I'm trying to decide...

[The_Dutchess]

Which small rabbit breed I want.

I am looking for a small breed that has a relatively sweet temperament, would be good for rabbit jumping, and is easy to handle. I'd like it to not be like my current Mini Lop who is a glop of cuteness who sits in the corner of his cage and only moves to eat. I would like it to be a little hyper.

I've always wanted a Holland Lop but I haven't heard good things about their temperaments. I would prefer a breed without red eyes. So could someone give me information about the following breeds according to my preferences:

1. Holland Lop
2. Jersey Wooly
3. Netherland Dwarf
4. Dwarf Hotot
5. Mini Rex
6. Tan

 

[SA Farm]

I've had HLs, NDs, and MRs, and my personal preference is the MR - more for coat and personality than for any other reason. The HLs I had all had excellent temperaments, but that's what I chose them/bred them for.
Your best bet would be to find a breeder, meet the buns and their parents, and go from there

 

[3mina]

My personal favourites are Polish, Havana and Mini Rex but I am a fur afficiando

 

[Schipperkesue]

A friend raises tans. They are beautiful and would certainly be athletic enough for jumping.

 

[The_Dutchess]

I am planning on getting just one rabbit of the breeds I listed. I like the Tans. They are very pretty but do they have a sweet temperament? Unfortunately I can't pick out a few breeders and decide which breed I want from their because all breeders are pretty far from us so I'd be paying for a LOT of gas.

 

[Dood]

I'd recommend a mutt

I did rabbit agility with my Netherland cross (either lionhead or polish) - she was a little 3 pound firecracker who could easily leap 3 feet from a stand still :shock:

She wasn't mean or aggressive but I wouldn't call her sweet either, however, her daughter sired by my sisters Mini Lop is the most affectionate female I've ever owned and is also extremely athletic, but is not the challenge seeking show off her mom was.

She will jump and do obstacles but doesn't live for it, as a trade off she also doesn't have temper tantrums and chew apart her litter box if she isnt let out to exercise - her mom had to have a LOT of mental stimulation or she was a nightmare to live with

 

[The_Dutchess]

I have considered getting a mutt but then I won't be able to show it. I already have a rabbit for shiwmanship now I need one for breed class rabbit jumping and as pet.

 

[Schipperkesue]

Tans have a reputation for a standoffish temperament. My friend's rabbits were always very sweet but definitely not snuggle muffins.

 

[The_Dutchess]

Does anyone have anything to add about Dwarf Hotot and Netherland dwarf? Do they have good temperaments? And do jersey woollies need a lot of grooming?

 

[squidpop]

It would be really cool to get a tan that jumped. I would really like to see that because I think they are just beautiful and you don't see many of them. But I have a tan and I would say she isn't much of a cuddle bunny at all.
I also think a Jersey Wooly might do really well at jumping, my JW seem a lot more energetic than my lops are but are also very cuddly.

 

[The_Dutchess]

I've pretty much narrowed it down to Holland Lop, Mini Rex, or Jersey Wooly. But I'm having trouble finding any Holland Lops in my area although they are very popular in my area. It's like they're so popular they are never for sale because people snap them up too quick. I think JWs would be good for rabbit jumping but does their coat need a lot of work? What do you do with your JWs concerning grooming?

 

[MR_ND]

I've pretty much narrowed it down to Holland Lop, Mini Rex, or Jersey Wooly. But I'm having trouble finding any Holland Lops in my area although they are very popular in my area. It's like they're so popular they are never for sale because people snap them up too quick. I think JWs would be good for rabbit jumping but does their coat need a lot of work? What do you do with your JWs concerning grooming?

The Holland Lop's I have met were a bit stuck-up and lazy, not saying all are like that just what I observed. My Mini Rex were all lazy and the 2 does I had were SNOBS. I have met one JW and it was the sweetest cuddle bug EVER, it was also pretty active when the lady put it down I think JW's need groomed about every other day, but if that to much work you could always trim their hair shorter so it was easier to maintain. But I know very little about them so don't trust me for all I said.

 

[skysthelimit]

I hardly do anything to my JWs. Especially not every other day. Once they are past 10-14 weeks and you lose the jr coat, they are mostly maintenance free, that's what they are bred for. It's more like every 3-4 mos, or longer, mine only blow coat twice a year. I find the REWs make the most mess, but you don't want red eyes, so you'll be ok.

If you are going to show, you certainly don't want to trim them. But the minimum hair length is only 1.5 inches, so you don't need 3 inch wool to be competitive on the table.

As far as jumping, well, I don't have a single JW that would work like that. They tend to be quiet, shy and docile. Good for little kids because they stay in one spot. You can probably find an active buck, but I find the more active ones don't have the best temperaments.

I'd probably go with a Holland. All mine where sweethearts. I sold the whole group to a bunch of 4H kids.

 

[squidpop]

Jersey Woolies are supposed to be bred to have a easy to groom coat with lots of guard hairs. Mine are easy to groom and if they aren't moulting I could get away without grooming for a whole month - but should really groom once a week to avoid wool block. My adults don't really matt, the wool comes out really easy, it just kind of lets go and you can pull it out with your fingers- I find it very satisfying to groom them. Once in a while they get a knot or matt above their tail, its never really bad though and I use scissors. I'm not sure though, if all Jersey Woolies are that easy to groom though, but if they are bred right they should be. But, all that said, when they moult out their baby coat the baby coat is a pain to groom, its extra fluffy and does matte- but after that first moult is over, the adult coat comes in and they should be easy to groom.

 

[bantambunnies]

Holland Lops are moderately active - generally not very lazy. But my Mini Lops are very different from what you described - Mr. Free Ranging Bunny is a Mini Lop, and I have to keep an eye on his mom to make sure she doesn't get loose.

Anyway, Holland Lops can be very sweet, but they're not crazy about being held. Holland Lops can also be little demons. It depends on the rabbit. I have a fairly sweet doe who was shy and unfriendly until she raised a litter in our house, during which time she was constantly petted and handled. She is now a much nicer bunny.

My mother had Netherlands when she was a child and around when she got married, but my parents tell me that although they are extremely adorable, they don't have very good temperaments.

And about rabbit jumping - I can definitely see Tans for jumping. But from the few Youtube videos I've watched of jumping competitions opcorn: , many of the rabbits appear to be Hollands or other lops.

 

[MR_ND]

See, like I said I don't know much about JW's lol.

I found this on the American Hopping Association for Rabbits and Cavies.

Animals that have fur or wool are wearing a snow suite year round. They do not have the option of putting on shorts or a T-shirt when the weather gets hot. If you want to have an idea of what it is like for a furry critter wear: a coat, stocking cap/hat, pants, mittens/gloves, and boots during the summer. Does wearing all this keep you cooler or does it make you hotter? If it makes you hotter how long does it take you to cool down after you exercise?