Netherlands pygmy rabbit: breed description and characteristics, care

Decorative Dutch breed - one of the most popular in the world due to the diminutiveness and variety of animal colors. The Dutch dwarf rabbit is loved for its playful, friendly, inquisitive behavior, affection for the owner, affectionate and non-aggressive disposition. The rabbit, which is not capricious in the care and maintenance, is kept exclusively as a pet.

History of occurrence

The history of the emergence of the Dutch dwarf breed is difficult to understand, there is not enough information. The formation of the breed began in the 1800s, when the British were engaged in the selection of Danish rabbits.Due to genetic mutations, Danish rodents acquired an unusual appearance: a white fur coat, red iris, muscular body, soft and fluffy coat. These individuals are called Polish.

Mutant rabbits continued to be subjected to selective experiments until World War II. In wartime, a unique population was on the verge of extinction. But after the war, the Danish breed was restored, the breeders began to experiment again.

The result of the experiments was the introduction in 1947 at the Amsterdam exhibition of Dutch rabbits, from which the decorative Dutch dwarf breed was later obtained.

Description of the breed of dwarf rabbits

Netherlands rabbits are small, cute, their body weight does not exceed 1.3-1.5 kg. External characteristics according to the breed standard:

stocky build, well-muscled, cylindrical torso shape;
head oval, small;
neck not visible;
slightly flattened nose;
hind legs are strong, sinewy, much longer than the front;
coat dense, delicate, shiny, hairs of medium length;
colors are varied, but the most common are solid, tan, agouti, shaded.

Himalayan, chocolate, red, sable and silver colors of the Dutch rabbit are popular. The dwarf rabbit is playful, friendly. This is a wonderful pet for a large family with children. Dutch rabbits like human society, they enjoy communication and caresses, but they can show aggression, bite or hit with their paws if they are scared or offended. Therefore, a Dutch pet should not be started if the family has a small child who does not yet understand that animals must be treated gently and carefully, without causing pain and harm.

Like all types of rabbits, the Dutchman is shy, it takes a long time to adapt to a new habitat, it takes him several days to get used to new owners. But after adaptation, the pet will love the owners, will treat them with tenderness and trust.

Main pros and cons

The Dutch Dwarf Rabbit is popular because it has many advantages over other decorative breeds:

compliant and friendly character, lack of unreasonable aggression;
non-capriciousness in care and maintenance;
cleanliness;
miniature size to keep a rabbit in a city apartment;
non-capricious eating;
Quick litter box training, making cleaning up after pets a breeze;
good looking, decorative.

There are also breed faults that cannot be avoided:

prone to numerous diseases, including incurable ones;
the need for large expenditures on the cage, care and maintenance;
the need for regular cleaning of the cage due to continuous molting;
regular water and food quality checks;
pet's habit of chewing on objects that get in the way (this must be taken into account when letting him run around the apartment);
bad rabbit smell;
rodent night activity.

Breed types

There are two varieties of the breed: straight-eared and lop-eared Dutch rabbit. Representatives of the second variety differ from straight-eared counterparts in long drooping ears, which fall 2-3 months after the baby rabbit is born.Because of the lowered ears, the decorative rabbit looks like a lamb with horns in front, so the breed variety is called the Dutch ram.

Outwardly, representatives of both varieties are similar, require the same conditions and rules of keeping. The differences are minor: the lop-eared rabbit is more stocky, muscular, the outlines of its muzzle are rougher, the body is more angular.

Conditions and care

The room in which the Dutch rabbit is kept must be ventilated, but drafts are unacceptable. The cage should be spacious (the optimal size is 150 × 60 cm and a height of 60 cm), since dwarf pets are active and playful. Every day, for a couple of hours, the rabbit is taken out of the cage so that it runs and stretches.

The bottom of the cage must be made of plastic, not rods, otherwise the animal will hurt its paws. A house, a tray, a feeder and a drinker are placed in the cage.Cleanliness is maintained regularly, weekly cleaning is carried out using disinfectants (but not chemicals). The feeder and drinker are cleaned and washed daily. The bars of the cage should not be covered with paint, as the pet will certainly gnaw on them, and may be poisoned.

Dwarf rabbits do not need bathing. But you need to brush your pet regularly. If the rabbit is dirty, wash the contaminated area of \u200b\u200bthe body. If the animal is completely soiled, then it is washed in a bowl of warm water, holding the ears so that they do not get wet.

Feeding Features

The basis of the diet of dwarf rabbits is hay and twigs. Vegetables are given 3-4 times a week. Compound feed is given twice a day, 40-60 g per 1 kg of animal body weight. The rabbit is treated with fruits and berries no more than 2 times a week, the daily portion is a teaspoon. Rodents eat throughout the day, but in small portions, so there should always be food in the feeder.

Do not give to a dwarf pet:

tomatoes and other nightshades, food beets, onions, red cabbage;
dairy products;
grain legumes;
baked goods, sweets;
meat, fish;
twigs and fruits of stone fruit trees;
ornamental plants that may be poisonous.

Don't feed the Dutch rabbit dusty food. Dust accumulates on the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs, as a result, the pet suffocates and dies.

Reproduction conditions

Dwarf Dutch rabbits are propagated in the same way as ordinary ones. The Dutch breed is fertile, the rabbit brings 10-12 cubs at a time, and during the year she can give birth 4-6 times. Dwarf rabbits reach puberty by 4 months of life, but they are best to happen at 5 months.

The female is introduced to the male, placed next to him, kept in one cage from a week to two. Pregnancy in a dwarf rabbit lasts about 25 days. Before giving birth, the expectant mother becomes nervous, builds a nest. The female gives birth herself, no human help is required, she also takes care of the offspring on her own. Newborn rabbits should not be touched, otherwise the mother may refuse them due to stress. The lactation period lasts about 40 days. 2-month-old cubs are weaned from their mother. From 3 months old, rabbits are settled in different cages, as sexual changes begin.

Possible diseases

Netherlands dwarf rabbits are prone to many diseases. Most commonly diagnosed:

viral hemorrhagic disease;
gastrointestinal stasis;
coccidiosis;
myxomatosis;
pasteurellosis;
urinary dermatitis.

Dwarf rabbits are vaccinated against hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis. The first complex (for both diseases) vaccination is carried out when the pet reaches 45 days of age. If there is no complex vaccine, then the first injection is given from myxomatosis, after 10 days - from hemorrhagic pathology. Further, the animal is vaccinated at 4.5 months, and then every 6 months. If you plan to transport a Dutch rabbit abroad, you will have to supply a rabies vaccine marked in the veterinary passport.

Where is the best place to buy a pygmy rabbit

Buy Dutch rabbits that have reached 3-4 months of age. Choose he althy, active and inquisitive individuals. You should not buy a Dutch dwarf rabbit in the market or from the hands of a dubious seller: there is a high risk of becoming the owner of a sick or outbred animal. The best purchase option is in a nursery, where the breeder will tell you how to care for a rabbit, provide a pedigree and all the necessary documents.You can also buy an animal in a pet store, but the seller is unlikely to competently advise on the rules of care.