Small rabbits, dwarf rabbits or toy rabbits are gaining popularity as pets, being one of the most popular pets for children. In addition to their charming appearance, these lagomorphs are very intelligent and fun animals capable of creating very strong bonds with their humans.
However, before adopting a rabbit as a pet, it is essential to know more about these animals in order to know the essential care they need to maintain their good health and provide a complete and balanced diet. In this sense, it is important to know the different breeds of dwarf rabbits, since each has its own physical and behavioral characteristics.
- In this Animal Expert article.
- We’ll show you the 10 most popular breeds of dwarf mini-rabbits or toys in the world.
- In addition to learning a little more about its origins and features.
- You can also enjoy very nice images of these little lagomorphs.
Mini-lop, also known as dwarf rabbit or belier, is one of the most popular dwarf rabbit breeds, although it is relatively new. Some theories claim that it is a French breed, while other hypotheses suggest that the mini-lop is a descendant of the Flemish rabbit, of Belgian origin, developed in Germany in the 1970s.
These mini rabbits are characterized by a short and wide body, with a rounded shape and a well-developed musculature, a round and wide head in relation to the size of the body and long ears, dyed and rounded at the ends.
The coat of the mini-lop is dense, smooth and medium length, with a good amount of protective hair. A wide variety of colors are accepted in the fur of these dwarf rabbits, in smooth or mixed patterns. Body weight can range from 2.5 to 3.5 kg in adult individuals and life expectancy is estimated between 5 and 7 years.
The Dutch dwarf rabbit is one of the smallest breeds of dwarf rabbits or mini rabbits, with a body weight of between 0.5 and 1 kg. Although small, its body is strong and muscular, allowing you great flexibility in your movements. Its head is large in relation to the size of the body, while the neck is very short. The ears are small, erect and have slightly rounded ends. Its fur is shiny, soft and cozy to the touch, being able to present different shades.
As its name suggests, it is a breed of dwarf rabbit native to the Netherlands. However, the specimens we know today from these mini rabbits may differ considerably from their ancestors, which developed in the early 20th century. After being exported to other countries (notably England), these small lagomorphs were subjected to numerous crosses to generate more attractive aesthetic characteristics, reduce their size and vary the color of their fur.
They should not be confused with the Dutch rabbit, which is medium-sized and native to England.
Columbia pygmy rabbit is considered the smallest type of rabbit or dwarf toy, as adults weigh just over 500 grams.
The dwarf rabbit of Angora English has become very popular for its adorable appearance and its characteristic dense fur, which covers its entire small body. Of all breeds of dwarf rabbits, the English Angora is one of the largest, since it can weigh between 2.5 kg and 4 kg, and seems particularly robust for its abundant fur.
Initially, its creation was mainly dedicated to the economic exploitation of its fur, known as “angora wool”. This long and abundant fur requires care to avoid knots, dirt buildup and the formation of hairballs in the gastrointestinal tract of the mini rabbit.
As the name suggests, the ancestors of english Angora rabbits are native to Turkey, specifically from the Angora region (now called Ankara), but the breed was born in England. There are also other types of rabbits “Angora”, classified according to their country of creation, such as the rabbit of French Angora. Not all Angora rabbits are dwarfs or small, in fact there is a giant Angora rabbit, which can weigh up to 5.5 kg in adulthood.
Continuing with the breeds of mini rabbits, we will talk about a particularly special and little known breed: Wooly jersey, or woolly rabbit. This breed was developed in the United States, specifically in New Jersey. His great success as a pet is due not only to his adorable appearance, but also to his extremely docile and affectionate personality.
In fact, in his hometown of New Jersey, Jersey Wooly is popularly known as the “rabbit that doesn’t kick” because he has a very balanced behavior and has few symptoms of aggression in rabbits, being very nice in daily treatment.
This breed of dwarf rabbit was born in the 1970s, crosses of French angora rabbits and Dutch dwarf rabbits. The swimsuit is characterized by its small and muscular body, its square head and its small erect ears that measure only 5 cm. Adult individuals of this breed of mini rabbits can weigh up to 1.5 kg and their life expectancy is estimated between 6 and 9 years.
Holland lop is another breed of dwarf rabbit native to the Netherlands. His birth is attributed to a Dutch rabbit breeder, Adrian de Cock, who performed selective breeding between the English breeds and Netherland Dwarf (Dutch dwarf) in the 1940s, getting the first Dutch lop.
Dutch dwarf rabbits can weigh between 0.9 and 1.8 kg, showing a compact and solid body, completely covered with abundant smooth and soft hairs. The head is remarkably flat, with large ears always drooping, which gives this lagomorph a very nice appearance. The breed standard accepts various colors for Dutch fur, also recognizing the bicolor and tricolor individuals of these mini rabbits.
The Britannia Petite is another breed of dwarf rabbit originating in England, coming from rabbits imported from Poland. It is one of the oldest breeds of dwarf rabbits or toys, whose development took place in the nineteenth century, mainly due to the exhibitions of great success in Europe at that time.
Its most characteristic feature is the so-called “full bow body”, very popular in rabbit shows. This means that the region from the base of the neck to the tip of its tail forms a single arc, which seen side is shaped like a quarter circle. The belly is slightly retracted, the head is wedge-shaped and the eyes are large and bulging. The ears are short, pointed and tend to be erect.
Dwarf rabbits of this breed are distinguished by their high energy and require a high dose of daily physical activity to maintain their stable behavior. Because of their small size, these rabbits don’t need a lot of space to meet their energy expenditure needs, but it’s recommended that they have an open space where they can run freely, jump and play with their families.
Lionhead, or ‘Coelho Leo’ in Portuguese, is one of the most striking breeds of dwarf rabbit. In fact, its name refers to its most characteristic feature, namely the long hair on the head, similar to a lion’s mane. However, many people lose their “mane” when they reach adulthood.
Another striking feature of these toy rabbits are their ears, which can exceed 7 cm in length, being very large in relation to the size of their body. But there are also a variety of lion heads with shorter, erect ears.
Lion-headed rabbits are among the breeds of dwarf rabbits or toys that can weigh up to 2 kg and seem particularly robust by the abundant fur that covers their body and can be of a wide variety of colors. The eyes are round and always well separated, the snout is long and the head rounded.
This can be considered a breed of ‘mixed origins’, as it originated in Belgium but eventually developed in England. Little is known of his ancestors, but it is estimated that the lion’s head we know today was influenced by crosses between the Swiss fox and the Belgian dwarf.
Mini-lop, also known as long-haired rabbit, is one of the most popular breeds of dwarf rabbits. These small lagomorphs of English origin are distinguished by a wide, compact and muscular body, with the head also wide and slightly curved profile, collapsed neck and barely visible, and large bright eyes.
However, its most striking features are the long, dense and abundant mantle, which can display various solid colors and patterns, and the large drooping ears that make the mini-lop really adorable. The precious fur of this breed of toy rabbits requires careful care to avoid the formation of knots, the accumulation of dirt in the hair and the digestive problems associated with the hairballs in the gastrointestinal tract.
We have completed our list of breeds of dwarf rabbits or mini rabbits with the dwarf Hotot or dwarf hotot, breed attributed to Ms. Eugenie Bernhard, and her name reveals her place of origin: Hotot-en-Auge, in France. Since its birth in 1902, these dwarf rabbits have gained enormous popularity around the world for their beautiful appearance and docile and very affectionate temperament.
The most characteristic features of this breed of dwarf rabbits or mini are its completely white fur and the black border that envelops its light brown eyes. This “circle” surprisingly highlights the eyes of the hotot dwarf, making them look much larger than they really are. It is also worth mentioning its small ears, which are rare in all breeds of rabbits.
Despite its small size, the dwarf hotot has a great appetite, so its guardians should take special care to avoid overweight and obesity in their rabbits.
You want some more? Although we have already shown 10 breeds of dwarf rabbits, the truth is that there are many more. That’s why, here’s another 5 breeds of mini rabbits:
If you want to read articles similar to Mini Races of Rabbits, Dwarves or Toys, we recommend that you visit our Comparisons section.