Dutch

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, glossy flyback coat on a compact, rounded body

A neat, cobby little rabbit with a rounded head and short, sturdy, well-furred ears. The fur is short and shiny and springs straight back into place when stroked the wrong way. The look is defined by its crisp two-tone pattern: a white wedge (blaze) up the face, coloured cheeks, a white collar, a white front half cut off by a straight saddle line behind the shoulders, and white 'stops' on the hind feet.123

Personality what they are like

A relaxed, good-natured rabbit that usually bonds closely with its people. It may be a little cautious at first, but once settled it tends to be sociable and affectionate. It is bright enough to learn a litter tray and simple tricks, and its gentle manner makes it a popular first rabbit for families.123

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Lively and curious. Plan for several hours of supervised time out of the enclosure each day, with room to run, hop and explore.24

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Low-maintenance coat: an occasional brush keeps the short fur tidy, with a little extra brushing during moults. Give constant access to hay for chewing.24

Home where they are happiest

PetMD considers a cage of at least 24 x 24 in (about 60 x 60 cm) enough only when paired with several hours of daily free-roaming time. The RSPCA recommends that pet rabbits have a living space of at least 3 m x 2 m x 1 m high to move, play, hide and exercise.24

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Hay should make up most of the diet, with unlimited grass hay such as timothy for adults. Add about 1 cup of leafy greens per 2 lb (0.9 kg) of body weight daily, roughly 1/4 cup of pellets per 4-5 lb of rabbit, a spoonful of other vegetables, and fruit only as an occasional small treat. Fresh water at all times.24

Company who they like around

Rabbits are social animals and do best with a compatible rabbit companion; the RSPCA advises against keeping them alone. Dutch rabbits also enjoy regular gentle interaction with their owners.42

The story where it all began

The Dutch traces back to the Petit Brabançon, a small rabbit kept in Flanders for centuries that shows up in fifteenth-century paintings. In the 1830s rabbits were shipped every week from Ostend in Belgium to English meat markets, and English breeders picked out the ones with the distinctive white-and-colour pattern, gradually fixing it into a true-breeding type. The finished breed spread back across Europe and reached North America in the early 1900s, where the American Rabbit Breeders Association recognised it in 1910. For a long time it was the most widely kept rabbit breed of all, and although the arrival of dwarf breeds cut into its lead, it remains one of the best-loved pet and show rabbits.12

Recognised by the official bits

ARBA

Recognised in 1910. Varieties: Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Chinchilla, Gray, Steel, Tortoise, Golden Yellow. Senior weight 3.5-5.5 lb, ideal 4.5 lb.2

ARBA

Variety list and weight standard as described on Wikipedia from the ARBA Standard1

British Rabbit Council

Standardised in colours Black, Blue, Steel Grey, Brown Grey, Pale Grey, Tortoiseshell, Chocolate and Yellow; the Tri-Coloured Dutch has its own separate standard1