Pet rabbits can be a great addition to the family, and they have been increasingly popular in the past few years. Because of its cute appearance, a bunny can easily be seen as the perfect cuddle buddy. However, appearance can be deceiving, as not all of them are as cuddly as they look. If you are contemplating welcoming one of these furry friends as a new member of your family, you are probably wondering if some breeds are more loving than others. And the answer is, yes! They are. Not all bunnies have the same temperament, and some might be a better fit for someone who is looking forward to spoiling their baby bunny with pets and cuddles.
It’s important to remember that each rabbit, at the end of the day, has its own individual personality regardless of its breed. Most pet rabbits are certainly suitable to live in a domestic environment, but much like other pets, such as some cats, they will not trust their owner right away, at least not enough to be touched. Most of the time, rabbits will dislike being held until you gain their trust by building a positive relationship with them over time.
Choosing some breeds over others will surely make the job easier, which ones are they? Let’s find out!
Mini lop
This adorable small bunny is part of the Lop family, characterized by fluffy drooping ears. Not to be confused with the Miniature lop, which is recognized by the British Rabbit Council but not by the ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association), it is one of the people’s favorites because of its sweet, adorable appearance. Not only are mini lops some of the cutest pet rabbits, but they are also known for their friendly and calm personality. They thrive in quiet environments, which doesn’t exactly make them the perfect fit for households with smaller children, but they can be quite playful and energetic. They are highly intelligent creatures that can be easily trained to follow commands, and they can get attached to their owner. However, because of their small size, you should always be careful when holding them or picking them up.
Dwarf lop
The dwarf lop shares the cute appearance and the floppy ears with the mini lop, but it’s a little larger in size. As with most dwarf rabbits, it’s a very docile and affectionate pet. Once they get used to their human family, they become very sociable and tend to get along with other pets as well. They are naturally curious and friendly, and they were intentionally bred to be manageable and enjoy the company of people, and with time, if properly introduced to children, they might let even smaller kids cuddle them.
Angora
Angora rabbits are known for their social personality which makes them loving, affectionate companions. They get used very fast to human contact and they are even able to create strong bonds with their owner. This is partly due to their fur, but why is the fur even connected to their temperament? Their woolly fur needs lots of time and attention, as it needs very frequent grooming. This usually translates into having to brush them for at least a few hours every single week, a practice that allows them to get to trust human contact easily and to build a trust relationship with their human buddies. At the same time, their personal space needs to be respected: when scared, they can get quite aggressive! You should always give them enough time to adjust to the new environment before attempting to cuddle them.
Harlequin
This easily recognizable bunny is characterized by the large colorful stripes of its fur. They enjoy people’s company and are very intelligent and playful. They can also get quite cuddly! They love back scratches and pets. As long as they are handled correctly, they won’t become aggressive. Their calm, gentle and docile nature makes them very good pets to have around kids. This, however, does not mean that kids should be in charge of them. Like all rabbits, they are not low maintenance and require responsible adults to take good care of them.
Chinchilla rabbit
This rabbit owes its name to its grey, silky coat, very similar to Chinchillas’ one. Needless to say, their fur it’s irresistible and will make you want to pet it all the time. Similar to the breeds that we have already mentioned, the Chinchilla rabbit is a highly intelligent and playful pet: its inquisitive and outgoing personality will make it a lively, dynamic presence in the house. It easily gets used to adults, children, and other animals alike, and they usually love to cuddle. As long as they are handled with care, they might even let strangers hold them! This is very good news, considering that your friends and guests at home will be thrilled to pet their inviting, fluffy fur!
Dutch
Dutch rabbits are easy to identify thanks to the distinctive color pattern of their fur. They are known for being easy-going and sociable pets. They are a good breed for families with children because of their calm temperament that makes them less inclined to aggressive behaviors. They are very friendly and easy to train, which makes them a good choice for beginners as well. Despite being peaceful creatures, they are very energetic pets too that will require several hours outside of their cage daily. They can get very excited for playtime, so don’t be surprised if they start jumping around!
Himalayan
Last but not least, the Himalayan rabbit makes a great domestic pet and one of the best ones for children. Unfortunately, they are not as easy to find as other bunnies, but if you’re willing to put some extra time in your hunt for the perfect furry companion, it will be worth it. They are very affectionate creatures and really enjoy pets and cuddling with their human family. This is one of the oldest rabbit breeds in the world, their calm temperament, and laidback personality are perfect for domestic environments, although they are very much appreciated at rabbit shows too due to their positive attitude towards being held and touched.
Important reminders:
Although certain characteristics might be shared among rabbits of the same breed, there are exceptions, and the personality will ultimately depend on the individual bunny. When considering these loving pets as companions, the best thing you can do is discuss the individual personality of the pet you’re thinking of adopting with the breeder. Before your final decision, you also want to observe your choice of rabbit for a few minutes to get an idea of how they move around and react to their environment. Remember that most rabbits, even the most affectionate ones, will not let you touch them before they can trust you. This is because they are easily scared creatures, which brings us to the next point.
Since rabbits get scared quite easily, you want to pay attention to your movement and tone of voice around them. A loud noise or a sudden movement can be really fighting for them, and although not all of them react aggressively – especially if they are already used to their new home – they can still get nervous, and this can potentially affect the trust-based relationship you are trying to build with them;
Some of the rabbits mentioned above can be very tiny! Handling a very small rabbit requires very special attention to avoid compromising their delicate bone structure and in order not to scare them. Children, especially younger ones, should always be under supervision when interacting with them;
Finally, we all love a good snuggle with cute bunnies, but let’s not confuse them with stuffed toys. Rabbits can be very high-maintenance pets that require time, effort, and financial costs. If you are new to this world, make sure you are prepared before sailing into this new adventure!
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