Rabbit Breeds
Rabbit Ancestry
All domesticated rabbits descend from the European Rabbit, although over the last couple of hundred years many different breeds of domestic rabbits have been developed. There are many different sizes, colours and shapes, ears that are floppy or rabbits with ears that stick up.
Some of the most common breeds are shown below with some details about each one. The best place to find out information about particular rabbits is your local rescue centre. Visit them to have a look at different sizes and breeds of rabbits, they will be able to tell you about the characteristics and personalities of each rabbit that they have. Many pet rabbits are a mix of breeds.
Lop Rabbits
The lop type of rabbit has long floppy ears. The biggest Lop rabbits, such as the French Lop can grow very big, up to nearly 7 kg. The English Lop is not quite as big, but has very long ears, up to 50 cm long. There are smaller breeds of Lop rabbit, such as the Dwarf Lop and Mini Lop. They are a good looking, gentle and friendly breed, and come in many colours.
Dutch Rabbits
Dutch rabbits have very distinctive colour markings. The front of the head, front section of the body and part of the back feet are white, while the sides of the head, ears, and rear half of the body are coloured. The coloured parts are usually the same colour, with black or blue being the most common. They are also friendly rabbits, and can grow up to 2.5 kg.
English Rabbits
English rabbits, also known as the English Spot are a very easy breed to recognise as they have very distinctive markings. Mostly white, they have a butterfly marking on the nose, colouring around the eyes and along the spine, and coloured spots down each side. These are gentle and friendly, but very active rabbits that need lots of exercise, and grow up to 3.6 kg.
Angora Rabbits
Angora rabbits have a very long, soft coat (or wool) and require more care than most other rabbits, with regular brushing, cleaning and trimming required to keep the coat in good condition. There are various types of Angora, and they can grow up to between 2.5 kg to nearly 4 kg.
Pet Rabbits
The breeds listed above are some of the more common breeds, but there are many other breeds too. Many pet rabbits are not a pure breed, but a mixture. These make just as good pet rabbits as a rabbit that is a pure breed, either as house rabbits or outdoor rabbits.
The best place to find out more about the rabbit that would suit you is your local animal/rabbit shelter. Visit them and have a look at the rabbits they have, and talk to the staff about how much attention and looking after each one needs. You might find the rabbit (or rabbits!) that are perfectly matched to you.
