Temperament among different breeds

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Hermelin

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Hi,

I’m wondering about different temperament among the different breeds of rabbits.

I’m planning to buy a new rabbit in the future but I’m not sure which breed. I have two adopted rabbits and one from a breeder.


I know perfectly well that rabbits have different personalities and that what you go after. I have three cuddly rabbits but only two of them are couch potatoes (lazy bun) like me, so I can have rabbits in the couch and watch a movie while cuddling a rabbit.
 
I think that I'm a bit biased on the breeds, (we all probably are) but I want to start off by saying that not ALL breeds are like the label we put on them. For example, I wouldn't ever recommend the Netherland Dwarf for new rabbits owners or ones with little kids, just because they can be stressed out easily and often times the breeders won't socialize the rabbits enough, so they're always skittish. But, if I did have the sweetest ND, whom I know handles stress well and would be a good fit, I of course would offer that as an option. Breeders are another topic I want to discuss, but let me finish this. For me personally, I find larger breeds are more of a couch potato, and smaller ones are more curious and adventurous, needing more exercise. And larger breeds tend to have a sweeter temperament. I love the Velveteen Lop, I find them so personable and cuddly. They're pretty much like a puppy dog in a bunnies body, temperament wise. Now I have had a MEAN V-lop, who wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with you. I also currently have a young Mini Lop/Holland Lop mix, who is just about the sweetest most cuddly thing in the world. When she was smaller, we'd stick her in our shirts and carry her around to keep her warm. She just sat there and slept. Cutest thing ever. Her mom though, was quite shy and hates to be picked up and touched. (Mom is a rescue off the streets though, baby grew up with us spoiling her).
Now for the breeders, I would always recommend buying a bun from a breeder that says something like 'breed for quality, not quantity' or 'breed for temperament'. I find that smaller rabbitrys have more socialized buns who love human attention. Now, if you're adopting, of course the temperament of the rabbit is really the only way to tell, you can't much rely on the temperament of the breed, because of their backstory and things they've been through.
But you are right when you said that its the personalities you look for. If you find the sweetest little Dwarf bun, go for it. Or even the snuggliest Flemish! It's really all about the rabbit.
Good luck!
 
I’m thinking of getting a velvet rabbit (I think their fur looks lovely) or maybe a flemish giant (I have soft spot for giants, it’s more rabbit to cuddle with) from a breeder. I think it’s quite fun being with a rabbit kit from 8 weeks and watch them grow up. And they are also so cute and fluffy. I have a soft spot for cute animals [emoji23]

I have never experienced a not cuddly rabbit before or even owned one that dosen’t like spending hours cuddling with me or my family.

Even though you can say my adopted rabbits was more like an impulse buy, never knew their personalities or seen them in real life, only in pictures. But I never regretted buying them.

The breeds I have/ had own: mixed netherland dwarf/holland loop, netherland dwarf, mixed holland loop and french loop.
 
I have a standard rex rabbit. With larger bunnies they are calmer. I've had little bunnies and they were more adventurous.
 
I have mini rex and I have one that is super shy and the other one very outgoing and loves to be held, one that is grumpy and doesn't like being held at all and I have one that you should not touch at all or even get in her space or she will bite you. It really depends on each individual rabbit. I am a breeder and my grumpy one has had the sweetest babies one that I kept and did not mention is so sweet a lap bunny and loves the attention he really doesn't like to be held but he tolerates it. The only time I hold my rabbits is when I am taking them to the playpen or trimming their nails and doing health checks. But yes it really depends on the individual and baby personalities do not count, my grumpy one was super sweet as a baby and when that "teenager stage" hit she pretty well stayed the same except I can pet her and get into her cage not without getting bit.
 
The one that bites when you get in her space, I just got her and I'm working on getting her where I can at least pet her.
 

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