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My recent post “Fluffiest Rabbit Breeds” got me into thinking that there should be an article solely to admire the friendliest rabbit breeds. Bringing the cutest pet home without knowing their temperament is just similar to judging the book by it’s cover.
So, if you are thinking of owning a pet rabbit( it’s a great idea) give this and the other article a good read to get the cutest, fluffiest and friendliest one for you. So, without further ado, let’s check out what options do we have before we get into details.
- Polish Rabbit
- Chinchilla Rabbit
- Mini Lop
- Jersey Wooly
- Lionhead
- Holland Lop
- Mini Rex
- Himalayan Rabbit
- Netherland Dwarf
- Flemish Giant
- Harlequin Rabbit
Friendliest Rabbit Breeds
1. Polish Rabbit
This domestic rabbit breed called “Polish” is believed to have originated from England, no one knows how true this belief is but the books of history call it their home. The natives of the UK call it with the said name whereas in the USA this rabbit breed is known as “Britannia Petite”.
This friendly rabbit breed is small(but larger than Netherland Dwarf) with bold eyes, full cheeks, and exceptionally short heads and ears. Polish rabbits generally have either red or blue eyes.
These domestic rabbits can not be confined to a place, they need some space in a cage and good barn facilities to live a balanced life. The cage has to be specifically made for rabbits; non-slippery and roomy.
Polish rabbits are quite delicate, they do not do well in extreme temperatures so a balanced environment is what they demand from you. The major health issues this domestic rabbit can face in their life are; fractures, urinary bladder stone, respiratory and dental issues.
Weight
2.5 to 3.5 lbs
Life Span
5 to 6 years
Typical Use
Show rabbit, pet
2. Chinchilla Rabbit
This playful, docile, and gentle domestic rabbit breed breathtakingly resembles Chinchillas, they can not be bred with Chinchillas but with rabbit breeds only. Chinchillas are extremely friendly, their friendly nature got them the recognition as “great family pets”.
Chinchilla rabbits have a semi-arched body, flyback coat, dark slate blue base color, white underbelly, and powerful legs. Like other rabbit breeds, they need grooming at least twice a day to stay healthy and look better.
Chinchilla rabbits also need a bigger cage(to stretch and roam around) and an outdoor space dedicated to recreational activities to stay sane. Most pet Chinchilla rabbit parents have confessed that they can not be kept outside in extreme temperatures.
Standard Chinchilla, American Chinchilla, and Giant Chinchilla are the only Chinchilla breeds that are recognized by the American Rabbit Breeder Association.
The Standard Chinchilla rabbits are the largest one in the Chinchilla rabbit breeds. It is usually recognized by rollback fur.
American Chinchilla rabbit is the heavyweight rabbit that is usually bred for meat and fur. The American Chinchillas make a great hardy family pet. The Giant Chinchillas is developed by crossing Chinchilla rabbit and Flemish Giant breeds so it is also fairly large. Giant Chinchillas can not be kept as a pet, they are raised for meat.
Weight
5 to 7 lbs
Life Span
6 to 12 years
Typical Use
Pet, raised for meat and fur
3. Mini Lop
Mini Lop is the cutest and the friendliest rabbit breed that has been living and entertaining us for years. The first Mini Lop that got the general public admiration was Klein Widder who performed at a rabbit show conducted in Essen, Germany.
Mini Lops are not related to Miniature Lops, Dwarf Lops, or Dwarf rabbits, the only similarity all the said rabbit breeds have got is “short compact body”. The Mini Lops are extremely playful, they do not mind playing, learning the commands, and sitting in the laps.
Well, a rounded body, wide head, thick bones, and ear are the features they get recognized by. Mini Lops can only live in a laid-back environment with older children. Like typical rabbits, they need to be kept both indoors and outdoors.
Weight
5.5 to 6.5 lbs
Life Span
7 to 14 years
Typical Use
Show rabbit, pet
4. Jersey Wooly
Here comes another friendliest and fluffiest rabbit breed, “Jersey Wooly”. Jersey Woolies originates from High Bridge, New Jersey. The docile pet was recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 1988.
In this era, Jersey Woolies are taking part in local and national shows being conducted in the United States. This Wonderful pet and exceptional show rabbit was developed by crossing French Angora and Netherland Dwarf. Jersey Woolies are fluffy as French Angora and short and compact as Netherland Dwarf.
Unlike other fluffy rabbit breeds, Jersey Woolies are low maintenance, grooming once a week is enough to keep them healthy and disease-free. They like spending most of the time indoors but good outdoor time is also needed to relax and stretch out.
The carelessly kept Jersey Woolies can face several health issues including dental disorders, uterine cancer, and bladder sludge. Despite the health issues and dramatic appearance, this no-kick bunny is cheap to raise.
Weight
2.5 to 3.5 lbs
Life Span
7 to 10 years
Typical Use
Pet, show rabbit
5. Lionhead
Lionhead is a domestic rabbit breed that produces wool in abundance. Lionhead rabbit breed is blessed with a compact upright body, well-developed muzzles, and exceptionally wooly mane, cheeks, and chest.
This domestic rabbit breed is produced by crossing Netherland Dwarf and Miniature Swiss Fox. The resulting breed, Lionhead rabbit, is smart, playful, good-natured.
Lionhead rabbits have a lot of hair so regular grooming is needed to keep them safe and healthy. Like most rabbit breeds, lionheads can not tolerate extreme weather conditions; snow, wind, rain, and scorching heat.
Besides grooming, they need a well-balanced diet and plenty of space to live a balanced life. This particular domestic breed is reported to develop respiratory, eye, and dental issues.
Weight
2.5 to 3.75 lbs
Life Span
7 to 9 years
Typical Use
Pet, raised for wool
6. Holland Lop
Holland Lop made it to the list because of their ultra-friendly nature. This cute little creature is considered the most demanded pet in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Holland Lop are compact, muscular, have short stubby legs, straight sturdy, and fluffy tail. The eye colors are usually black but some Holland Lops are reported to have different colors as well.
Holland Lops are calm pets, the owners can spend more time relaxing and playing around than any other pet rabbit out there. The female Holland Lop is a little calmer and neater than the bucks, but the bucks can not be considered aggressive at all.
This domestic breed does not suffer any health issues other than the regular intestinal blockage, and overgrown teeth, etc. Easy access to water, food, and regular grooming can prevent the issues to great extent.
Weight
2 to 4 lbs
Life Span
6 to 10 years
Typical Use
Pet
7. Mini Rex
The Mini Rex rabbit breed was developed in 1900 by animal enthusiast Monna R. Berryhill. It is said that the first Mini Rex was developed by crossing Dwarf Rex(buck) and undersized Lynx Red(doe).
This friendliest rabbit, Mini Rex, can be recognized by its rounded backs, well-developed shoulders, midsection, and hindquarters. Their Fur is straight, dense, and upright, just as the rabbit’s fur needs to be cuddly.
The ability to pick tricks and commands and the calm, curious, and friendly nature make them a great show rabbit and an exceptional family pet. Due to supernatural similarities, this domestic breed is often compared to Mini Lop and Mini Satin rabbit.
Mini Rex’s fur is smooth, silky, and springy, petting Mini Rex is nothing less than a luxurious treat. As the fur on their coat is short and upright, it does not need as frequent grooming as Angora, Mini Lop, and other fluffy rabbits need.
Weight
3.5 to 4.5 lbs
Life Span
7 to 10 years
Typical Use
Show rabbit, Pet
8. Himalayan Rabbit
Himalayan, the oldest, calmest, and friendliest rabbit breed is believed to have originated from Asia. Due to some similarities, Himalayan rabbits are often mistaken as Californian rabbits.
The Himalayan Rabbits stand out from the crowd by their dark ears, nose, front and hind feet, and white coat with markings. The original Himalayan rabbit comes in only one color; the other common color was intentionally developed later.
Himalayan rabbits belong to the category of rabbits that do not require frequent grooming to maintain their coat. Thorough brushing twice or thrice a week is enough to keep the coat healthy and tangle-free.
Like all rabbit breeds, 70 percent of their diet is hay and the rest of the food needs are fulfilled with fruits and vegetables. Overgrown teeth, loss of appetite, and droppings are the major health issues the Himalayan rabbits are facing worldwide.
Weight
2.5 to 4.5 lbs
Life Span
7 to 10 years
Typical Use
Pets, raised for meat
9. Netherland Dwarf
Netherland Dwarf, as its name suggests, originates from Netherland. It’s one of the few rabbit breeds that has got the recognition of both the British Rabbit Council and the American Rabbit Breeder Association.
The modern Netherland Dwarf is obtained from selective breeding, it’s gentle and friendly, whereas the old ones used to be more aggressive and wild. As the issue is now sorted, it’s pointless to talk about it in detail.
This cute little creature can be identified by its well-rounded face, disproportionately large eyes, and notably short ears. Netherland Dwarf can have any color including black, white, chocolate, and red, etc.
Netherland Dwarf is quite cuddly, needing human interaction, they would not be a great pet option for kids they instead suit adults more. However, unlike other domestic rabbit breeds, Netherland Dwarf takes time to develop a bond with their owners.
Weight
2 to 2.5 lbs
Life Span
7 to 10 years
Typical Use
Pet
10. Flemish Giant
As the word ” Giant” in the name means, Flemish Giants are fairly large and often taken as the largest and the friendliest breed of the species. This particular rabbit breed was developed in the 16th century in a small city near Ghent, Belgium.
They were traditionally bred for meat and fur but the ultra-friendly nature introduced them as good family pets. They can get aggressive or fearful, careful handling and frequent human interaction are required to get used to the environment.
They have dense glossy fur and a large powerful body. Bucks usually appear much broader and powerful than a does. This exceptionally large rabbit breed usually gets recognized by their massive heads.
Bucks and does are sexually mature at the age of four months and ten days but they must at least be one or one and half older to start breeding. Until the suggested age for breeding, the male and female belonging to this breed must be caged separately.
Weight
10 to 15 lbs
Life Span
8 to 10 years
Typical Use
Pet, raised for meat
11. Harlequin Rabbit
Unlike any of the rabbits mentioned here, the Harlequin rabbit is the colorful friendliest rabbit breed. The typical Harlequin rabbit is usually black, white, and orange, other colors can only be achieved by selective breeding.
This playful, decile and intelligent creature can learn to respond to its name and is eligible to get the litter box training. Harlequin rabbits have two different kinds one is Japanese Harlequin and the other one is called Magpie.
Their body parts, whether it’s face, ear, or legs, are well split into two or three colors. This rabbit breed is rare, it can only be found after thorough research. The animal enthusiasts are fearful that this rabbit breed can get endangered pretty soon.
The Harlequin rabbits are quite entertaining, they like being petted and stroked. Moreover, you would only spot them roaming and playing around in a good mood as long as the food is available.
Weight
6.5 to 8 lbs
Life Span
4 to 5 years
Typical Use
Pet
Bonus Tip
Out of all the above-mentioned rabbit breeds, the top 3 friendliest rabbit breeds are Mini Lop, Lionhead, and Jersey Wooly.
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