Rabbit breed temperment info?

Question

Does anyone have any information on the temperments of different breeds of rabbits? Are some more high strung than others?

Answer 1

Yes, for the most part, smaller breeds can have a more "hyper" tendency that the larger breeds.
Just as you can find in dogs, or horses, the smaller ones are like this.

However, not all are equal. Each rabbit no matter what the breed needs to be judged as an individual. A lot of the genetics of the rabbit, and the way it is handled determines the temperament.

As a rabbit raiser, I have breeds from the smallest to the biggest of the Lop earred. The small Holland Lops weighing under 4 pounds are cute and cuddly looking, but they do for the most part have that "I don't want to be handled" mood about them. But, I do have many that are very lovable and affectionate due to selective breeding for friendliness and are handled just enough to make them not dislike it.

The larger breeds like the English Lops are SOOOO lovable! I have yet to find one that is not tolerable to anything. This breed would make for a great pet for someone with minimum time to spend with a pet rabbit or with small children. This breed of rabbit LOVES attention and constantly seeks it. But, if you don't have time to spend cuddling for an hour, a pat or scratch on the head will make them just as happy and not affect how friendly they will be from this "lack of constant attention".
They are also tolerable to a small child's grasp. Tug at their fur or ears and it's all good to them. As long as they are getting attention whether it's "bad" or "good", they are most happy either way
!
But once again, there can be the occassional "bad apple" of this breed that just isn't like the others. Doesn't happen often, but it can happen. Each rabbit is individual and needs to be treated as such no matter what breed it is.

Answer 2

There are a few breeds that are known for bad temperments. Checkered Giants and Britannia Petites are and that's about it. Sometimes Netherland Dwarfs are.

But I've raised Checkered Giants before and it really depends on the rabbit and sometimes the breeder. I've had some really nice Checkered Giants that were some of the biggest babies/pets you've ever seen. Always sticking their head to the cage door to be petted. And I've had others that were like a rattlesnake, ready to bite you the minute you stuck your hand in the cage door.

I normally prefer bucks (males) over does (females). The males tend to go through less hormonal changes and tend to be more friendly, especially when they get older.

How high strung they are also depends on genetics/breeding. I've seen some people's herds where almost all of their rabbits are as mean as can be. And others where the herd is as gentle as can be.

Checkered Giant and Britannia Petites tend to be a little more high strung because they are both running breeds. Running breeds need to be a little more high strung so they will run up and down the table better when being shown.

Breeds such as New Zealands are normally less high strung because they are shown in a fixed sitting position. In a large class, one move while the judge is judging them could mean the difference between first and twentieth place.

There are a couple of ways of making sure your rabbits aren't high strung. One is to play a radio all the time in your rabbit barn. Getting them accustomed to noise will keep them from getting frightened so much when they hear a strange noise.

Secondly, handle your rabbits a lot. The more you handle them, the more gentle they'll become.

Finally, don't keep or breed in the mean or highly excitable rabbits. They'll pass that characteristic down to their young. Also, having an excitable rabbit in the barn tends to excite the other rabbits. So it's kind of like one bad apple turning the whole barrel of apples bad to a certain extent.

Spaying/neutering doesn't really affect temperment.

Also, never hit or spank your rabbit. Rabbits are not like cats or dogs where punishment can be used to deter a problem. In rabbits, spanking them only makes them more mean.

Picking a rabbit up regularly won't make it nippy or more scared. Picking a rabbit up will make it scared, but the more you pick it up the more it will get used to it. Just make sure that you pick it up so that the rabbit is balanced. If the rabbit doesn't feel balanced it will kick or scratch trying to regain balance. The best way to pick one up is to put one hand under the chest and the other on the rear. Lift the rabbit up with both hands to the armpit of the arm whose hand is on the rear. Then tuck away the rabbit's head in that armpit. That will give the rabbit a place to hide while you are holding it, making it less scared.

Answer 3

I volunteer with rabbits at the Human Society and have come across almost all of the fancy breeds and lots and lots mixed breeds. The general stereo-type is that the dwarf breeds such as as the Netherland Dwarf and Mini Lop are more high strung than the smaller breeds. This is somewhat true, but I don't think it's anything intrinsic to the breeds. I think what happens is that people tend to get these breeds for themselves or their kids thinking that because they are so tiny and adorable, they would love nothing better than to be carried around like a little teddy bear or Paris Hilton's dog. However, while most rabbits like petting, most do not like actually being picked up and carried around. Constantly living in fear of being picked up and carried around can make any rabbit have a bit of attitude and can make any bunny nip or otherwise act out.

If you are looking for a bunny with a really good temperment, overall, I find that New Zealands are almost always gentle, mellow bunnies. (These are the medium-to-large size bunnies that are usually all white with pink eyes, although some are black with brown eyes.) It's kind of sad to think about, but because this type of rabbit was specifically bred for lab experimentation, it was bred to be extremely docile and gentle. In the lab setting, this is so that the rabbits will better tolerate being poked and prodded (poor bunnies!), but this also means they usually make really good pets, especially in families with small kids. These bunnies tend to be the most tolerant of the noise and over-exhuberant affections that small kids can sometimes inflict on pets.

That being said, I have found over the years that the biggest determinants of bunny temperment are whether or not the rabbit has been spayed or neutered, how the rabbit has been treated in the past, and how it's being treated now. Rabbits that have not been fixed will definitely tend to exhibit more agressive, destructive behaviors that rabbits that have. Rabbits that have been mistreated in the past may be very shy and protective. This doesn't mean they are high strung or agressive; it just means they need time to learn to trust people again. And rabbits that aren't being treated with respect in their current home may exhibit behavior problems. As I mentioned before, rabbits that are picked up all the time may become nervous and nippy. The same goes for rabbits that are handled roughly (unfortunately, you just can't roughhouse with a rabbit the way you can with a dog) or are constantly exposed to loud noises, big aggressive dogs (natural predators to bunnies) etc.

The best way to have a bunny with a good temperment is to pick a bunny who seems comfortable with you and then give the bunny lots of time to acclimate to his/her new home and learn to trust you.

Answer 4

1) It's okay but not recommended at all and very much not needed. If you are going to breed you should find another mini rex or a lionhead then you can have purebreds instead of just pets. 2) Bunnies breed all seasons summer if you breed in summer make sure you have a cool area to put the rabbit if you breed in winter make sure you have a warm place to put her. 3) When the doe kindles she will have the babies in her nesting box and cover them with fur to keep them warm you should check on them daily to make sure none have passed if they have remove them before she eats the passed kits. Change the nesting box as needed. Don't be afraid to touch them. 4) I would recommend bringing her inside; also when the babies are gone you can't just stick her back outside dramatic temperature changes are not good. 5) 6 - 8 weeks separation begins you want them weened from mom. Depends on how many eggs she is carrying we have had anywhere from 1 - 9 kits born. 6) Nesting Box, Extra Cage for weening babies, Hay 7) You can't really prevent this a lot of the times its best to let nature take its course some first time are great and some moms are notorious for not taking care of kits eating kits etc... so don't get your hopes up.

Answer 5

I don't have an answer for you, but, I'd like to sya thanks to 'lotsalops'.... when I asked what a good rabbit for a busy family is, all I got was ignorant comments about not getting one 'if I was just going to starve it to death', 'never play with it', etc. As if. I just wanted to know what a busy house, with people running in and out for errands, and kids running all over the place, should get for breed. Your answer to this post has helped me more than all the rude posts I got on mine!

Thanks!

Oh, and Alexi S can be added to the list of people that responded rudely. Do these people seriously think that only breeders have enough time to own rabbits?

Answer 6

Larger breeds TEND to be more laid back, but each rabbit is different and I'd imagine it would depend on the bunny's tempermemt and early living situation.

Answer 7

Most rabbits are fairly quiet animals. A lot depends on how you handle them aswell.

Answer 8

lionhead rabbits are really good rabbits.