Everyone knows about diet meat and extremely valuable rabbit fur. For many years, these animals were grown on an industrial scale to obtain fur raw materials and high-quality meat product. But over the past few years, the attitude towards these animals has changed dramatically: new miniature and decorative breeds of rabbits were bred, which became unusually popular in all countries of the world. They firmly settled in our apartments and live in them as pets. One of the most popular breeds for keeping at home are breeds of Dutch rabbits. About these lovely and unusually charming animals our conversation will go.
What are decorative breeds for?
The purpose of these animals can already be understood from the name. Rabbits of dwarf and ornamental breeds are not suitable for breeding and their further sale for meat. Usually these adorable babies are bred or acquired as pets. A huge variety of these breeds of Dutch rabbits, which we are talking about, allows you to buy a favorite for almost everyone. Outwardly, these are unusually cute and cute animals that possess not only an attractive appearance, but also a special character. For the most part, these are not conflicting, calm individuals, but quite capricious animals are also found among them.
Classification of ornamental species
Speaking of dwarf breeds, it is easy to guess that these animals are small in size. As for decorative breeds, they can be classified into small, medium, large. In addition, they differ in the length of the coat: it can be short, normal and long.
Dutch rabbit breed
This breed of rabbits was bred in the Netherlands (Holland), and therefore received this name. Judging by the external color, this is a rather peculiar breed of rabbits. It is noteworthy that the back of the trunk and legs of rabbits have exactly the same color as the ears and part of the muzzle. Surprisingly, the color of the skin matches the color of the eyes. On the hind legs there are small white socks, the rest of the body is also white in color. Looking at the rabbit from the side, you can clearly see that the body seems to be evenly separated by color contrast. By the way, the color of the back, muzzle and ears of the Dutch rabbit can be of different colors. Today, there are more than 20 types of color, including shades of sand, black, brown, gray, blue.
The average weight of a rabbit is about 2-2.5 kg, so they can not be called babies. The animals are distinguished by a good-natured disposition, they are very affectionate, cute, sympathize with young children. In addition, they very quickly become attached to the owner.
Dutch dwarf rabbit
This breed of rabbits is one of the most popular in the world. A variety of colors, miniature size, attractive appearance - all these are the features of this breed. For the first time, the dwarf breed appeared at the exhibition in 1947 in Amsterdam, and later the so-called Dutch dwarf rabbit was received from such individuals. The first recognition he received in America, and then throughout the world.
Breed characteristics
The decorative breed of dwarf Dutch rabbits is quite miniature. Consider its main characteristics:
- 1.2-1.5 kg - body weight of animals;
- strong physique;
- small round head;
- the body is cylindrical in shape;
- slightly flattened muzzle;
- hind limbs well developed and longer than forelimbs;
- wool of medium length, soft, thick and shiny;
- varied color - agouti, plain, shaded, tan.
Character Features
The Dutch rabbit (you can see its unusual beauty in the photo) is friendly and active.
This is a great choice for the whole family. With the right approach and care, the little fluffy will very soon begin to trust the new owner. These rabbits love attention and affection, but they themselves may be aggressive. The thing is that they are very shy and often act up because of fear if they get into a stressful situation. If you have small children in your house, it is better to refrain from acquiring this crumbs.
Sociable, friendly and very affectionate
All these characteristics can no doubt be attributed to the Dutch fold rabbit, which is also called the Dutch ram. Of all the representatives of lop-eared rabbits, they are most popular. The breed was bred in the second half of the 20th century by the Dutch rabbit breeder Andiran de Kock, who set himself the task of producing an exact copy of the French ram, only in a dwarf version. It took 12 years to create this breed, and in 1964 he officially registered it. Today this breed has become extremely popular among lovers of domestic rabbits.
Characteristics
In the photo, the Dutch rabbit is presented in all its glory. He has a beautiful, proportionately folded body, long ears (22-27 cm).
By the way, with regard to the latter, we note that rabbits are not immediately born fold, this occurs in the first month of their life or, in extreme cases, at the beginning of the second. The rabbit has a short body, its length in relation to the size of the head is 2: 1 (usually in commercial breeds this ratio is 3: 1). The rabbit has a compact physique, well muscled muscles.
An adult animal has wide shoulders, which smoothly pass into a well-developed back, it has the same wide fleshy croup. In adult females, a small breast is allowed. The large-sized head is set high on a short neck, which is covered with plush short fur. Shortened muzzle with full cheeks, eyes well set apart. The duration of their life with proper care is about 8 years.
Weight
The Dutch ram, reaching the age of 6 months (junior), must have a weight of at least 900 g, otherwise it will not be allowed to the exhibition. An adult animal at the age of 1.5 years, according to British standards, cannot have a weight greater than 1.6 kg, and according to American standards - 1.8 kg. The ideal weight of a Dutch decorative rabbit should be about one and a half kilograms.
Color
Initially, the main color of the Dutch ram was a dark tortie, which is also called Madagascar. And today it is this variety that remains the most common, in the form of a spotted tortoise or tortoiseshell variants. Later, a huge number of the most diverse colors were developed, which can conditionally be divided into 8 main groups:
- Solid: blue, purple, black, chocolate white with red or blue eyes.
- Shaded: Siamese sable, sable point, smoky pearl, seal. Tortoiseshells - blue, lilac, black, chocolate.
- Agouti: chinchilla chocolate and chinchilla, chocolate and chestnut, lynx and squirrel, opal.
- Tan: blue, purple otter, chocolate, black.
- Broadband: cream, frosty, red, orange, deer, tri-color.
- Pointed: Blue, Chocolate, Black and Lilac.
- Ticked: silver or golden steel ticking in variations of chocolate, lilac, blue, black.
- Spotted: any of the above with white color.
Character
Dutch fold rabbits are very affectionate and friendly animals. They are braver and more sociable than other breeds of decorative rabbits, ideal as pets for those families in which there are small children, they are magnificent in the role of exhibition animals. When keeping such animals at home, children need to be explained how to properly handle animals so that they do not bring the eared beast due to negligence or ignorance of harm. A positive quality of these animals is that they are quite quickly and easily accustomed to the toilet.