Which Pet Rabbit Breed Is Best and Child Friendly? What are the Best Breeds of Rabbits as Pets for First Time Owner? Check Out Our List of 12 Popular and Cute Pet Rabbit Breeds with Pictures.

You can find various types of rabbits for pets. If you want to have a rabbit as a pet, you need to know about the top rabbit breeds for house pets.

The several breeds of rabbits differ in their size, attributes, and qualities. You can select your pet bunny according to your preferences.

Keeping Rabbits as Pets

Rabbits as pets are cute, cuddly, and playful. However, you have to be consistent with rabbit care. Rabbits have some specific needs that you need to take care of.

The various rabbit breeds come with different personality traits, physical features, and care needs. Some of them love being cuddled, whereas others tend to hop in a different direction when you try to cuddle them.

Before you get a pet bunny, you need to take a look at the characteristics of each breed carefully. You also need to consider each rabbit breed’s susceptibility to diseases. It will help you in choosing the right pet.

The breed Netherland Dwarf, for example, is prone to developing malocclusion. Other rabbit breeds have common rabbit health issues. Rabbits make affectionate pets only if you are ready to care for them.

Read: Rabbit Care: How to Care for a Pet Bunny

Top 12 Popular and Best Pet Rabbit Breeds

Let’s take a look at the top pet rabbit breeds for your family that you can select:

1. Mini Rex Rabbit

Mini Rex is one of the best and popular pet rabbit breeds. The size of Mini Rex rabbits ranges between 3.5 and 4.5 pounds. They have a calm and quiet personality.

They can live up to 5-7 years. The Rex rabbits include the chinchilla, castor, and Himalayan rabbits. The Mini Rex rabbits are smaller than the Rex rabbits.

They have little ears and a cute thinking face. The best thing about Mini Rex rabbit breed is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money in grooming and caring for them. They do not require expensive rabbit supplies.

2. Dutch Rabbit

If you are wondering which breed of rabbit is most child friendly, it is the Dutch Rabbit or the Dutch Lop. The size of this breed ranges between 4 and 5.5 pounds. They can live for 5 to 8 years.

Dutch Rabbits have a striking color pattern that enhances their appearance. They shed a lot of hair during summer. They need daily exercise.

As they are docile and placid by nature, you can easily handle them. They are also highly sociable. If you socialize them early on, Dutch Rabbits can be one of the best rabbit breeds for kids.

Check Out: Hamster as Pet: How to Know if a Hamster is the Right Pet for You

3. Holland Lop Rabbit

Holland Lop is one of the best small rabbit breeds. The size of this breed ranges between 2 and 4 pounds. They can live up to 7-14 years.

Rabbits of this breed are energetic and friendly. You can find them in various shades and hides such as white, agouti, ticked, and strong patterns.

Holland Lop’s floppy hair and medium-thick hide make them one of the cutest bunny breeds.

Just like Dutch Rabbit, they shed a lot of hair during summer. If you select this breed, you should bunny-proof your house. Holland Lop rabbits need plenty of space to roam around.

4. Lionhead Rabbit

If you are looking for friendly rabbit breeds, Lionhead Rabbit will be ideal for you. Their size ranges between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds. They can live up to 7-10 years.

They have long hair on their neck and head. They are friendly and love bonding with people. If you are looking for a rabbit buddy, Lionhead Rabbit breed is perfect for you.

Lionhead Rabbits have some specific needs that you need to fulfill. They require more attention from their owners, compared to other breeds. They love playing with humans and enjoy small toys.

As Lionhead Rabbits shed more hair than other rabbit breeds, they also need a lot of grooming. They make great pets because they are energetic and affectionate.

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5. Polish Rabbit

Polish Rabbit is one of the most affectionate rabbit breeds. They are dwarf rabbits whose size ranges between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds. They can live up to 5-6 years.

Rabbits of this breed are best kept indoors. Polish Rabbits have short and upright ears. They have large eyes and beautiful markings.

Most of them have dark spots and a pristine white background. As they have a docile and sweet nature, Polish Rabbits are one of the most popular breeds.

However, rabbits of this breed are prone to a chronic health condition called Cow pile syndrome. In this condition, their large intestine becomes enlarged, resulting in a soft stool. It can be life-threatening in some cases.

6. Netherland Dwarf Rabbit

Netherland Dwarf Rabbit is the smallest rabbit breed. These dwarf rabbits weigh between 1.1 and 2.5 pounds. They can live up to 10-12 years.

They have cute, small, upright ears. Their funny jumps and endearing personality make Netherland Dwarf Rabbits as one of the most affectionate rabbit breeds.

They can be shy initially, but they are friendly once they know you well. However, they won’t like it if you cuddle them all the time.

Rabbits of this breed are best kept indoors. As they are energetic, you must provide them with a large space so that they can hop around.  Netherland Dwarf Rabbits have a high risk of developing malocclusion.

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7. Mini Lop Rabbit

Mini Lop is one of the friendliest rabbit breeds. They love cuddles and human company. Their size ranges between 4.5 and 6 pounds.

Mini Lop Rabbits can live up to 5-10 years. They are medium sized rabbits with drooping ears. You can find them in various colors.

As Mini Lop Rabbits are extremely cute and adorable, they make wonderful pets. They are less dynamic compared to other breeds.

You must ensure that they get daily exercise. Rabbits of this breed are prone to dental problems and ear infections.

Must See: Benefits of Adopting a Pet Rabbit: Bunny as a Pet

8. Chinchilla Rabbit

You can find three types of Chinchilla rabbits: Standard, American, and Giant. Standard Chinchilla is the most common among the three Chinchilla rabbits.

Their size ranges between 5 and 7 pounds. They can live up to 5-8 years. Standard Chinchilla rabbits are susceptible to ear mites and overgrown teeth.

They are docile and calm. They will enjoy if you cuddle and hold them. Rabbits of this breed need a lot of space to play and hop around.

American Chinchilla Rabbit breed, on the other hand, looks a lot like the cute Easter bunny. The size of American Chinchilla rabbits is between 9 and 11 pounds, whereas the size of Giant Chinchilla rabbits is between 10 and 16 pounds.

Read: First Time Cat Owners: Important Things to do Before Bringing a Cat Home

9. Himalayan Rabbit

If you are looking for black and white rabbit breeds, Himalayan Rabbit is ideal for you. Their size ranges between 2.5 and 5 pounds. They can live up to 5-8 years.

As rabbits of this breed are calm and laid-back, Himalayan Rabbits are extremely child-friendly. Although they are calm and gentle, they are also playful. If you properly handle them, they won’t scratch or bite.

Himalayan Rabbits enjoy the company of human beings. You can easily train them to use a litter tray. They make excellent and affectionate pets.

When breeds of this rabbit are babies, they can be extremely sensitive to cold. So, you must provide the right rabbit care to ensure that your bunny stays healthy.

10. Harlequin Rabbit

Harlequin Rabbits are one of the smartest breeds of rabbits. They are curious and playful. You must give plenty of toys to them.

They are round and medium sized rabbits. Their size ranges between 4.5 and 6.5 pounds. They can live up to 5-8 years.

Harlequin Rabbits are of two types: Japanese (red hide with markings of another color) and Jaybird (white hide with markings of black color). Rabbits of this breed are not highly active.

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11. Jersey Wooly Rabbit

Jersey Wooly Rabbit is one of the most popular small rabbit breeds. As they are docile and gentle, they make great pets. Their size ranges between 1 and 3 pounds.

Rabbits of this breed have a great risk of wool block. Therefore, they need daily grooming. They can live up to 7-10 years.

Jersey Wooly Rabbits are extremely cute and charming. Their white, thick wooly hide makes them endearing pets. They exhibit delicate behavior and are not so active.

12. Angora Rabbit

Angora rabbit is one of the best black and white rabbit breeds. They are extremely popular for their soft, silky wooly hide. They can live up to 7-12 years.

There are various types of Angora rabbits: English Angora Rabbits, French Angora rabbits, and Giant Angora Rabbits. Their size ranges between 4.5 and 12 pounds.

As they are extremely fluffy, you will have a great time cuddling them. You need to clean and brush them regularly to ensure that their silky wooly hide is in the right condition.

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Wrapping Up – Most Friendly Rabbit Breeds

It is tricky to choose the right breed of rabbit for your family. After you study the primary characteristics of the top rabbit breeds, you can easily understand which rabbit breed is right for you.

When you are choosing a pet rabbit, you must see whether it is child-friendly or not. You should then consider the size and lifespan of the rabbit. Finally, you should consider the personality and physical features of the rabbit.

Rabbits need love, care and attention from their owners. You must be ready to make the long-term commitment for your pet bunny. So, what are you waiting for? Go and get the best pet rabbit breed for yourself!!  👍 😊