Netherland Dwarfs

[HoppinHalfPints]

Hello!

I just wanted to start a thread on Netherland Dwarfs and their little quirks.

What are your experiences with the breed?

What kind of characteristics are you looking for in your stock? (i.e., square head, short thick ears, etc)

What kinds of temperaments have you found?



Stuff like that. I really want to build up my knowledge with the breed, especially since I want to try to increase the size of my herd and maybe build a line.

I currently have 4 ND's (1 Siamese Sable, 2 otters, 1 black). What's the size of your herd?

:bunnyhop:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I've never had ND's.

What little "quirks" have you seen in your little guys? opcorn:

 

[Disney]

I have 2 brothers and some who you could call ND's but i'm not sure if they are.. type wise they would be, but genetically they're mixed crosses between different types of dwarfs like rex, satin, rexsatin, lutino.

These are my boys.

Luca la Vienna

A 4 week old son of Luca.

Axel, luca's brother.
He has malocclusion, so he's a cull.

Danté, he's from mixed lines.
Mom was a lutino dwarf (a ND color variety) and dad a rexsatin.

Danté's son, a lutino dwarf with bad type. Mom was valse dwarf out of mixed lines aswell.

I would love to hear feedback and opinions on each of these rabbits from ND breeders.
Please point out their goods and bads so i can learn from it as a newly started breeder.

 

[HoppinHalfPints]

I have 2 brothers and some who you could call ND's but i'm not sure if they are.. type wise they would be, but genetically they're mixed crosses between different types of dwarfs like rex, satin, rexsatin, lutino.

These are my boys.

Luca la Vienna

A 4 week old son of Luca.

Axel, luca's brother.
He has malocclusion, so he's a cull.

Danté, he's from mixed lines.
Mom was a lutino dwarf (a ND color variety) and dad a rexsatin.

Danté's son, a lutino dwarf with bad type. Mom was valse dwarf out of mixed lines aswell.

I would love to hear feedback and opinions on each of these rabbits from ND breeders.
Please point out their goods and bads so i can learn from it as a newly started breeder.

Luca la Vienna (love the name by the way) looks pretty correct. Ears are small (pointed, but they look pretty thick which is a plus) head is round and looks pretty well balanced with the body. I would love to get my hands on him, though.

Dante looks like he has fairly large ears, which you don't want and a rather small head for a buck. He looks a little long in the body, probably from the mixing, and might have slightly sloping hips (with pictures, it is really hard to tell though)

Axel is really nice, like his brother. Too bad he has malocclusion.

The son of Luca looks like he is turning out really nice like his dad. All in all, it's a good start, but if you are planning on showing I would recommend you try to use pure Netherland Dwarfs in your breeding LOL
:bunnyhop:

I've never had ND's.

What little "quirks" have you seen in your little guys? opcorn:

They are very energetic My buck, Napster, loves people but doesn't necessarily love to be picked up. He'll lick any available body part (nose, hands, fingers) if you put them up next to his cage. His babies will come up to the door when I am feeding. Lana is a lot more reserved and shy, but I think it is because she comes from one of those REALLY big rabbitries (like the ones that have 15 does pregnant at once) but she isn't really aggressive.

 

[skysthelimit]

I no longer have Netherlands, but it was one of the first breeds I had. Sable was a chinchilla doe, probably why I love the color so much, but curiously I did not get into the breed when I started seriously raising rabbits. She seemed very intelligent to me, she used to perch on my should and ride along as I walked, I remember her playing with toys, and fussing at my mom. None of my rabbits seem to do those things, but that might be because she was raised as a house bunny.

 

[HoppinHalfPints]

Yah I have noticed that Netherland Dwarfs tend to be very intelligent. That's what attracted me to the breed in the first place.

 

[Rachel.And.Yue]

They are very energetic My buck, Napster, loves people but doesn't necessarily love to be picked up. He'll lick any available body part (nose, hands, fingers) if you put them up next to his cage.

I just got my first ND this spring as an almost breeding age buck. Like you stated above my boy also loves people but hates to be picked up (until he finds himself in your lap), he licks anywhere he can reach, literally cleans off your skin (and it tickles), then he will lick and "bite" your clothes if you are ignoring him. Loves to investigate anything that touches his cage or comes in his cage. Will head butt me when he wants attention if I suddenly stopped petting him. Plus he is neat in his cage and quiet...but when it comes to treats he is a pig ancake: very fun little guy and I hope to teach him to go over "jumps" so that he has something to do when not breeding since I know our non ND bucks get bored fast.

Will get some good photos ASAP since the ones I have are poorly lit. Would love comments on him too. Currently looking for a good doe for him but will see what happens since I first need to locate all the breeders in my area.

I am almost positive that I had a ND (although it could have been a Polish) when I was breeding NZs years back. He was a gorgeous broken black (although the black looked sorta blueish) named Sparky. He was awesome and had me hooked. I think I was maybe 11.

Love to see the NDs everyone has, they are quickly becoming one of my fav breeds

 

[HoppinHalfPints]

They are very energetic My buck, Napster, loves people but doesn't necessarily love to be picked up. He'll lick any available body part (nose, hands, fingers) if you put them up next to his cage.

I just got my first ND this spring as an almost breeding age buck. I think he is a "lilac" but will have to take some photos in the light to share. Like you stated above my boy also loves people but hates to be picked up (until he finds himself in your lap), he licks anywhere he can reach, literally cleans off your skin (and it tickles), then he will lick and "bite" your clothes if you are ignoring him. Loves to investigate anything that touches his cage or comes in his cage. Will head butt me when he wants attention if I suddenly stopped petting him. Plus he is neat in his cage and quiet...but when it comes to treats he is a pig ancake: very fun little guy and I hope to teach him to go over "jumps" so that he has something to do when not breeding since I know our non ND bucks get bored fast.

Exactly! :bunnyhop: They're such sweet little devils, aren't they?

They are also escape artists. :roll: If I put any of my rabbits out in a pen, I will promptly receive a yell saying "Your rabbits out!" But, the good thing is they never leave our yard. Although, when the chickens are out it can lead to a confrontation. :twisted:

They are very energetic My buck, Napster, loves people but doesn't necessarily love to be picked up. He'll lick any available body part (nose, hands, fingers) if you put them up next to his cage.

Will get some good photos ASAP since the ones I have are poorly lit. Would love comments on him too. Currently looking for a good doe for him but will see what happens since I first need to locate all the breeders in my area.


Love to see the NDs everyone has, they are quickly becoming one of my fav breeds

I am awaiting those pics opcorn:

And, a word of advice for your doe search. I would recommend getting your buck evaluated by a judge or an experienced breeder before you get him a girlfriend. When breeding, you usually want to pick a doe out that can counteract a fault he has (say, he has long ears. I would get a doe with short ears.) That way, you aren't "breeding for the fault."

 

[Rachel.And.Yue]

They are very energetic My buck, Napster, loves people but doesn't necessarily love to be picked up. He'll lick any available body part (nose, hands, fingers) if you put them up next to his cage.

I just got my first ND this spring as an almost breeding age buck. Like you stated above my boy also loves people but hates to be picked up (until he finds himself in your lap), he licks anywhere he can reach, literally cleans off your skin (and it tickles), then he will lick and "bite" your clothes if you are ignoring him. Loves to investigate anything that touches his cage or comes in his cage. Will head butt me when he wants attention if I suddenly stopped petting him. Plus he is neat in his cage and quiet...but when it comes to treats he is a pig ancake: very fun little guy and I hope to teach him to go over "jumps" so that he has something to do when not breeding since I know our non ND bucks get bored fast.

Exactly! :bunnyhop: They're such sweet little devils, aren't they?

They are also escape artists. :roll: If I put any of my rabbits out in a pen, I will promptly receive a yell saying "Your rabbits out!" But, the good thing is they never leave our yard. Although, when the chickens are out it can lead to a confrontation. :twisted:

They are very energetic My buck, Napster, loves people but doesn't necessarily love to be picked up. He'll lick any available body part (nose, hands, fingers) if you put them up next to his cage.

Will get some good photos ASAP since the ones I have are poorly lit. Would love comments on him too. Currently looking for a good doe for him but will see what happens since I first need to locate all the breeders in my area.


Love to see the NDs everyone has, they are quickly becoming one of my fav breeds

I am awaiting those pics opcorn:

And, a word of advice for your doe search. I would recommend getting your buck evaluated by a judge or an experienced breeder before you get him a girlfriend. When breeding, you usually want to pick a doe out that can counteract a fault he has (say, he has long ears. I would get a doe with short ears.) That way, you aren't "breeding for the fault."

That is my plan

here he is. Turns out he is not very photogenic at all....I swear his ears look smaller when I look at him but in the photos, not so much...hmm

 

[HoppinHalfPints]

Hah! That happens sometimes. He's gorgeous by the way. Looks like a Siamese Smoke Pearl.

 

[Rachel.And.Yue]

Hah! That happens sometimes. He's gorgeous by the way. Looks like a Siamese Smoke Pearl.

seems to only happen to me, not my photographer family members...and usually when I need good photos the most...*sigh* oh well...guess I need more practice

would love any comments about him so that I can choose the right doe. He is a gorgeous boy. Too bad he likes to move so much when I have the camera out lol

 

[HoppinHalfPints]

Well...

Head looks to be a decent shape. Does it look like it balances with the body, or does it seem too big or too small?

Ears do look pretty open, if you put your thumb against the top of one of the ears, does it follow your thumb? Do they feel thick or thin to you? How long are they?

It's really hard to tell with the body. With pictures, you could make a rabbit with 16 legs look like a pet store cull.

It looks like he has pretty even coloring. I would recommend keeping him out of direct sunlight or else he'll bleach.

I think you said that he was breeding age? (I am guessing 6 months, which means he still has some growing to do.)


The best thing you can do with your rabbit is to take him to a show. There, you could meet other breeders who might have a doe or two for sale and also get some comments about him. Ask about his strengths and weaknesses and about what the person would recommend for a good mate. There will be differing opinions if you go to more than one person; but you will find there will be a general consensus.


Good Luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor! (I had to add that one in.... :roll: )<br /><br />__________ Wed Jun 26, 2013 2:26 pm __________<br /><br />AHHH! :?

This thread is starting to die...

Come on people! We can't be the only ones!


Who else has been bitten with Dwarftosis? :O


*Tut Tut.*

 

[squidpop]

I'm posting a little bit about ND temperaments... I think it would be great if people would work on breeding some sweetness into the breed.
I'm relatively new to rabbits and I have three Netherland dwarfs. The first two I got where very squirelly, fast and jumpy, one is prone to biting and the other loves being petted but doesn't like being picked up and rests quitely in your arms - until you relax and then suddenly trys to jump out of you arms -- so I was a little disappointed my Nethies where not remotely like my mini lop or my Jersey Wooly, who walk up to everybody and everything hoping for food or a pat. I decided against breeding the Nethies because I wanted a breed that could go to a pet home- and couldn't see them as being good pets for children or children being good pets for the Nethies. But then I got a new netherland dwarf a BEW (blue eyed white) and he is just as sweet as a mini lop, loves to be petted and could be handled by just about anyone-- he's fast and has energy like any nethie but he is also tame and sweet, he has rekindled my interest in the breed. He's not very typey, (although his litter mates who got the dwarf gene where very typey). Despite not being typey I am definately going to breed him just based on personality and temperament. So, I think there's really a variety of temperaments you can get in a Nethie and breeders need to work harder to propagate some sweetness into the breed. Because really, Nethies are not a meat breed or a wool breed they are a pet breed so they should be bred for temperament- not just type.

One cute quirk my BEW Nethie has is -- when I come in the room he gets excited and runs around his cage in circles - as he runs he makes this amazing noise like a humming bird- its like a whirring buzzing noise- I can't even figure out how he makes it, sounds like a kazoo. Also, he's my TV watching buddy- he sits on my lap and enjoys being petted, and unlike my mini lop he never pees on me, I see that as being a big plus in a rabbit too- I want a rabbit that has some bladder control.

 

[HoppinHalfPints]

I'm posting a little bit about ND temperaments... I think it would be great if people would work on breeding some sweetness into the breed.
I'm relatively new to rabbits and I have three Netherland dwarfs. The first two I got where very squirelly, fast and jumpy, one is prone to biting and the other loves being petted but doesn't like being picked up and rests quitely in your arms - until you relax and then suddenly trys to jump out of you arms -- so I was a little disappointed my Nethies where not remotely like my mini lop or my Jersey Wooly, who walk up to everybody and everything hoping for food or a pat. I decided against breeding the Nethies because I wanted a breed that could go to a pet home- and couldn't see them as being good pets for children or children being good pets for the Nethies. But then I got a new netherland dwarf a BEW (blue eyed white) and he is just as sweet as a mini lop, loves to be petted and could be handled by just about anyone-- he's fast and has energy like any nethie but he is also tame and sweet, he has rekindled my interest in the breed. He's not very typey, (although his litter mates who got the dwarf gene where very typey). Despite not being typey I am definately going to breed him just based on personality and temperament. So, I think there's really a variety of temperaments you can get in a Nethie and breeders need to work harder to propagate some sweetness into the breed. Because really, Nethies are not a meat breed or a wool breed they are a pet breed so they should be bred for temperament- not just type.

One cute quirk my BEW Nethie has is -- when I come in the room he gets excited and runs around his cage in circles - as he runs he makes this amazing noise like a humming bird- its like a whirring buzzing noise- I can't even figure out how he makes it, sounds like a kazoo. Also, he's my TV watching buddy- he sits on my lap and enjoys being petted, and unlike my mini lop he never pees on me, I see that as being a big plus in a rabbit too- I want a rabbit that has some bladder control.

I haven't noticed a real mean streak in my NDs. My does are a little cage protective, but what doe isn't? Besides, I think breeders HAVE been working on temperament, since like you said, they were bred for pets first and foremost. Although, some breeders do base it more on type than temperament, which makes rabbits that have outstanding type but poor temperament.


On another note, I think I was able to reserve a breeding with a rabbit that won 7th at Convention! He's absolutely gorgeous; big head, small, thick, round ears, nice type. He's in a bad molt right now, so it looks like a tiny person ran a small lawnmower in stripes along his coat. But, still! *squeals*

How's everyone elses NDs doing?

 

[MamaMandy]

You can see all my Netherlands on my Facebook page! I've got Hollands too, but the Netherlands are truly my favorite!

 

[HoppinHalfPints]

You can see all my Netherlands on my Facebook page! I've got Hollands too, but the Netherlands are truly my favorite!

I actually liked your FB page.

 

[MamaMandy]

Thank you! I really appreciate that!

 

[HoppinHalfPints]

No problem!

So the fee is a 2nd pick of the litter for the breeding of Lana and Niall (the breeders 400$ buck) I was like :bow: when I heard that.

 

[MamaMandy]

Sounds like a no brainer! Go for it!

 

[mmsa417]

I liked the page too! I am not going to be getting my NDs until Sunday. I can hardly wait. This has been the longest 2 weeks ever ! As soon as they're home and comfortable, I'm takin pics!