Netherland Dwarf Temperament
Let’s talk about rabbit temperament. I hear a lot of discussion (especially in online forums) about Netherland Dwarfs specifically. That they are sassy, super active, and feisty. 😬 And that they aren’t good for kids because of these qualities and will never be “cuddly.”
Yea, I get it. I’ve heard the horror stories and I do agree that not EVERY rabbit is good for ANY child. But overall these statements are a huge generalization about Nethies (and about children!) Let’s talk truth and clear up any confusion.
Truth:
All domesticated rabbits are derived from the same species so they all started in then same place.
Any rabbit can be feisty, aggressive, or even downright mean, no matter the breed.
Overall, nethie’s do tend to be more active than the gentle giant rabbits, but you will find both active and lazy rabbits in every breed.
Nethie’s do have more delicate digestive systems, as they are the smallest breed of rabbit.
All that personality packed into a small body can seem sassy! But that does not necessarily equal meanness or aggressive behavior. And I personally have yet to meet a rabbit in any breed who isn’t sassy about one thing or another. Try redecorating any rabbit’s home and you’ll see what I mean.
Nethie’s can ABSOLUTELY be social, friendly, and cuddly.
Children can make great stewards and caregivers to animals with guidance from their adults. Caring for a pet, teaches kids about responsibility, humbleness, gentleness, and love. Of course, the adult will still need to be involved. Every pet should be a FAMILY member, not just one individual’s pet.
So how do you find a friendly Netherland Dwarf?
Photo: Aubrey and Bloom (adopted from Breadbox) captured by Versailles Gonzalez
Nature
The first, and most important, determining factor in animal temperament is breeding. The breeder who you are working with has control of this aspect! Animals with great temperament bred together create mostly animals with great temperament. I personally feel that about 60-80% of temperament is passed on. The longer the breeder has been focused on breeding for good temperament, the more relaxed and calm the rabbits. This is true for all domesticated animals. Pick a breeder who prioritizes temperament of their rabbits and who is honest about those traits as not EVERY rabbit is super friendly and outgoing. Rabbits are like people, their personalities are just as varied as ours.
For reference, the lines of rabbits that I work with have been bred for genetic health, show quality aesthetics, and temperament for over 40 years. Not all by me personally of course, but through mentors and other breeders that hold the same standards and goals as I do. Not all breeders who show their rabbits are focused on temperament, and that’s okay. We all have different ideas about what we are working towards. But for me, a top priority is to continue domestication on a path of rabbits living with us, in our homes, as well as looking beautiful and having excellent long term health.
I know that you may have to travel far to find a great breeder, but facetime and zoom have made it easy for us to “meet” with clients before they make a long trip or have a rabbit transported to them.
Nurture
Now that we’ve covered nature (the genetic traits that are passed from parent to offspring), let’s introduce nurture. Yes, what a baby bunny is introduced to early in life makes a huge difference. Find a breeder who is socializing their rabbits well, but realize that a lot of this job will be YOURS if you are picking a baby. They are only with their breeder for the beginning stages of life - sleeping, growing, spending time with mom, learning to eat, and more growing. Most of their understanding of what their role will be in this world will be learned from YOU, your family, where you home your rabbit, and the adventures you take your rabbit on. How much time and energy you spend with your rabbit is directly related to how much they will seek you out and what they will get used to.
Family Life
If picking a rabbit for a child, it should be noted that your child(ren)s temperament is just as important as the rabbit’s! Not every child and family is ready for a small animal that needs somewhat gentle handling and has a strict diet (they cannot handle more than a very tiny amount of treats, carrots, or fruit.) If you are a family that has a lot of experience with animals, you’ll do great. Rabbits have specific needs just like every other animal and they are easy to research right here on our blog.
If you haven’t had many pets, that’s okay too, but curb your expectations properly. Rabbits are not cats or dogs. Their body language, bonding style, and needs are different. We see this as a positive! They don’t need walks, or bark, or vomit (ever!). They are great in the car, clean themselves, are completely vegan, and extremely social. And yes, they can bond closely to people, including young children who have the ability to be patient.
Expectations
Do not expect “perfection” instantaneously. When adopting a new pet, there will be challenges. Dogs will chew, bark, and jump up on people and will need firm and consistent training to overcome these obstacles. Cats will destroy your curtains, claw you, and kill all the house plants, even if they are close to ceiling height 😂. Rabbits come with their own set of challenges that can also be overcome with a combination of training and adjusting your life and home around them. They will start off going everywhere but the litter box, run away every time you try to pick them up, and will chew all of your charging cables. Training takes time and patience with any rabbit, but that will be covered in detail in other posts.
I hope this gives someone out there peace of mind about Netherland Dwarf temperament. It’s hard to find a trustworthy and non-preachy source of information about rabbits online so take what you read (and hear on Facebook) with a grain of salt. The biggest takeaway from this should be finding a TRUSTWORTHY and HONEST breeder or rescue that will let you spend a good deal of time with the rabbits before you make a decision.
Do you have a friendly Netherland Dwarf? Share your tips in the comments about how you bonded with your rabbit after bringing them home.
