Key Takeaways There are many different breeds of rabbits with varied colors, sizes, shapes, and coat types.Choosing a rabbit breed should consider size and maintenance needs, especially regarding coat grooming.Small breeds can weigh under 2.5 pounds, while giant breeds can weigh over 20 pounds.
Key Takeaways
There are many different breeds of rabbits with varied colors, sizes, shapes, and coat types.Choosing a rabbit breed should consider size and maintenance needs, especially regarding coat grooming.Small breeds can weigh under 2.5 pounds, while giant breeds can weigh over 20 pounds.
There are many different breeds of rabbits, all with different colors, sizes, shapes, and coat types. While the subtler differences between rabbit breeds are mostly of interest to those who are plan to show their bunnies, the average pet owner should focus on the size and type of coat. Breeds can vary in size from the smaller dwarf breeds weighing less than 2.5 pounds to some of the giant breeds, weighing in at a whopping 20 pounds or more. Coats range in color, from whites to browns, grays, and black, while fur varies in texture and ranges from short to long.
When deciding which rabbit breed is best for your household, keep in mind both the projected adult size as well as proper maintenance. For example, the longer-coated breeds require daily grooming, so they are a little more time-consuming than the shorter-hair breeds. Here is an alphabetical list of rabbit breeds, including the average size and coat type, so that you can make an informed decision if you would like to welcome a rabbit into your family.
Pet Rabbit Breeds: An Alphabetical List
Alaskan
Despite its name, the Alaska rabbit did not originate in Alaska but rather in Germany, where it was originally bred for its fur. This striking jet-black breed, though once part of the American Rabbit Breeders Association standards, is now recognized by the British Rabbit Council and makes an attractive pet. Though it was at one time recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, the breed is no longer recognized by ARBA. The Alaska is recognized by the British Rabbit Council in the United Kingdom.
American
The American rabbit is a very rare breed. This large rabbit weighs about 12 pounds and comes in two solid colors (blue and white). The American is known for its sweet temperament and beautiful fur. The American Livestock Breed Conservancy lists the American as a critical breed.
American Chinchilla
The history of the American Chinchilla dates back to the New York State Fair in 1919, where a British exhibitor sold two Chinchilla rabbits to two U.S. rabbit breeders, who went on to breed them up in size. Gentle and hardy, the American Chinchilla is the rarest of the Chinchilla rabbit breeds.
American Sable
The medium-sized American Sable rabbit has a uniquely colored brown coat that resembles the color of a mink and features various shades from light to dark, with dark sepia color on the face, ears, feet, and tail. Rare today, the American Sable breed was created in the 1920s using different types of chinchilla rabbits.
Angora
Angora rabbits are known for their profuse, silky wool coats, known as Angora wool. The luxurious coat requires considerable care, including frequent brushing to prevent or remove mats, as well as plucking, shearing, or clipping the coat every few months. There are several Angora rabbit breeds, including the English Angora, French Angora, Giant Angora, and Satin Angora.
Argente Rabbits
Argente rabbits hail from France and are known for their dense, glossy silky coats that come in a variety of beautiful colors. There are several Argente rabbit breeds, which range in size, including Argente Brun (silver-brown), Argente Bleu (silver-blue), Champagne d’Argent (silver rabbit of Champagne), Argente Noir (born black, but transform to a silvery slate-blue color), Crème d’Argent (creamy-white color with a bright orange undercolor) and Argente St. Hubert (silver).
Belgian Hare
According to the American Rabbit Breeders Association, the Belgian Hare is one of the oldest rabbit breeds in the United States, dating back to the 1880s in America, though the breed was developed much earlier in Belgium. With its long, slender body, arched back, and rounded hindquarters, the Belgian Hare looks much like a wild hare. The breed is extremely rare.
Blanc de Hotot (White Hotot)
The Blanc de Hotot (White Hotot) is a solid white rabbit with black “eyeliner” markings ringing its dark eyes. The Blanc de Hotot was developed in France in the early 19th century. The Blanc de Hotot rabbit was used to develop the Dwarf Hotot, which has similar markings but is much smaller.
Britannia Petite
Weighing in at a maximum of 2.5 pounds, the Britannia Petite is a very tiny rabbit, and in fact, is one of the smallest rabbit breeds recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. In the United Kingdom, the Britannia Petite is known as the Polish. Energetic and high-strung, the Britannia Petite can be difficult to handle.
Californian
The Californian rabbit is one of the most popular breeds recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. As its name suggests, the breed was created in Southern California in the 1920s. The Californian rabbit has a white body with Himalayan coloring (darker points of color on the extremities, including the nose, ears, feet, and tail. They always have pink eyes.
Checkered Giant
A rabbit breed with a long history in the United States, the Checkered Giant was first recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 1919. True to its name, the Checkered Giant is a large rabbit that weighs at least 11 pounds or more and has distinctive checkered markings on its white body. The breed is known as “the Rabbit Beautiful.” The Checkered Giant is an active rabbit that needs a lot of space to run.
Chinchilla
The American Rabbit Breeders Association recognizes three Chinchilla breeds: the American Chinchilla, the Standard Chinchilla, and the Giant Chinchilla. All Chinchilla rabbit breeds have soft coats with unique silver coloring that resembles the chinchilla, a small rodent native to South America that is also kept as a pet. The color is a blend of grays, with dark slate blue at the base, darker blue at the top edge, and shades of light gray in between.
Cinnamon
The Cinnamon rabbit is so named due to its lustrous short red coat. The breed was created in the 1970s from a cross between a Chinchilla doe and the New Zealand buck. One of the bucks from the litter was then bred with a Checkered Giant/Californian doe, resulting in some red babies. Cinnamon rabbits are medium-sized and make sweet and affectionate pets.
Continental
Sometimes referred to as Contis or Continental Giants, the Continental rabbit is likely related to the Flemish Giant. They come in white and colored varieties, and are a large breed, weighing up to 16 pounds. The Continental rabbit is recognized by the British Rabbit Council, but it is not recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association.
Creme d'Argent
Argente rabbits hail from France and are known for their dense, glossy silky coats that come in a variety of beautiful colors. One of four Argente rabbit breeds recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, the Crème d’Argent is known for its creamy-white coat with a bright orange undercolor. This rare breed only exists in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Dutch
With its characteristic bi-colored markings, the Dutch rabbit is one of the most familiar rabbits, ranking in the top 10 of the most popular rabbit breeds. The breed is small, ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 pounds. Despite its name, the Dutch rabbit in fact originated in England, and it’s one of the oldest breeds of rabbit, dating back to the 1850s. The Dutch rabbit is friendly and active, making it a popular pet.
Dward Hotot
The Dwarf Hotot rabbit is a unique-looking breed, all white with black “eyeliner” markings ringing its dark eyes. It’s related to the larger Blanc de Hotot (White Hotot), from which the Dwarf Hotot acquired its good looks. The Dwarf Hotot is very small, weighing in at less than 3 pounds. Friendly, curious, and active, the Dwarf Hotot is best as an only pet.
English Lop
Famous for its extremely long ears (the longest of all rabbits), the English Lop is likely the first lop-eared rabbit breed, meaning all other lop-eared rabbit breeds can trace their ancestry back to the English Lop. English Lops have been known since the early 1800s and were extremely popular pets during the reign of Queen Victoria. Absolutely adorable, the English Lop is a calm and friendly pet.
English Spot
The attractively speckled English Spot traces its history back to England in the 1800s. The breed arrived in the United States just before the turn of the 20th century, where they were warmly received. The English Spot has characteristic markings on its white body, including a butterfly mark on the nose, eye circles, cheek spots, spine markings (herringbones), colored ears, and a chain of spots along the body.
Flemish Giant (Patagonian)
Named for its believed place of origin of Flanders, Belgium, the Flemish Giant rabbit has been known in Europe since the 17th century. The breed has no maximum weight, but some Flemish Giants can weigh 20 pounds or more. It was brought to the United States in the 1890s, where its large size proved helpful in increasing the weight of rabbits bred for meat. Nicknamed “the Gentle Giant” due to its extremely sweet temperament, the Flemish Giant is an exceptional pet.
Florida White
Although the Florida White rabbit was initially bred in the 1960s for use as a laboratory rabbit, today this smaller rabbit breed is a popular pet and competitive show rabbit. As its name suggests, the Florida White is always pure white with red eyes. The breed has a maximum weight of 6 pounds.
French Lop
The French Lop is most likely descended from the English Lop and the Giant Papillon rabbit, which was a large spotted rabbit that’s generally considered to be extinct today. The French Lop is a massive, heavy-boned rabbit that has no upper weight limit. Like the English Lop, the French Lop has low-set droopy ears, although they are not as long as the English Lop’s ears. The French Lop is gentle and laid-back, with a sweet personality.
Giant Papillon
The Giant Papillon rabbit was a large, spotted rabbit breed that is now considered extinct. However, some people consider the Giant Papillon to be virtually identical to another breed, the German Giant Spotted, so the technicality of its state of extinction is sometimes debated. The Giant Papillon was also related to and extremely similar to the Checked Giant rabbit.
Harlequin
The Harlequin rabbit is a French breed that’s been around since the 1880s. Harlequin rabbits are bi-colored (two different colors) in different color combinations. Japanese Harlequins may be orange or fawn combined with black, blue, chocolate, or lilac. Magpie Harlequins are white combined with black, blue, chocolate, or lilac. The pattern is unique, with alternating patches of color. For instance, an ideally patterned Harlequins will have half the face white while the other half of the face is black, then the pattern is flipped so the ear on the white side of the face is black while the ear on the black side of the face is white.
Havana
The Havana rabbit is known as the “Mink of the Rabbit Fancy” due to its soft, luxurious, mink-like coat. This small rabbit has a compact body shape. Despite its name, the breed originated in Holland. The name Havana referred to the similarity between the color of Havana cigars and the rabbit’s fur (at first, all Havana rabbits were chocolate-colored). Havanas were brought to the United States in the early 1900s; they were recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 1916.
Himalayan
The Himalayan rabbit is a striking rabbit with pointed coloration like a Siamese or Himalayan cat, consisting of a solid white body with darker “points” of color on the extremities (the nose, ears, feet, lower legs, and tail. Points may be black, blue, chocolate, or lilac. Affectionately called “Himmies,” the Himalayan rabbit is also known for its unique, cylindrical body shape. The Himalayan is one of the oldest rabbit breeds, but its origins are debated. These small, sweet rabbits are laid-back and easy to handle.
Holland Lop
The diminutive Holland Lop is a dwarf rabbit breed with lop ears. It has a large head relative to its body, and small dropped ears. The Holland Lop is in the top five most popular breeds recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. It is docile and easier to handle than some of the larger lop breeds of rabbits.
Jersey Woolly
The Jersey Woolly is a relatively new breed of rabbit that was recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 1988. This dwa