The Dutch rabbit is one of the ten most popular rabbit breeds in the world. It used to hold the top spot before dwarf rabbits came along. The breed is believed to have developed in the United Kingdom — ancestors from the Netherlands and Belgium give the breed its name.
This breed of rabbit is easy to identify because it has a very unique color pattern. The front of the face, front of the body, and approximately one third of the rear paws are white. The cheeks, ears, and stomach are colored, as is the saddle — the line of the back going down to the tail and onto the back legs. It is the pattern that marks a rabbit as being a Dutch rabbit.
Sizewise, the Dutch rabbit is relatively small — weighing in between three and a half and five and a half pounds. This rabbit has fur that is short, thick, and shiny; the colored portions can be black, blue (grey), chocolate, tortoiseshell, grey, or steel grey. Black and white or blue and white are the most popular combinations. The 1960s saw the appearance of a tricolor Dutch rabbit, thought to be the product of a cross between a Dutch rabbit and a Harlequin rabbit.
The average life span of a Dutch rabbit is between five and six years. However, spaying or neutering your rabbit can extend that to ten years or more! My family rabbit Bun-bun was a Dutch rabbit who lived to be almost ten. Common health concerns for the Dutch rabbit include hairballs and coat matting, ear mites, respiratory disease, dental problems (especially overgrown teeth), and urinary tract problems. You can tell a lot about a rabbit’s health from diet changes or litter box habits.
The smaller size of a Dutch rabbit makes it easier to care for than some larger breeds. You will need to spend time grooming your rabbit to prevent hairballs and matting! The cage for your Dutch rabbit should be at least two feet long and two feet wide, but the more space you can provide, the better.