Netherland Dwarfs

[whaleyk98]

Hi everyone. I am seriously looking into getting a couple chocolate nethies (love the color) but Im not sure about the dwarf breeds. Are they skittish or snotty? Are their personalities lovable and are they an easy breed to deal with? Im used to the ELs and they are like puppy dogs.....can anyone tell me about their experiences? Thanks =)

 

[wooly_queen]

Nethies can be all over the place personality wise. Make sure if you buy them that you get ones that are bred for personality. lol Some can be little snots.

When breeding, be prepared for tiny litters and peanuts (double dwarf gene babies).

That's what I know. lol

 

[polly]

Hey sorry I didn't see this earlier I have no Internet at the mo.
I have had nethies for around 10 years first as pets and now for breeding/ showing. I would say you can get snotty ones though on a whole it's more that they are very cheeky and mischevious (sp?) I could count on one hand how many nasty ones I have come across ( never had chocs mind you so not sure on that colour) generally if handled well from young they will be very loving and affectionate. Though you will find them a bit more demanding than your English lops.
I find them very hard not to fall in love with and would never be without them :0D

 

[jcottonl02]

Hmmm, I think it really depends on the individual bunny, and how much handling/socialising they get from a young age.

However...I have heard people say that the smaller breeds tend to be less 'cuddly' and more skittish, whereas the larger breeds seem more happy just to 'lounge' with you etc. but I am not sure it I entirely agree with that.
The small breeds are going to be quite fast, and perhaps a bit more agile than the larger breeds, (??) so maybe that would make them seem less cuddly etc.

Having said that, though, I only know 3 netherland dwarfs. My Gran's was incredibly aggressive, shy, and hated cuddles. My friend's two were aggressive, territorial, skittish, and didn't enjoy cuddles or strokes, that I could see. I don't 'blame' my Gran for that bun- I think she genuinely just got a troublesome bunny (rest its soul), but I don't think my friend is an awesome owner. The rabbits barely get ANY handling, or exercise time, so I am not surprised that when she does approach them, they growl at her and act aggressive:grumpy.

I have to say, nethie's have the absolute CUTEST faces ever

Jen

 

[FelipesMommy]

My Felipe is a great bunny. He loves to be held and cuddled, but that sucker is FAST! He loves to run and needs lots of room for that, but I have not found him snotty at all. He will let me hold him for up to a half hour and be very happy. He lets all my family hold him nicely too.

 

[whaleyk98]

Thanks everyone. Im still looking into this breed but I am realllyyy liking the chocolate and will talk to the breeder some more before I make a final decision. You all have been great!

 

[TinysMom]

jcottonl02 wrote:

Hmmm, I think it really depends on the individual bunny, and how much handling/socialising they get from a young age.

However...I have heard people say that the smaller breeds tend to be less 'cuddly' and more skittish, whereas the larger breeds seem more happy just to 'lounge' with you etc. but I am not sure it I entirely agree with that.
The small breeds are going to be quite fast, and perhaps a bit more agile than the larger breeds, (??) so maybe that would make them seem less cuddly etc.

Having said that, though, I only know 3 netherland dwarfs. My Gran's was incredibly aggressive, shy, and hated cuddles. My friend's two were aggressive, territorial, skittish, and didn't enjoy cuddles or strokes, that I could see. I don't 'blame' my Gran for that bun- I think she genuinely just got a troublesome bunny (rest its soul), but I don't think my friend is an awesome owner. The rabbits barely get ANY handling, or exercise time, so I am not surprised that when she does approach them, they growl at her and act aggressive:grumpy.

I have to say, nethie's have the absolute CUTEST faces ever

Jen

I've had experiences with over 100 rabbits - mostly lionheads - but also holland lops, netherland dwarfs, mini lops, what we think were "beveren", french lop, flemish giant, flemish giant mixes, californians and I forget what all else.

From my experience - while the smaller breeds are more agile...they "tend" to be less cuddly than the larger breeds. I've had 3 Nethies - only one was even remotely interested in cuddling. I've found hollands CAN be cuddlers. I have a polish here who is cuddly - but she's five years old and I think she's really enjoying her life here in the last week since she's been here.

Californians are mellow - but not exactly cuddlers.

But flemish giants are *mostly* cuddly. I've heard of some that are not - maybe its just because I sit on the floor with them and pet them and let them climb all over me. I don't know.

From my experience - I think that some larger animals are more likely to be cuddlers.

Then again - I think ALL of my bunnies are just the "best" in the world...even if they're aggressive or shy or mean or whatever.

 

[jcottonl02]

How interesting Peg! I was hoping someone with a lot of experience with a lot of breeds would come and post.

So that is sort of 'true' then, that the larger breeds 'seem' to be more cuddly in general?


Jen

 

[whaleyk98]

I was just under the impression before that nethies can be nasty little buggers and I just was reluctant to get into that type of breed but I guess that could happen in any breed if not properly bred or raised. Im sure if they have winning stock than the stock has to be somewhat docile...am I right? I guess I wont know about the breed unless I get into it, huh. Thanks everyone for you input!

 

[FelipesMommy]

Honestly I got my Nethie from a pet store and he is cuddly. Not show stock for sure.

 

[TinysMom]

jcottonl02 wrote:

How interesting Peg! I was hoping someone with a lot of experience with a lot of breeds would come and post.

So that is sort of 'true' then, that the larger breeds 'seem' to be more cuddly in general?


Jen

Yes and no.

Take a dwarf that has been handled daily since birth (for example - Polly's) - and I bet you'll see a cuddly netherland dwarf...or at least one that is not aggressive.

I've seen/had aggressive lionheads that were raised outside in a cage and only really touched to go in carriers and go to shows. Talk about mean...I used to be scared to put food in her cage.

Then she became ill and NEEDED me. Suddenly - she became the most cuddly rabbit you've seen - would lay in my arms/lap for almost an hour at a time before getting up to run around.

I can see where Angel, my new Polish has a LOT of energy for a five year old - yet she still likes it when I pet her and hold her and coo at her. But she HAS to run some too to burn off that energy she has.

I think a big part of it is the type of rabbit - and another part of it is the rabbit's life and care at the breeder's place before it goes to a new home.

Handle any rabbit from the nestbox on up - and I think they're more likely to be socialized and less skittish of humans.

My point? Its not JUST breed - but breed does play a lot into it.

 

[TinysMom]

whaleyk98 wrote:

I was just under the impression before that nethies can be nasty little buggers and I just was reluctant to get into that type of breed but I guess that could happen in any breed if not properly bred or raised. Im sure if they have winning stock than the stock has to be somewhat docile...am I right? I guess I wont know about the breed unless I get into it, huh. Thanks everyone for you input!

Sorry - one of the meanest does I ever got was from someone who had winning stock (in several breeds) at all of the shows.

My suggestion would be to see the rabbits in person and try handling them yourself BEFORE buying them. If this person won't allow you to do that - then go to a show and look for some there and handle the rabbits first.

I really think that with Netherland dwarfs (and I've had 3) - I would want to handle them before deciding for sure cause their bites can hurt!

I think the only time I'd buy a Nethie without holding it first - would be if Polly was flying to the states and sneaking one in her luggage for me. Then I'd take a Nethie without any questions.

 

[polly]

Lol peg no problem at all just need an invite and some summer clothes

I can honestly tell you with my nethies I have 13 does in varying colours my blue eyed White sticks her nose out every time you open her cage door for nose rubs as do most of the others but with her you have to push her back in again. A blue doe that licks you to death lol and a chin doe that just wants to sit in your arms all day. When pregnant the most I get is a grunt never a bite!

The bucks we have 11 jj and lo would nip if you put your finger through the wire of the cage but mainly cause they are greedy lol none would bite while being handled unless you hurt them!
We wouldn't have biting rabbits in our sheds and we will remove them from our lines.

Now we also have brittania petites which are notorious over here for biting none of bruces bite when you go into them in fact you can put your finger through the wire of his young does hutch and tickle her chin! However they are still a bit scatty when you pick them up. Again I think a lot of this is down to handling.

The beverens are different altogether and I am still getting to grips with them. I find they have a very scared and scatty personality. They need huge amounts of handling and don't like change ever! If they are nice they are very very nice and when they are bad they are horrid lol. It takes them a lot to trust you. A good example is my young doe Dottie. Happy doe full of beans always up to the front to see you at cage door until the day I decided while she was in her hutch to clean her litter corner ( now I should say I go into the hutch every day ruffle shavings etc so they are not territorial) she did not like it and it took me 3 days afterwards before she stopped grunting at me and hiding at the back of her hutch!
I have had some nasty bites from the beverens though they don't hurt as much as a nethie bite but being a big breed you have to be wary. They also may sit with you but generally prefer to be up to mischief just like a nethie.

The main thing I can tell anyone is handling handling handling. In the majority of cases this is enough. And never breed from a biter!

 

[Sabine]

The first nethie I ever bought was from a pet shop and she is the sweetest thing. I know own four nethies that I am breeding from and they are the mellowest rabbits I've ever come across. One of them (the stud buck) is even super neat and I swear he dusts his hutch every night. Not a stray poop outside his litter tray
The two younger ones would be a bit more skittish then the older buck and doe but all of them come up for rubs

 

[whaleyk98]

Me again. Question. Can you breed BEW N.dwarfs to any other color or just VM or BEWs? What about chocolates...what can they be bred to?