Varieties of the breed of dwarf rabbits
The rabbit is an animal that has lived next to humans for a long time. The progenitor of domestic breeds is a wild rabbit, not a hare, as most people mistakenly believe.
Today rabbits are bred on all continents. If initially they were kept only for obtaining dietary meat and fur, now the eared ears are kept as pets in apartments. Dwarf rabbit breeds were bred specifically for this purpose.
Decorative eared ears
Dwarf rabbits are breeds not intended for meat and fur. The variety of species makes it possible for a person to choose a rabbit as a pet, like a cat or a dog. The breeds of decorative eared ears are distinguished by their attractive appearance and calm playful character.
First of all, domestic rabbits are classified according to weight categories:
- dwarf;
- medium;
- big.
Wool is the second indicator of the classification. Representatives of the species can be long-haired, short-haired and with medium length hair. Today, every lover of decorative animals, looking through lists of dwarf rabbits with photographs, can choose a pet for himself, attractive in all characteristics, to his taste. Let's move on to considering popular representatives.
Dutch rabbit
The Dutch breed is distinguished by an interesting color. The lower part of the body of such pussies and the limbs, ears and part of the muzzle are painted in a color scheme that matches the color of the eyes. The rest of the body is white. The Dutch breed is one of the oldest. The first mentions date back to the 15th century.
The Dutch rabbit breed is appreciated for its cute nature. Animals very quickly adapt to a person and live with him, quickly find a common language with children. The body weight of decorative rabbits is only 2 kg. The back of the body and ears can be painted in any color. The Dutch breed is subdivided into more than 20 species according to color, among which there are individuals of black, blue, several varieties of brown.
Short-haired rabbit
This breed is also called a colored dwarf. Representatives of the species are very small in size, their weight ranges from 1-1.5 kg. The color scheme can be very diverse. At least 60 varieties are distinguished by color. The colored dwarf has a small but lean physique. Its legs and cervical spine are very short. The coat is very soft, shiny, short.
The most popular of the varieties is the white Oto. Its color is notable for the fact that there is a single speck of black color on its snow-white body. The spot has a solid shape without irregularities, interruptions and frames the animal's eye. Individuals of chinchilla, sand, black and other colors are very popular.
Domestic dwarf rabbits of the Short-haired rabbit breed are rarely aggressive. However, during puberty, there is a change in the behavioral line, and the furry can bite. After the sexual hunt, aggressive behavior will completely disappear. Representatives of the species are valued for such traits as curiosity and high activity.
Dutch Fold rabbit
The peculiarity of this species is hanging ears. Unlike the English breed, the ears of the Dutch are short and do not drag along the floor. The shape of the muzzle is slightly flattened, which, together with the hanging ears, gives the appearance a special charm.
Of all the fold-eared domestic rabbits, the Dutch breed is the smallest. Pets are characterized by non-aggressive behavior. They lead an active lifestyle, very playful, which makes them great companions for children. The breed is represented by individuals of black, brown-gray, white and other colors.
Fox rabbits
Dwarf fox - this is the second name of this species. Its main feature is long red hair, which makes the animals look like small chanterelles. The pile length is 4-7 mm. The forelegs are disproportionately short.
The body weight of an adult is 1.3 kg. Most often, you can find individuals of 3 colors: agouti, chinchilla, red. Such rabbits require more careful care. What kind of eared eared will be depends on chance and luck, because each individual has its own unique character. Someone comes across very calm pets, and someone is rather restive, to which you need to find an approach.
Lion head
From one name it is clear that the animal has some resemblance to the king of beasts. Indeed, its head is framed by a lush mane, while the pile all over the body is slightly more modest in length. The rabbit's body is elongated, and the ears are small. Some individuals are characterized by the presence of black rims around the eyes.
The colors can be very diverse. Individuals differ in small weight. They have a friendly character. Representatives of the breed are highly active and gladly take part in the games.
Angora lion
Domestic rabbits of this species are rightfully considered the fluffiest breed. There is even a pile on the ears, which is not quite common for the rabbit family. It is these representatives that are not only kept as pets, but also make it possible to obtain threads of excellent quality, which are made from their wool.
The most common color is reddish brown. Individuals of this breed need special care. The condition of the hairline must be monitored very carefully:
- comb out constantly;
- if the fur begins to fall on the eyes of the pet and obscures the view, it must be trimmed.
Unlike other representatives, the dwarf breed of long-haired rabbits does not lead a highly active lifestyle. The animals are like soft lumps, calm and friendly. Unreasonable aggression never appears in their behavior.
Hermelin
The dwarf breed of rabbits Germelin in Russia is not particularly widespread. The average body weight of these crumbs is 1 kg, it is very rare to meet one and a half kilogram representatives. The coat color is snow-white, and the eyes can be red or blue.
The body is of the correct shape. Ears are thin, erect. The shape of the muzzle is slightly flattened, which makes them look like Persian cats. The pile is not more than 2 mm long, fits snugly to the body. Individuals of this breed do not tolerate heat very well, therefore they have spread for the most part in the countries of Scandinavia. The rabbit is not at all fastidious in nutrition and care. The character is peculiar, so the owner will have to work hard to find the right approach to his pet.
Squirrel
The name speaks for itself: the appearance of rabbits is similar to a squirrel. Mini-rabbits were bred relatively recently in Germany. The body has proportional shapes and is firmly folded.
Compared to other representatives of dwarf breeds, the squirrel is a rather large species. The weight of such rabbits can reach 4 kg. The color of the abdomen and lower part of the tail is much lighter than the color of the rest of the body. The head is not very large, the beads of the eyes are gray.
Miniature Rex
A mini rabbit with royal status, sometimes you can also hear such a name as plush. In appearance, the fur of the animals resembles plush or velvet. Animals have a non-standard structure of the hairline, which makes them more vulnerable to diseases of the dermis. Weight can range from 1.5 to 4 kg.
The body is elongated. The eyes are large, close-set. The hind legs are much longer than the front ones. The antennae are completely undeveloped in representatives of the species. The disposition is calm, the way of life is not very active.
The smallest kind of rabbits
Minor is the smallest member of the rabbit family. The mass of an adult often does not exceed 1.1 kg, ears - up to 6 cm.The body length of the Minors is literally 20-25 cm.
When breeding the breed, one of the main tasks was to obtain mini-rabbits with an agreeable character. Animals are non-aggressive and get along well with humans. Maintenance is practically no different from caring for other breeds of dwarf rabbits.
Features of caring for decorative rabbits
Before you get yourself a mini-pet, you need to study the information on breeding and proper keeping of decorative rabbits at home. The first question that novice rabbit breeders ask is: how long do mini-rabbits live? The life expectancy of animals is 6 years, but with good care it increases to 12. Today, a couple of hundred species of small rabbits are known. One has only to look at their cute photos, and you will immediately want to get your own fluffy eared eared home.
Before buying a crawl, you should buy it in the store or make your own cage. The size of the rabbit house should be 4 times the size of the eared eared. Rabbits are animals that lead an active lifestyle, so the cage is intended only for rest and coping. The pet should spend a lot of time moving.
Rabbit keeping includes several aspects:
- properly selected diet;
- sufficient walking;
- vaccination.
Vaccinations can prolong the life of a pet. In fact, rabbits are a sickly species, and even basic diseases are fatal. Plus, frequent infectious diseases of rabbits lead to infection of humans and other pets. You need to strictly follow the vaccination schedule in order to increase the immunity of your pet.
The diet plays an important role in the development of immunity. Rabbits have a different digestive system than other animals. Their stomachs do not have enough muscles to push food into the intestines on their own, so rabbits are constantly chewing something. In addition to a balanced diet, rabbits should be provided with adequate access to water. Caring for decorative rabbits is not difficult if you follow all the rules.