When children want a pet, the choice often falls on rabbits. When purchasing, it is not just about ensuring species-appropriate husbandry. In addition, the question also arises as to which rabbit breed it should be. In the following, we will therefore introduce you to some popular rabbit breeds in more detail.
Key facts at a glance
- The Central Association of German Rabbit Breeders (ZDRK) is Germany’s largest breeding club for rabbits.
- The ZDRK currently recognizes 88 rabbit breeds in 370 different colors.
- Most of the breeds kept as pets are different types of dwarf rabbits.
- Particularly popular rabbit breeds are, for example, the dwarf ram, the lionhead and the colored dwarf.
- Very small rabbit breeds such as ermine rabbits can sometimes have health problems due to the dwarf factor.
dwarf ram
The dwarf ram is a Dutch breed of rabbit. The four-legged friends reach a weight of up to two kilograms and are considered to be particularly calm, trusting and easy to care for. Dwarf rams have medium-length fur and ears that hang down to the sides. Although the ears give them a very special look, they can also impair the hearing and the field of vision of the four-legged friends.
lionhead rabbit
The lion head rabbits from Germany are also known as lion heads. They are considered to be particularly active and can weigh up to 1.8 kilograms. They owe their name to the characteristic mane on their head. However, if this is particularly pronounced, it can impair vision and increase the risk of eye infections. Lionhead rabbits need some grooming because bedding quickly gets caught in their hair and sooner or later matting occurs.
teddy rabbit
Teddy rabbits can weigh up to 1.7 kilograms. They have a particularly fluffy coat of hair, to which they owe their name. In everyday life, it is important to pay enough attention to their coat care to avoid matting. In addition to normal teddy rabbits, there are also teddy rams with drooping ears, which are usually a bit heavier.
angora rabbit
Angora rabbits are also dwarf rabbits. However, they can weigh around 3.5 kilos. Angora rabbits are known to be curious and friendly. They have a particularly long and fluffy fur, which is very often completely white and requires a lot of care.
rex rabbit
Rex rabbits are a particularly large rabbit breed that can weigh up to 4.5 kilograms. They have thick fur that sticks out from the body, giving them a very special look. Since the eyelashes and whiskers in Rex rabbits are often deformed, their breeding is viewed critically by some animal lovers.
ermine rabbit
Weighing up to 1.5 kilograms, ermine rabbits are one of the particularly small rabbit breeds. Their characteristic appearance with rather short legs and a large head with large eyes and small ears is caused by the so-called dwarf factor. This also ensures that health problems often arise during breeding and ermine rabbits usually have a shorter life expectancy.
color dwarf
The colored dwarf is a Dutch rabbit breed that resulted from crosses between ermine and wild rabbits. Color dwarfs are also very small and weigh about 1.5 kilos. They are bred in many different colors. Color dwarfs are considered friendly and easy to care for. However, they have a very high urge to move. In addition, problems can sometimes arise with them due to the dwarf factor.