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Netherland DwarfThe Netherland Dwarf is a popular breed of domestic rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) originating in the Netherlands . Netherland dwarfs were first imported into the United Kingdom in 1948. In the 1960s and 1970s the United States imported its first Netherland dwarf rabbits. Through generations of selective breeding , the modern Netherland dwarf has become a gentle, friendly pet rabbit, though it still retains a more energetic disposition than larger breeds. Most rabbits sold in pet stores are Netherland dwarfs, Netherland dwarf- derived breeds, often referred to simply as dwarf breeds, or Netherland dwarf crosses. Netherland Dwarf's can become very tame towards their owners and are now considered a very suitable pet which is relatively easy to handle. Netherland dwarfs come in a wide variety of colors, including Himalayan , Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Smoke Pearl, Sable Point, Tortoiseshell, Chestnut, Siamese Sable, Opal, Lynx, Squirrel, Chinchilla , Otter, Tan, Silver Marten, Sable Marten, Smoke Pearl Marten, Orange, Fawn, Steel, Blue-Eyed White and Ruby Eyed White. Other colors (including mismarks ) exist in non-show-quality Netherland dwarfs and in dwarf mongrel rabbits. Smaller than most rabbit breeds , Netherland dwarf rabbits weigh 1 to 3 lb (0.5 to 1.4 kg ) and are usually kept as pets or exhibition animals. The proper weight for a Netherland Dwarf is 2 - 2.5 pounds on average, and it's ears are to be no longer than 2.5 inches. This tiny gorgeous breed marked its beginnings when a man by the name of De Cock sought to combine the best qualities from two rabbit breeds, the French Lop (known for being large and having floppy ears) and the Netherland Dwarf rabbits, into a new breed. In the winter of 1949-50, De Cock decided to breed a White Netherland Dwarf Doe to a French Lop Buck and obtained undesired dwarf lop rabbits. Unsatisfied, he decided to switch the genders in the breeds, he bred a French Lop Doe and a Netherland Dwarf Buck, and got six miniature lops. Stumble It! • Submit To Netscape • del.icio.us • Y! MyWeb |
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