Information on the Dutch Rabbit
Have you ever thought about owning a Dutch rabbit? Well, in all actuality, this is the rabbit that is most frequently purchased as a pet. It has many wonderful qualities that make it a great pet to own. This article will explain the rabbit in a little more detail so that you can decide if this is the best pet for you.
The American Rabbit Breeders Association has a lot of standards for this breed of rabbit. They expect it to weight anywhere from 3.5 to 5.5 pounds. They are expected to have round bodies and heads and they short ears with what is called fly back hair. They are often found in six different colors that range from white and black to tortoise and white. They will also have a wedge on its face. This is a white stripe that runs up the face.
If you are going to own one of these rabbits you should keep know that they are very energetic and they tend to get bored very easily. They are very sociable and they are generally very easy to train. If you get the Dutch rabbit when it is a very small bunny, it will become use to being handled. They love to show affection and sit on their owners lap. However, they are usually a little bit jumpy when they are being handled. This is simply in the rabbit’s nature. If you are new to owning a rabbit then you should spend some time being trained on how to handle the rabbit and how to care for it. This is important because you do not want your rabbit to be injured when you are caring for it. This is also something to keep in mind if you have small children. You are not going to want to leave them unsupervised with the Dutch rabbit because they could hurt it.
When you pick the rabbit up you are going to want to grab the fold of skin behind the neck and between the shoulder blades. You are then going to want to use your other hand and hold the rabbit’s feet so that they do not kick and injure themselves. To move with the Dutch rabbit you are going to put its face by your elbow and keep its body between your forearm and your stomach area. This helps then feel more comfortable and less afraid. They tend to squirm less if they are moved in this manner.
Because the rabbit can cause to a person’s arms when they are being handled (until they are use to it) you will want to keep the back claws of the rabbit trimmed and cut back. You may also want to consider wearing long sleeves to avoid painful scratches until you learn how to handle your pet correctly. Your rabbit is most likely going to be more active early in the morning and later in the evening. They tend to sleep a lot during the day. Maybe you can work on your rabbit or care for them during the midday while he or she is a little less active.
If you are purchasing a Dutch rabbit to be more than a pet you will want to conduct some research on standards for showing your pet. There are numerous guidelines related to the body, head, eyes, ears, etc. and you are going to want to know all of these before you enter your rabbit into a show. You are going to receive points in certain areas and you are going to want to know what these are so you can be prepared and have your rabbit prepared as well. If you are in it to win, you will want to be prepared and ready.
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