7.5-10.5lb (3.4-4.8kg)LongErect7-12 yearsNo
HarlequinCurious, outgoing, and playful6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg)ShortErect5-8 yearsYes
HimalayanGentle and calm6-8 lb (2.7-3.6 kg)ShortErect5-8 yearsYes
Holland LopSweet and sociable4-6.5 lb (1.8-2.9 kg)ShortLop7-14 yearsNo
Jersey WoolyGentle, sweet, playful2.5-3.5 lb (1.1-1.6 kg)LongErect7-10 yearsYes
LionheadSweet, playful, good natured3-3.7 lbs (1.36-1.7 kg)LongErect7-10 yearsNo
Mini LopFriendly, playful, affectionate5-6 lb (2.3-2.7 kg)ShortLop5-10 yearsNo
Mini RexCalm, curious, friendly3-4.5 lb (1.4-2.0 kg)ShortErect7-10 yearsYes
Netherland DwarfShy and skittish1.1-2.5 lb (0.50-1.13 kg)ShortErect10-12 yearsNo
New ZealandAffectionate, quiet, docile9-12 lb (4.1-5.4 kg)ShortErect5-8 yearsYes
RexPlayful, intelligent, calm, affectionate6-10.5 lb (2.7-4.8 kg)ShortErect5-6 yearsYes
A summary of the top 16 breeds in alphabetical order

American Rabbit

American rabbit breed

Breed History

The American Rabbit wasn’t always the name of this rabbit breed. They were originally known as the German Blue Vienna but were renamed the American Blue Rabbit after World War I.

The American Rabbit was first developed and recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) in 1917 in California and it has been suggested that this was the first rabbit breed developed in the United States. While no-one is sure what breeds make up the American Rabbit, it has been proposed that it is a combination of the blue Vienna, Beveren, Imperial, and Flemish Giant breeds.

Shape

They have a semi arched shape and a long loin, compared to the more common round shape like the New Zealand rabbit. American rabbits are “normal” sized rather than their dwarf counterparts with females being slightly larger than males. They reach approximately 9-12 lbs (4.1-5.4 kg) at their peak body weight.

Color

American rabbit’s come in two distinct colors. White and “blue.” The white variety of American rabbit was only recognized 8 years later in 1925 and was developed by adding albino Flemish Giants into the bloodline. The blue rabbit is the original American rabbit and historically has the deepest, darkest fur of all blue and grey rabbits.

Behavior

American rabbits were originally bred for meat and fur purposes rather than pets. Because of that, these rabbits are generally calm, docile, and are laid back around humans. When raised around humans, they can be ultimate hang out buddy. If this breed isn’t raised around humans, they can become skittish and defensive around humans.

How To Care For An American Rabbit

American Rabbits are known to be one of the easier breeds to care for. They don’t require excess grooming as they have a short fur coat. As with any large bunny, they need a larger space to explore and exercise and if are going to be housed inside a play pen, they would need a large area. This breed isn’t at risk for any particular health problems, other than the usual associated with a rabbit.

The live long lives compared to other breeds of rabbit ranging from 8-12 years. They are generally best suited for people without young children and are especially good for older adults as a companion. Since these rabbits can be borderline lazy, they make great fur friends to hang out with single older adults.

Dutch Rabbit

Dutch rabbit breed

Breed History

The Dutch rabbit is one of the oldest domestic rabbit breeds and was also once the most popular rabbit breed of them all. They remain one of the top ten most popular rabbit breeds worldwide. Contrary to their name, the Dutch rabbit is not from the Netherlands, but actually from England.

Shape

They have a small, compact body with a round head. Their ears are short and erect with long back legs.

Color

There are many different types of Dutch rabbits which are all recognized by the color of their fur. However, they all have the same markings which are dark-colored ears and rears, a band of white from the top of their shoulders to their stomach, white legs, and a wedge of white fur of the front of their face.

Behavior

These bunnies are very gentle and sociable. Because of this, they should be free roam bunnies or out of their enclosure often. Too much time in their enclosure will leave them depressed and lonely, especially if they don’t have a bonded bunny with them.

How To Care For A Dutch Rabbit

Dutch rabbits are perfect first-time pets as they are low maintenance as long as they are provided with the usual bunny needs such as hay, water, food, etc. Because they are such social animals, they are perfect for couples and older adults that can look after a pet. They live for approximately 5-8 years so have a slightly shorter lifespan than other breeds.

They generally do well with young children as they have a gentle nature as long as they handled carefully.

English Angora Rabbit

English angora rabbit breed

Breed History

Originally from Turkey, the English Angora comes from the breed “Angora Wooler” which was eventually identified as two separate breeds in 1939, the English and French Angora. The Angora rabbit was originally bred for their wool because of their long fiber coat.

Shape

English Angoras are the smallest of the Angora breeds and are common as pets because of their cute puppy dog-like face or their teddy bear look. They are the only Angora breed that has from their face to their toes! English Angoras are small and compact that have a broad flat head and short ears.

Color

English Angoras come in a wide array of different colors. They can be white, chocolate, chestnut, black, blue, lilac, and even have spots on their nose and legs.

Behavior

English Angora’s are very calm and loving bunnies. Because they need regular grooming, they will grow a strong, loving bond with their human. If you also feed, play, and pet them, then you will have an inseparable bond with your bunny.

They are good with young children as they aren’t skittish in nature. They live relatively longer lives than other bunnies for 7-12 years and love their time outside of their enclosures. It would be recommended to keep your English Angora as a free roam bunny.

How To Care For An English Angora Rabbit

For those that are allergic to most pet furs, Angora rabbits do not possess the same allergy causing fur. However, because of this fur, they require a great deal of brushing to minimise any knots and matting.

Brushing should be performed regularly with a wire-bristled comb (1-2x/week) and should be sheared approximately four times a year. Because of the extra maintenance, it is not recommended to own this bunny if it is your first time.

English Angoras have a unique disposition to the health issue of fur balls. Unlike other animals, bunnies don’t have the ability to regurgitate so instead of being removed, it grows in size.

As it grows, the bunny either believes it is full and stops eating or their intestinal tract becomes completely blocked. The outcome can potentially be fatal.

Luckily, this can be prevented by regular grooming and a high fiber diet. Supplementing with pineapple chunks can also help with reducing fur ball blockages.

English Lop Rabbit

English Lop rabbit breed

Breed History

The English Lop is believed to be the first breed of lop developed by humans. It dates back to the 1900s and was developed in England. It is thought to be one of the oldest domestic bunny breeds. Later on, the English Lop was bred with other bunny breeds leading to the birth of other lop breeds.

Shape

The English lop is probably the easiest breed to distinguish from others because of their long, floppy ears which can typically measure 21-32 inches in length! It takes about 5 months for their ears to grow to full length. Because their ears are so large, they droop around their large head. Their body shape resembles a mandolin with short

Color

English Lops come in many different colors. They can be a solid color or colors broken by white. These include black, orange, blue, opal, chinchilla, albino, and blue/black torts.

Behavior

If you’re up for a bunny that is full of playful energy like a puppy, then this might be the breed for you. They are often referred to as the “dogs of the bunny world.”

Because of their friendly, playful nature, they can make great pets for families even with young children. The usual advice still applies where young children should always be supervised when playing with your bunny. They love being handled which is generally rare in most bunnies.

How To Care For An English Lop Rabbit

Due to their large, drooping ears, special attention needs to be paid to their unique disposition to ear issues. Particularly ear infections.

It’s important to check their ears regularly for excess wax that needs to be cleaned when there is a build-up. Further, their toenails should be clipped regularly so they don’t accidentally step on their ears causing injury and potentially an infection.

Their large ears and short fur coats allow them to lose more heat than other bunny breeds meaning they will do better in the heat than the cold. If you live in a cold climate, don’t house your English Lop outdoors.

If they are in freezing conditions with a properly insulated hutch, they should never be given a bowl of water as when their ears droop into the bowl, their wet ears can freeze. If the tips of their ears freeze, they can get frostbite and fall off.

The bottom of their enclosure should be solid and not wire as with all bunnies. English Lops live relatively short lives compared to other bunny breeds of 5-7 years.

Flemish Giant Rabbit

Flemsih Giant rabbit breed

Breed History

Flemish Giants didn’t get their name by accident. They are considered to be the largest breed of bunny. Originating from Belgium in 16th century, this giant bunny was originally bred for fur and meat. Due to this breed of bunny’s uniquely docile nature, they have been given the nickname the “gentle giant.”

Shape

The Flemish Giant grows to be a whopping 15 pounds on average when fully grown. However, they can grow as large as 22 pounds! They have a mandolin body shape which is well-muscled, long, and strong and typically grow to 20 inches in length.

With broad hind thighs and legs, Flemish Giants can create a powerful kick. Males have much larger heads than females.

Color

There are seven recognized colors of Flemish Giant being: black, blue, fawn, sandy, light, grey, steel grey, and white.

Behavior

Being the ‘gentle giants’ of the bunny world, they love their human interaction and play. Provide them with plenty of chew toys and human love and they will show you the same back.

If you have a backyard, you can let them play outside and even use a small dog harness and leash if you don’t want them to get too far! Their sweet, calm nature will have you lying on the floor with them giving them hugs and kisses.

How To Care For A Flemish Giant Rabbit

When handling your Flemish Giant, special attention must be paid to their spinal alignment as their big, powerful legs could fracture their spine when kicking. For them to become more tolerant of handling, they must have frequent interactions with humans.

Due to their large size, they will require more money to take care of them with a larger food budget and enclosure big enough to let them move freely.

Ideally they’d be a free roam bunny to allow them the space to stretch their legs and exercise at their pleasure. But watch out! Because of their large size and large heads, they can do some real damage to your home if it is not bunny proofed.

Flemish Giants will live a happy 5-8 years and require minimal maintenance (still a lot of work when owning a bunny) along with their docile manner. Hence, they make great bunnies for first-time bunny owners despite their large size. They also make great pets for families with children.

French Angora Rabbit

French angora rabbit bred

Breed History

The French Angora is the probably the closest lookalike to the original angora bunny. They are one of the larger Angora breeds but differ from the English Angora as it has a clean, hairless face and front feet with only small amounts of fur on the back feet. They were originally bred for meat and wool.

Shape

French Angoras have a commercial type body shape with a strong frame.

Color

French Angoras come in the same colors as the English Angora.

Behavior

These are friendly and gentle bunnies and the more time they get to socialise, the friendlier they will become!

How To Care For A French Angora Rabbit

Just like English Angoras, French Angoras are susceptible to fur balls due to their dense fur coat. This means they need regular grooming as ingesting too much fur will cause blockages inside their GI tract.

Since bunnies can’t regurgitate, this will cause problems such as not eating which can lead to more serious problems quickly.

They are great pets for couples who want to own a bunny and families with older children who know and understand the importance of handling a bunny softly. However, they are not great pets for families with young children.

French Angoras live a relatively long life of 7-12 years and will do best as a free roam bunny as most do so they have the space to play as they please.

Harlequin Rabbit

Harliquin rabbit breed

Breed History

The Harlequin bunny originates from France and was first exhibited in the 1880s and officially recognized in the United States in the 1920s. Originally, the Harlequin bunny was named the Japanese bunny but was changed during the World Wars. They are nicknamed the clown of the bunny world or the royal jester because of their color separations and markings.

Shape

Harlequins come in a commercial body shape with short fur that requires minimal brushing.

Color

The traditional Harlequins bunny comes in two subtypes of colors. These being the Japanese and Magpie colors. The Japanese Harlequins are mainly orange with mixed black, blue, brown, or lilac while Magpie variations are mainly white mixed with black, blue, brown, or lilac.

Behavior

Being such curious bunnies, they will explore every inch of your home. Make sure to have multiple litter trays around your home so your bunny has access wherever they are.

How To Care For A Harlequin Rabbit

There are no unique health issues related to the Harlequin bunny other than the usual bunny ailments to look out for. Give them plenty of water, hay, toys, and space and they will grow up being a happy and loving bunny.

They live a relatively short life compared to other breeds of 5-8 years. They are perfect for first-time bunny owners and can be okay with children if they are supervised and understand how to be gentle with a bunny.

Himalayan Rabbit

Himalayan rabbit breed

Breed History

The background of the Himalayan bunny is a bit of a mystery. With no definitive records, it is speculated their origin may be from the Himalayas as their name suggests. Himalayan bunnies are also known as Chinese, Egyptian, and Black Nose bunnies.

Shape

The Himalayan is the only bunny breed that has a cylindrical body shape. This means there is no difference in body shape or size from their front legs to their back legs. When they stretch out, their feet will still remain flat on the ground.

Color

Himalayan bunnies are always white with markings of various colors very similar to a Himalayan cat. They have dark ears, front feet, hind feet, a dark tail, and a dark nose that change color depending on the environment and the age of the bunny.

Colder weather may darken and enlarge their markings and potentially add new markings around their eyes and genitals. Whereas warmer weather may lighten and shrink markings. These markings can be blue, black, brown, or lilac.

Behavior

Himalayan bunnies are very calm and gentle and are not known to scratch and bite their humans. They don’t mind being picked up, handled, and petted, unlike other high energy bunny breeds.

How To Care For A Himalayan Rabbit

Being of small stature and having a calm nature that generally don’t scratch and bite, they make great pets for those with smaller hands such as young children. They make great companions for older adults too because of their gentle nature.

Be sure to give them plenty of room to play and stretch their legs so they can live their happiest 5-8 years with their humans.

Holland Lop Rabbit

Holland lop rabbit breed

Breed History

Holland Lops are a hybrid of the French Lop and the Netherland Dwarf. As the name suggests, the Holland Lop originates from the Netherlands in the 1950s. They are one of the most popular pet breeds in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Shape

These cute miniature bunnies are a small, compact breed with a stocky, muscular body and a broad head. Their most distinct feature are their floppy ears which are about 12cm long. Their legs are short and stubby and they have claws which aren’t used as often.

Color

Holland Lops come in six different colors. The first color is a light orange known as ‘fawn’. The second type of fur color is a mix of purple and grey. Thirdly, there is a dark brown and fourthly, a luminous brown that makes the bunny look like a squirrel. The fifth color is white and finally the rarest of them all is the dark orange color.

Behavior

Holland Lops are considered to be a very active bunny. To bring out their full personality and potential, plenty of exercise must be worked into their daily schedule. This means having them as a free roam bunny is the best option. If you have an outside yard area, then let them play outside each day to burn up their energy.

Because they are so active, give them plenty of chew toys to keep them occupied and to keep their teeth healthy. The Holland Lop is considered a friendly breed where males are less nippy than the females.

How To Care For A Holland Lop Rabbit

This breed of bunny is easy to care for and has minimal maintenance required. They only require basic grooming like other breeds of bunnies. Their diet should consist mainly of Timothy hay alongside their healthy pellets, vegetables, and fruit.

They live a long life of approximately 7-14 years and is great as a home bunny. The Holland Lop won’t do well with young children so if you do have children, it would be worth starting with a child-friendly breed such as a Flemish Giant.

Jersey Wooly Rabbit

Jersey Wooly rabbit breed

Breed History

The Jersey Wooly was developed by mixing the Netherland Dwarf and French Angora bunnies. This resulted in a small bunny with a wool coat. They were first introduced to the ARBA in 1984 so they are a relatively new breed.

Shape

They have a compact body shape with small, erect ears about 2.5 inches long. They have a small, bold head known as the ‘mug head’.

Color

The Jersey Wooly is identified in six color groups. The Agouti group consists of chestnut, chinchilla, opal, and squirrel colors. The broken group consists of any color mixed with white.

The Self group consists of black, blue, chocolate, lilac, blue-eyed white, and red-eyed white. The Shaded group consists of tortoiseshell, blue tortoiseshell, sable point, seal, Siamese sable, and smoke pearl.

The Tan Pattern group consists of black otter, blue otter, smoke pearl marten, sable marten, black silver marten, blue silver marten, chocolate silver marten, and lilac silver marten.

Finally, any other variety of group features pointed white black and pointed white blue.

Behavior

There’s a reason they have the nickname ‘no kick bunny.’ They are docile and calm and are not known to bite or be aggressive towards their handlers.

Because of this, they can make great pets for families with young children. They love to cuddle so they can also be great pets for older adults in need of a companion.

How To Care For A Jersey Wooly Rabbit

Jersey Wooly’s should be brushed regularly especially when spring starts as your bunny will start shedding fur. Be sure not to use a sharp wire brush as they can damage the bunny’s skin.

Unlike other breeds, this bunny’s fur does not need to be trimmed. They live a relatively long life of 7-10 years when looked after well.

Lionhead Rabbit

Lionhead rabbit breed
Grooty the Lionhead

Breed History

The Lionhead bunny originates from France and Belgium where they bred a Swiss Fox with a Netherland Dwarf which resulted in a genetic mutation called the “mane gene.” This gene causes wool to appear around the neck of the bunny just like a lion. Hence the name, “Lionhead.” The Lionhead bunny was accepted by the ARBA in 2013.

Shape

Lionhead’s have a compact body and erect ears around 2-3 inches long. Their mane is thick, wooly, and soft and can either be a single mane or a double mane.

The only way to distinguish between the two is when they are firstborn. A double mane Lionhead will have a V form of wool around the sides while a single mane Lionhead will look like a normal bunny at birth.

Single maned bunnies may not hold their mane for their entire life. The mane may be thin and can disappear altogether as they get older. They are usually a product of a double maned Lionhead bred with another breed of bunny.

Double maned Lionheads have thick wool around their head. They are bred by two single or two double maned Lionheads together.

Color

Lionheads come in a variety of colors. Black, chocolate, tortoise, blue, blue-eyed white, chestnut agouti, seal, silver, blue point, smoke pearl, pointed white, Siamese sable, and sable point.

Behavior

Lionhead’s are a very friendly, playful bunny. But they can be very skittish when they are frightened or don’t feel safe in their environment. They are even trainable due to their high intelligence.

They can understand when you are calling them and playing with them. Our Lionhead will come running to us when we call her when she is playing outside.

They are very sociable and love human interaction. Our bunny will come to us to be petted or just flop next to us to sleep. They are very loving especially when you show them the love they deserve and look after them well.

How To Care For A Lionhead Rabbit

Lionhead’s require some general grooming maintenance once a week to remove the fur they shed and to get rid of any matting or knots in their mane. Their fur is short so they need minimal attention but the mane is long and wispy which is prone to knotting.

They should be given plenty of space to play and roam. They are curious animals and will explore every nook and cranny of your home as they feel more comfortable.

Lionheads are so full of energy they need the time and space to play so creating a large room for them to run around or your backyard are perfect options. Our Lionhead loves playing in our front yard area as she gets to dig and zoom at her pleasure.

Because they can be skittish, they don’t make good pets with young children as children can be very excited and be all over the bunny, scaring them.

There are no unique health problems with a Lionhead. They live relatively long lives of 7-10 years especially when they have continuous social interaction from another bunny or from their humans.

Mini Lop Rabbit

Mini lop rabbit breed

Breed History

The designer breed of bunnies. A German Lop was bred with a chinchilla bunny in Germany in the 1970s and the Mini Lop was born. Their original name was the “Klein Widder” but the name was changed to the Mini Lop in 1974 and was accepted into by the ARBA in 1980.

Shape

The Mini Lop is has a compact, circular body shape making them extra cute. They are thick and heavily muscled with a broadhead. They have droopy ears that come down the side of their head making them look like they have pigtails.

Color

Mini Lops come in almost any pattern and color. But there are seven main color groups: agouti, broken, pointed white, self, shaded, ticked, and wideband.

Behavior                                            

Mini Lops are known to be the cuddliest of bunnies and are often referred to as teddy bears. They are extremely playful and friendly and with their intelligence, can be taught commands and tricks.

They can even be clicker trained. Mini Lops do best in quiet, calm environments as they can be quite skittish.

How To Care For A Mini Lop Rabbit

As they are quite skittish bunnies, they don’t make good pets for young children. They are better off with singles, couples, and families with older children. They don’t have any unique predispositions to health issues other than the usual bunny problems.

Because they are so playful, they need lots of time outside their enclosure or just being a free roam bunny. Mini Lops have an average life span of 5-10 years but they will be the most fulfilling 5-10 years you will have with a bunny with the love a Mini Lop will show you.

Mini Rex Rabbit

Mini rex rabbit breed

Breed History

The Mini Rex was created in 1984 in Florida by breeding a Black Dwarf Rex with an undersized Lynx Red bunny. They were first recognized by the ARBA in 1988. The Rex gene causes their fur to protrude outwards from their body rather than lying flat.

Shape

They are everything that a Rex bunny is but in a miniature version (see below on Rex rabbits). They have a compact body shape with a round back and muscular shoulders and midsection. Their fur texture is like velvet making them irresistible to pet and touch.

Color

Mini Rex’s come in a multitude of different colors. Here is a long list: black, blue, castor, chinchilla, chocolate, Himalayan, lilac, lynx, silver marten, opal, otter, red, sable, sable point, seal, tortoise, red-eyed white, blue-eyed white, broken (any color with white), tricolor (white with black and orange, lilac and fawn, chocolate and orange, blue and fawn), and pattern (broken colors).

Behavior

Mini Rex’s have a quiet and calm nature which makes them perfect for families with young children. They can also make great pets for couples, single adults, and older adults who want a bunny that isn’t so energetic like other breeds.

How To Care For A Mini Rex Rabbit

Because of their fur type, they should not be over groomed as you can damage their fur and skin. Instead of weekly grooming like most bunnies need, bi-weekly grooming is more than enough. Due to this, a Mini Rex is a relatively low maintenance breed.

They live relatively long lives of 7-10 years and won’t rack up much of a vet bill when they are looked after well.

Netherland Dwarf Rabbit

Netherland dwarf rabbit breed

Breed History

The Netherland Dwarf originates from Holland as its name suggests. They were created by breeding small Polish rabbits with native local rabbits in the early 20th century. The Netherland Dwarf was officially recognized by Holland in 1940 and later by the ARBA in 1969.

Shape

A Netherland Dwarf has a compact body shape with a disproportionately large head and eyes. They have small short ears on the top of their head with a round face.

Color

The Netherland Dwarf comes in a large variety of colors ranging from black, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, opal, orange, and many, many others. Safe to say, whatever color you want your bunny to be, you can find it!

Behavior

Netherland Dwarfs are rather easy to litter train since they have a tendency to use the same spot for their toilet habits and are very intelligent. They are full of energy and are playful, but can also be skittish making them generally not suited for families with young children. They also have a tendency to be stressed and nervous.

It’s important to socialize a Netherland Dwarf at a young age so they get used to human or bunny interaction so they aren’t so skittish when they grow older.

How To Care For A Netherland Dwarf Rabbit

Netherland Dwarf bunnies are more susceptible to develop malocclusion which is a condition where the jaw and mandible grow at different rates. This means their front teeth won’t connect when chewing which causes their teeth to become overgrown. They will need to be taken to the vet to have their teeth trimmed if this is the case.

Because they are such small bunnies, it is best to house them indoors. As always, it is recommended they are free roam bunnies but a large enclosure with outside playtime can also work well.

New Zealand Rabbit

New zealand rabbit

Breed History

Contrary to their name, the New Zealand rabbit actually originates from California. The reason they have the name New Zealand rabbit is likely because this breed was imported from New Zealand.

They were developed from mixed breeds of Belgium hares and Flemish Giants for fast growth. New Zealand rabbits were primarily bred for meat, testing, and their fur but they are also bred for pets.

This breed was recognized in 1916 and originally only came in red until 1917 when the white variety was created.

Shape

New Zealand rabbits have a well-rounded body shape which could be described as muscular hence their preference to be bred as meat rabbits. Females are slightly bigger than the males by a couple of pounds reaching approximately 9-12 lbs (4.1-5.4 kg) at their peak body weight making them a “normal” sized rabbit.

Color

New Zealand rabbits have five colors that are recognized by the ARBA being red, white, black, blue, and broken (any color that is mixed with white). Each color represents a different variety of the breed.

Behavior

The temperament of the New Zealand rabbit is generally docile which makes them easy to handle. Because of this, they are generally good with young children and other pets when given the time to socialize as a baby bunny. Their calm nature means they are not known to be aggressive or bite and generally loves to be held while being petted.

How To Care For A New Zealand Rabbit

This breed isn’t susceptible to any particular health problems or diseases which is an added bonus. Their lifespan is shorter than other rabbit breeds living for approximately 5-8 years.

Their short coat means they don’t need excess grooming. Due to them being “normal” sized, they need a larger enclosure than other smaller bunnies so a playpen enclosure or being free-roaming is recommended. New Zealand rabbits are likely best suited for families with young children or anyone else that would like a friendly bunny that won’t have aggressive tendencies.

Rex Rabbit

Rex rabbit breed

Breed History

The Rex bunny originated in France in 1919 from wild gray bunnies and has been continuously developed over the years. The Rex rabbit was first imported to the United States in 1924. A Rex bunny is identified by its features including weight, coloration, coat texture, and length.

Shape

Rex rabbits have a commercial-sized body shape that is well proportioned, a medium body length with well-rounded hips.

Color

Just like the Mini Rex, Rex bunnies come in almost any color imaginable.

Behavior

Rex rabbits are docile, calm animals, and usually don’t mind being picked up and petted. For this reason, they make good pets for families with young children. They are also playful and affectionate so make great pets for anyone looking for a bunny that has all the loving traits with less of the skittishness.

How To Care For A Rex Rabbit

There are no unique health dispositions in Rex rabbits and just like Mini Rex’s, they require minimal maintenance and should be groomed sparingly as excessive grooming can damage their fur and skin. They live a relatively short life of 5-6 years but those will be 5-6 years with a very affectionate, loving bunny.

They must be socialized as all bunnies should in order to flourish with their personality.

Wrapping Up

With all the different breeds of bunnies, we can understand it is a difficult choice. Especially when they are all so cute! The main things to be aware of are if you have young children and how much maintenance you are willing to put in with your bunny. That way, you can narrow down your choice to the appropriate bunny breed for your situation.

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