History Of The Dutch Rabbit
The Dutch Rabbit is one of the oldest rabbit breeds and despite its name it was developed in the UK although its ancestors came from The Netherlands and Belgium. Rabbits with white markings had been seen in the Petite Brabancon rabbit from the Brabant region in Flanders, which was bred in large numbers for the meat trade, and when these rabbits were imported into the UK in the 1830s, english rabbit breeders chose those with the most even markings and selectively bred these to establish a breed with the distinct white pattern that is seen on the Dutch Rabbit today.
Appearance Of The Dutch Rabbit
The Dutch Rabbit is a small-medium size rabbit with a stocky body and a short rounded head. The ears are erect and approximately 9cm in length. The Dutch Rabbit has a white inverted V shaped blaze that extends from its nose tapering up to a point between its ears and has a saddle of white around its shoulders and over the back. The front legs and feet are white and the back feet are also white. The coat is short and dense.
Colours Of The Dutch Rabbit
The Dutch Rabbit is available a variety of colours including Agouti, Black, Blue, Steel, Chocolate, Yellow and Tortoiseshell - all with the distinctive Dutch white markings.
Size Of The Dutch Rabbit
The Dutch Rabbit weighs 2 - 2.3 Kg when adult.
Character Of The Dutch Rabbit
The Dutch Rabbit is very lively, gentle and easily trained and they are a popular pet.
Lifespan Of The Dutch Rabbit
The average lifespan of the Dutch Rabbit is 5-8 years.