About Dutch Rabbits

Dutch rabbits stand out with their distinctive, usually black and white patches. Most individuals are friendly and the breed is a widespread pet. It is also one of the oldest breeds of domestic rabbit, dating back to 1850 or earlier. The American Rabbit Breeders Association sets internationally recognized standards for the breed.

  1. History

    • Dutch rabbits were originally bred for their meat and fur. As the name suggests, they were first bred in Holland, and records of the breed date back to 1850. Individuals were exported to England in 1864, and now the breed is kept all over the world. Today, the Dutch rabbit is primarily a pet rabbit, popular with breeders and rabbit hobbyists.

    Characteristics

    • Weighing about 5 lbs., the Dutch rabbit is one of the smaller rabbit breeds. They have a compact, rounded body, short fur and straight, not lop, ears. Dutch rabbits are always white, with large patches of another color. They live for about 6 to 10 years when cared for properly; some individuals have lived to the age of 15 or older.

    Colors

    • Most Dutch rabbits have large black or gray and white patches. Rarer forms of the breed have various other color patches with the white. The colors ARBA recognizes are black, blue, steel, chocolate and tortoise. Rabbit clubs in some countries recognize other forms, including pale-gray, brown-gray and yellow. Most of these colors are self-explanatory. "Amber," however, is actually a soft brown shade, and "yellow" is closer to orange. Pale-gray Dutch rabbits sometimes have quite dark gray patches.

    Care

    • The needs of Dutch rabbits are little different to those of other rabbits. They need a large enclosure, a diet based primarily on hay and pellets with some supplemental fresh produce and rabbit-safe bedding, such as paper. Always get rabbits neutered unless you are a breeder. This reduces the risk of serious health problems and prevents problem behavior such as aggression. Rabbits need companionship and should be kept in pairs. Although rabbits might seem like good pets for children, they need a lot of care and do not respond well to being picked up and hugged. For these reasons, an adult should always take overall responsibility for pet rabbits. Rabbits are easy to housetrain if you plan to keep them indoors.