Netherland Dwarf Rabbits (Best Handling Tips)

Like many ‘miniature’ pets, Netherland Dwarf rabbits can be very appealing, particularly to young children but what are these rabbits like? Picking up a new pet is something that a lot of new owners look forward to, but do Netherland Dwarf rabbits like to be handled? let’s take a look

Netherland Dwarf rabbits prefer to have all four paws on the ground and do not typically like to be held. However, if they learn to trust you and are handled with care they will learn to tolerate and possibly even enjoy being picked up.

Having owned two netherland dwarf rabbits I have found that these little rabbits can be a little apprehensive of being picked up. However, this is not just a characteristic of this breed.

Being prey animals, all rabbits have a tendency to want to stay on the ground (given that they probably associate the feeling of being picked up to that of being scooped up by a predator.

Some rabbits may even try to nip you if they are particularly fearful of this experience and despite their small stature, a Netherland dwarf rabbit can give a particularly painful nip.

However, this doesn’t mean that you will be totally unable to interact with one, you will just need to be mindful of how your physical interactions make the rabbit feel and work on building a strong and trusting bond

Are Netherland Dwarf Rabbits Good Pets?

All rabbits are different and the way a rabbit reacts to you as an owner will be a reflection of the care and kindness you give it.

In other words, if you put a lot of effort into the correct care including providing a good diet, a safe, clean, and comfortable enclosure, and spend a lot of time building a bond, you should get an equivalent amount of love back from the pet.

Netherland Dwarf rabbits are no exception to this rule and can be a tempting breed for new bunny owners since they are very small rabbits that will not usually exceed around 2.5lbs (incredibly cute!).

Despite their small size, it should be noted that a Netherland Dwarf still requires the same amount of dwelling and exercise space as a regular-sized rabbit.

The Netherland Dwarf’s size may be one of the reasons that they can be an extremely nervous breed and can become frightened very easily.

This is because they will have a little more to fear than some of the more regular-sized breeds, for example, a house cat looks significantly more threatening to Netherland Dwarf than it does to a 4lb lop-eared rabbit.

Naturally, rabbits exposed to frequent stress may start to suffer all manner of health problems as a result which could lead to a shortened lifespan.

Do Netherland Dwarf Rabbits Make Good Pets for Children?

One of the common mistakes that parents make is purchasing a Netherland dwarf for their child, thinking that a small breed will be suitable for a small person. However, this is not the case.

While not intentional, children can be very heavy-handed and do not have the knowledge of how to correctly handle a rabbit. This can obviously be stressful for your pet.

What’s more, if your child is too rough when touching the rabbit, this could upset the animal and cause it to bite, upsetting both child and pet.

The problem when it comes to young children and rabbits is that children, especially the very young have not developed the dexterity or pressure awareness to be able to handle a rabbit safely.

This means a rabbit is more likely to perceive a threat to its life when handled by a child and may fight to escape.

Despite their agility, rabbits have fragile skeletons. In particular, the delicate spine can easily break under trauma. In the case of a small rabbit such as a Netherland Dwarf, even a drop from a very small height could cause significant injury.

With all of this in mind, families with smaller children may do better to consider adopting a larger, more ‘robust’ breed. In my experience, these tend to have a much calmer temperament and will be more tolerant of the threats posed by smaller children.

That said, families with older children or those that are made up solely of adults will find that, given the right care, a Netherland Dwarf makes a nice addition.

Are Netherland Dwarf Rabbits Friendly?

We see frequent reports that Netherland Dwarf rabbits make excellent pets. In my experience, they are perfectly suited to being kept in captivity and love human interaction, particularly gentle head strokes (as seen below with my own Netherland Dwarf rabbit, Princess).

Do Netherland Dwarf Rabbits Like To Cuddle?

Though rabbits are not keen on being handled, this doesn’t mean that the pet will not appreciate regular fuss.

Since the Netherland Dwarf is a very timid rabbit breed it takes them some time to trust an owner but with a lifespan of between seven and ten years, you have all the time in the world.

One of the best ways to gain the rabbits trust is to let the rabbit come to you rather than trying to constantly approach it for cuddles. Gentle coaxing such as healthy treats will also help solidify your bond.

Netherland dwarf bunnies also love to be brushed. If you are looking to spend some quality, loving time with your pet, grooming is a good way to do this.

To begin with, you might have to brush the rabbit gently away from you but once you have a bond, the pet will be happy to sit in your lap.

Can Netherland Dwarf Rabbits Live Alone?

You will often see rabbits living in groups, or at the very least, in pairs. Netherland dwarf rabbits are no different. While they may be shy creatures, they are very social and love to interact with other rabbits.

For this reason, it is always advisable to adopt more than one bunny at a time. While a male and a female will naturally make the best pairing, it is entirely possible to place two males or two females in an enclosure without too much of a risk of falling out, provided both animals are fixed to help reduce aggression.

On the flip side, Netherland Dwarfs can also be perfectly happy with a human companion provided they have regular human interaction.

What Do Netherland Dwarf Rabbits Like?

The Netherland dwarf rabbit loves to play and once they have built up trust with their owners, you will likely have a lot of fun with your pet.

Giving them plenty of space to explore and run around is crucial as even though they are a small breed, they still like to exercise.

These rabbits also have a healthy appetite and while they won’t need to eat as much as larger breeds, they like to experiment.

You can offer fruits such as apples and bananas as well as various vegetables to supplement your pet’s staple diet. If your keen to learn what you should be feeding these smaller rabbits you can also check out our full feeding guide here.

Wrap Up

Netherland Dwarf rabbits make rewarding little companions for the right owners. They are known to thrive well in quiet homes and will display a gentle nature to those who treat them with proper care.

When it comes to handling, despite their skittish nature, building a bond through respect and kindness will ensure that you can carefully pick these little rabbits up with only a very slight chance of ever being bitten.