how do i tell what breed my rabbit is

5 Steps to Quickly & Easily Identify Your Rabbit’s Breed

1. Size and Weight. Gustav is a 13-pound Flemish Giant. ...
2. Fur Type. Flyback fur will lie back down immediately after being raised. ...
3. Body Type. The overall shape of a rabbit can be a strong indicator of its breed family. ...
4. Ear Style. A rabbit’s ears can clue you into the general family of its breed very easily. ...
5. Color and Markings. ...

Full Answer

How to determine your rabbit's breed?

5 Steps to Quickly & Easily Identify Your Rabbit's Breed Size and Weight. Gustav is a 13-pound Flemish Giant. ... Fur Type. Flyback fur will lie back down immediately after being raised. ... Body Type. The overall shape of a rabbit can be a strong indicator of its breed family. ... Ear Style. A rabbit's ears can clue you into the general family of its breed very easily. ... Color and Markings. ...

What is the friendliest rabbit breed?

Top Friendliest Rabbit Breeds

1. Holland Lop. Suppose you’re not so sure about rabbits as pets but still want one around because they have been declared “the third most popular pet in America” by ...
2. Dwarf Hotot. The Dwarf Hotot is a small breed of rabbit that originated in France. ...
3. Jersey Wooly. ...
4. American Fuzzy Lop. ...
5. New Zealand Rabbit Breed. ...
6. Lionhead. ...
7. Mini Rex. ...
8. English Lop. ...
9. Himalayan. ...

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What are good rabbit breeds?

Top 12 Rabbit Breeds: Complete Guide of the Best Rabbits

• American Rabbit. The American rabbit is a medium to large breed, that weighs 10-12 pounds. ...
• Belgian Hare Rabbit. ...
• Californian Rabbits. ...
• Dutch Rabbit (also called the Hollander) The Dutch rabbit is mini to small in size, weighing 4-6 pounds. ...
• English Lop. ...
• English Spot. ...
• Flemish Giant Rabbit. ...
• French Angora Rabbit. ...
• Harlequin Rabbit. ...
• Holland Lop Rabbit. ...

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How fast do rabbits really breed?

• The female should always be placed into the males cage, as opposed to the other way around, this is to eliminate distractions for the male.
• They may play together at the beginning, sometimes the doe may lie still, the male will begin to sniff her.
• The male will approach the female from behind and begin to thrust very rapidly.

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What breed is a normal rabbit?

15 Rabbit Breeds That Make Great PetsBreedSizePersonality1. Mini Rex3.5–4.5 lbsCalm and quiet2. Holland Lop2–4 lbsEnergetic and friendly3. Dutch Lop4–5.5 lbsCalm and gentle but highly sociable4. Dwarf Hotot2.5–3.5 lbsBonds well with owners and highly active11 more rows•Apr 29, 2022

Can I DNA test my rabbit?

“As far as I know, DNA testing for rabbits does not exist yet,” said Meagan Thompson of Dog-DNA.com. Until such testing becomes available, rabbit owners must rely on other methods in order to determine the breeds that make up their bunny's heritage.

What breed is a GREY rabbit?

In order from smallest to largest, you can find the Standard Chinchilla (5-7 pounds), American Chinchilla (10-12 pounds), and Giant Chinchilla (14-16 pounds). All share their characteristic earthen grey coats, and by many accounts make wonderful house pets.

What breed of rabbit is the most common?

Dutch lop. This is undoubtedly one of the most popular rabbit breeds in the world. Its popularity has everything to do with its handy size and the fact that these rabbits are good-natured and friendly. The Dutch lop dwarf must be able to move around a lot and needs toys to chew.

What breed is a black rabbit?

The miniaturized descendant of the French Lop,Holland Lops are renowned for their stout, compact bodies and naturally kind temperaments. Often found weighing less than 4 pounds, Holland Lops are among the smallest black rabbit breeds that you can find.

What breed is a brown rabbit?

Jersey Wooly Bred in the USA, the Jersey Wooly is a long-haired rabbit that has either brown, white, or gray fur. When they have a brown coat, their face will typically be darker and resemble a Siamese cat. They are very soft, but also require a lot of grooming.

What breed is my black and white bunny?

English Spot A stereotypically black and white rabbit, the English Spot sports the lithe body style of a hare. Their distinctive black shoulder markings differentiate them from the Rhinelander and Checkered Giant, two other spotted breeds.

What breed is a white rabbit with red eyes?

The highly intelligent, snow-white New Zealand White Rabbit with upstanding ears is the inspiration behind depictions of the Easter Bunny. The breed's distinctive characteristics – red eyes and dense white fur – are due to a lack of melatonin pigment, which gives animals and humans their hair and eye colour.

Are there red rabbits?

New Zealand Reds are calm, easy-going and friendly rabbits. The New Zealand Red actually originated in the United States and was bred in California around 1910 as a commercial breed for the meat and fur trade.

What is the calmest rabbit breed?

The calmest rabbit breeds are the Himalayan, the Flemish Giant, and the English Spot.

What are the top 5 rabbit breeds?

Top 10 Most Popular Rabbit Breeds#1 Holland Lop. The Holland Lop, developed in the Netherlands as a smaller version of the French Lop, sports cute floppy ears that frame their large head. ... #2 Mini Lop. ... #4 Lionhead. ... #5 French Lop. ... #6 Californian. ... #7 Dwarf Papillon. ... #8 Netherland Dwarf. ... #9 Mini Rex.More items...

What is the rarest rabbit breed?

Sumatran striped rabbits are seldom spotted, in either sense of the word. Known only from a dozen Dutch museum specimens collected in the early 20th century, plus an occasional sighting in the wild and a handful of camera trap images, the species is widely considered to be the rarest rabbit in the world.

Are there gray rabbits?

Look at the color of the rabbit. Most wild rabbits do not have the fluffy, black, gray or white fur of a domestic rabbit, but instead a grayish brown or tan flecked mixture of coarser hair.

Can bunnies be grey?

Some rabbits have a gray tone to their fur. However, rabbits also gray as they age.

What kind of rabbit is grey and white?

The American Rabbit Breeders Association recognizes seven varieties of Dutch rabbit colors, all mixed with the white markings characteristic to the Dutch. The colors are: black, blue, chinchilla, chocolate, gray, steel, and tortoise.

What are the different breeds of rabbits?

Lionhead rabbitAmerican Fuzzy LopCashmere LopRex rabbitAngora rabbitHolland LopRabbit breeds/Representative species

What are the attributes of a rabbit?

While they don’t have as extensive a history as dogs, rabbits have been bred for many attributes, including wool production, meat, and beauty standards. Of course, all rabbits are unique and have their own personality, but it can be fun to learn about what kind of breed the rabbit you adopted is..

Why are rabbits shiny?

It resulted in their fur becoming silky and shiny because of a difference in hair follicle size. These rabbits can come with many different coat colors, including spotted coats.

How long do Holland lop rabbits live?

These rabbits are bred in a very large variety of colors, including coats that are one color or patches of colors. Size: up to 4 lbs. Average lifespan: 7-14 years. Colors: A wide variety of different colors and combinations of colors. Holland lops are known to be a very friendly and active breed of rabbit.

How big do Flemish Giant rabbits get?

The average Flemish Giant will reach about 15lbs, but it’s not unusual to find Flemish Giants that weigh upwards of 20lbs. They are a very old breed of rabbit whose origins are largely unknown. These rabbits are characterized by their large, stocky build, their short dense coat, and their grey coloring.

What is the best rabbit to have as a companion?

Himalayan rabbits are known for being one of the most gentle and patient small breeds of rabbit. They rarely get territorial toward humans, and are not particularly active. Because of their small size and calm demeanor, Himalayand rabbits are often relatively easy to handle and make calm companion pets. 5. Holland Lop.

What is a Britannia rabbit?

Britannia Petite rabbits are one of the smallest recognized breeds. They are descended from the English Polish rabbits and were bred to be show rabbits and have a more refined bone structure. These tiny rabbits have and elegant arched body shape, with big bug eyes and relatively short ears. Britannia Petite rabbits are most well known for being white with red eyes, but they have also been bred to have blue eyes and have different colored coats.

Why are lilac rabbits called lilacs?

The lilac name was chosen because of the tendency for the fur to appear purple under some lighting conditions.

How many different types of body determine the breed of rabbit?

Five different types of body that determines the breed of rabbits are:

How to tell if a rabbit has rollback fur?

Now, to determine the other breed of rabbits with rollback fur, you will have to stroke your pet rabbit the same way. After you stroke your rabbit from tail to head, the rabbit fur will return to its original position but noticeably slower than a flyback fur.

What kind of hair does an Angora rabbit have?

This breed of rabbit is not very common. Let’s look into something more unique than just the type of fur. Angora rabbit breeds have long, soft and wooly kind of hair. You can quickly determine an angora rabbit breed merely by their long fur coat.

What is the third type of rabbit ear?

The third type of rabbit ear is semi lopped ears. Semi lopped ears are common for Angora rabbit breeds. Angora rabbit breeds have a long coat of fur. So any rabbit that has a long coat of hair and semi lopped ears, they belong to the angora rabbit breed. However, if your pet rabbit has partially lopped ears and has a short fur coat, ...

What breed of rabbit has long ears?

If your house pet rabbit has loppy ears, probably your rabbits are one of these breeds: Holland lop rabbits; Mini lop rabbits; English lop rabbits; French lop rabbits;

How many rabbits have short hair?

Most of the rabbits have soft and short fur. Thirty-seven of the recognized rabbits breeds have soft and short hair. Nevertheless, the fur coat of rabbits is one of the critical factors to determine the rabbit’s family.

What kind of rabbit has a fluffy fur?

It had a short, dense, and super soft fur coat. If your rabbit has such a fluffy fur coat, it is likely a rex rabbit or a mini rex rabbit.

How to tell if a bunny is single colored?

Color and Markings. For single-colored rabbits, their head is often most true to their coat color. Of all the ways to tell a rabbit’s breed, on its own color can be either the most definitive or least helpful, depending on how unique your rabbit’s coat is.

What is the shape of a rabbit?

The overall shape of a rabbit can be a strong indicator of its breed family. Rabbit breeds can be broadly classified into five body types: Compact rabbits are recognizable by their small, short bodies that can be said to resemble a bulldog. Often, their shoulders will stand shorter than their hips.

How many rabbit breeds are there?

Together, we’ll look at the most common indicators of different rabbit breeds before comparing your findings to the American Rabbit Breeders Association’s list of 49 recognized breeds. So, set yourself somewhere close to your rabbit, and let’s get started!

How much does a dwarf rabbit weigh?

Usually, these breeds will weigh under 5 pounds. Standard rabbits generally weigh anywhere from 6 to 12 pounds and constitute the majority of available breeds. Giant breeds often tip the scales in excess ...

How many rabbit breeds are there in North America?

Here, you’ll find a complete list of the 49 recognized breeds of rabbits in North America, complete with pictures and brief details.

What does it mean when a rabbit has pointed ears?

Small, pointed ears are indicative of Dwarf rabbits, or at the very least a dwarven gene in an individual rabbit. The Netherland Dwarf is the most well-known of these breeds and has been an influence in many miniaturizations of pre-existing breeds.

What is a commercial rabbit?

Commercial-type rabbits, or “meat rabbits”, are the all-rounder of the rabbit world, medium in height, weight, and proportions, with full hips and muscles. Examples include the French Lop, Harlequin, and French Angora. Cylindrical is a body type possessed by just one breed of rabbit: The Himalayan.

How to identify rabbit breed?

Markings are one way you can try to identify your rabbit’s breed. FitMum/pixabay.com

What are the different types of rabbits?

The American Rabbit Breeders Association breaks breeds up into five body type groups: semi-arch, compact, commercial, cylindrical, and full arch. Semi-arch includes breeds like the English Lop and Flemish Giant, which have a longer body and arch shape that reaches its peak at the top of the hips. Compact breeds like the Dutch, American Fuzzy Lop, and Netherland Dwarf have less slope to the arch of their back. The Californian, New Zealand, and Rex have the commercial body type, which has a full body that is a bit longer than the compact type and an arch that peaks above the hips. Only one breed is cylindrical: the Himalayan. As you might guess, the shape is straight and “tubular” with no arch. Rabbits with a full arch have a distinct arched look, and examples include the Belgian Hare and Checkered Giant.

What breed of rabbit has the largest ears?

Another obvious characteristic to help determine breed is a rabbit’s ears. Here the questions are simple: Are the ears up or down? Big or small? If the ears normally lay along the side of the head, compare your rabbit to the Mini Lop, American Fuzzy Lop, Holland Lop, English Lop, or French Lop. Either your rabbit is one of these or is a mix with one or more of these. The English Lop has the largest ears of all the breeds, while the Netherland Dwarf and Britannia Petite have the smallest.

How to tell if a bunny is a rollback or flyback?

Most of the ARBA-recognized breeds have short, smooth fur. This is likely what most people picture when they think of a rabbit. Stroke your rabbit from tail to head to determine if your furry friend has flyback, rollback, or standing fur. Flyback fur will almost immediately return to its normal position after being stroked backward. The Dutch, Himalayan, English Lop, Polish, and New Zealand are examples of flyback fur breeds. If the fur returns more slowly to its normal position, it’s called rollback fur. Dwarf Hotots, Holland Lops, Flemish Giants, and Mini Lops are some of the rollback fur breeds. The Silver Fox breed has unique standing fur. When stroked backward, the fur remains standing until brushed back into place.

What breed of rabbits have wool?

When stroked backward, the fur remains standing until brushed back into place. Rabbit breeds with long, fluffy fur have wool coats, which feels and looks distinctly different from the short, smooth coats. Wool breeds include the American Fuzzy Lop, the four types of Angora, the Jersey Wooly, and the Lionhead.

What breed of dog has special markings?

English Spots and Rhinelanders have special markings. Some breeds come in numerous colors, such as the Holland Lop and Netherland Dwarf, while others only have one recognized color, such as the Giant Angora, Californian, Florida White and Cinnamon.

How long is a Rex's fur?

The ideal length of the fur is just under an inch , but that’s a lot of plush to touch. This type of fur is an easy way to identify the Rex and Mini Rex breeds. Only three breeds have satin fur: Satin, Mini Satin, and Satin Angora.

How to tell if a rabbit is female or male?

Apply gentle pressure with a finger and thumb on either side of the opening. If the rabbit is female, you will see a slit-like structure , commonly described as a letter I. If the rabbit is male you will see a round structure, which can be described as an O.

How to tell a rabbit's sex?

To determine the sex of a rabbit, start by asking someone to help you hold the rabbit on its back so you can easily access its genital area. If you don't have someone to help you, you can try holding the rabbit on its back on a low surface by yourself, but it may be harder.

What to do if your rabbit is not confident?

If you are still not confident, you can ask your veterinary clinic for help. Take your rabbits to your local veterinarian for help if necessary.

How to check a rabbit by yourself?

If you are checking a rabbit by yourself, flip the rabbit onto his back. To do this, place your index finger between the rabbit's ears and grasp the base of the head with your thumb on one side and your other three fingers on the other. With your other hand, cradle the rump and scoop the rabbit up.

How to get a rabbit to jump off a table?

You can also lay the rabbit on a low table. Gently but firmly hold them at all times. Make sure the table is low enough that, if the rabbit squirms enough to get away, jumping off the table won't injure him.

How old do rabbits have to be to breed?

Determine the rabbit's age. If you have a litter of young rabbits, it's important to be aware they can start breeding from as young as 12 weeks. This means that it's important to separate the rabbits into same sex groups before or around 3 months of age.

How to get a bunny to turn over?

You need to clearly see the area between the rabbit's back legs, so turning the rabbit over is a basic part of doing this. Try covering the rabbit's head with a towel, and picking her up with the towel wrapped around her. Do this while sitting on the floor and then if she wriggles she won't fall and hurt herself.

What color are rabbits?

completely white, except dark brown eyes and black eyeliner. color on both ears and around the eyes, a butterfly-shaped nose marking, and spots going down the spine. The back of the rabbit is rich sepia brown, which lightens on the rabbit�s sides.

What is the best way to specify the size of your rabbit?

Weight is the best way to specify the size of your rabbit.

What kind of fur do rabbits have?

Fur type. Choose the type of fur that your rabbit has. rex (very short, dense and velvety) satin (normal length, but thinner strands, very lustrous) wool (angora; very long fur) wool and normal. normal (any rabbit that does not have rex, satin or wool fur) don't know. Back.

Do rabbits come home?

Often rabbit pets come home with little or no information given about them. This is usually the case with adopted rabbits who are typically found as strays and saved.

How to tell if a rabbit is an adult?

Look for behavior that indicates you have an adult or elderly rabbit. Adult rabbits can also show hostile mating behavior, but they are often less inquisitive of their environment. Adult rabbits tend to be active when awake and feeding, and divide their time between these activities and sleeping. When they are awake they give the impression of being alert and interactive.

How to tell a male rabbit's gender?

To identify a rabbit's gender, look between their back legs. A male rabbit has two long testicles on either side of the belly, just below the surface. A female rabbit lacks testicles and has a slit-like vulva. However, be aware the differences can be tricky to spot, so if in doubt, get a vet to check.

Why do rabbits have sore hocks?

This condition is caused by the animal's body weight pressing down on the thin skin of their hocks, causing the fur to rub away and thick skin to develop.

Why are rabbits so hard to age?

The reason rabbit's are so hard to age is that they don't have any distinguishing marks or features that change as the rabbit ages. Unlike many other animals, rabbits in young adulthood and old age can look very, very similar.

How often do rabbits nurse their mothers?

They are very small and nursed by their mother once or twice every 24 hours, usually at night.

Why do rabbits fight?

If they encounter another rabbit of the same sex, their rising hormones may cause them to squabble and fight. A young rabbit is likely to be reactive, and indulge in a lot of back paw thumping at perceived dangers.

How many years does a rabbit have?

There is no accurate formula for converting rabbit to human years. But a rough rule of thumb is to count one rabbit year as equivalent to ten human years.

Size and Weight

Fur Type

Body Type

Ear Style

Color and Markings

• Of all the ways to tell a rabbit’s breed, on its own color can be either the most definitive or least helpful, depending on how unique your rabbit’s coat is. When used in combination with the previous indicators though, color and markings can point clearly towards a specific breed. With certain breeds, such as the Checkered Giant, Thrianta, Himalay...

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Putting It All Together

Conclusion