What they cost
What a Netherland Dwarf Costs
The purchase price, and then the number nobody quotes: what the first year actually costs once the rabbit is home.
A Netherland Dwarf from us is $250. Across the wider market expect roughly $150 to $600 depending on the breeder and the region. The first year, including the rabbit, realistically lands between $910 and $2,220.
What the first year actually costs
This is the part that catches people out. How much is a netherland dwarf is a fair question, but it is the wrong one: the rabbit is the cheapest thing you will buy for it.
| What | First year | Note |
|---|---|---|
| The rabbit | $250 | Paid once |
| Neuter or spay | $250 to 450 | Not optional for a doe, see below |
| Pen and setup | $80 to 200 | Bigger than a pet shop cage |
| Hay, pellets, litter | $300 to 450 | Per year, ongoing |
| Carrier | $30 to 60 | Sized for the adult, not the kit |
| First vet visit | $60 to $120 | An exotics vet, not a general practice |
After the first year, the running cost settles to roughly $300 to 450 a year plus whatever the vet needs, which for a healthy rabbit is one annual check.
The spay, and why it is not optional for a doe
Unspayed does have a very high rate of uterine cancer by middle age. It is the single biggest preventable cause of early death in pet rabbits and it is the main reason a spayed indoor doe reaches the top of her lifespan range while an unspayed one often does not. Bucks are neutered to settle spraying and territorial behaviour.
Ask any practice how many rabbit anaesthetics they perform a month before you book. Rabbit anaesthesia is not the same as cat and dog anaesthesia, and the answer tells you everything.
Why a Netherland Dwarf is not cheaper for being small
People expect the smallest breed to be the cheapest and it rarely is. The dwarfing gene means litters are small, so supply is thin, and the flat face brings a higher rate of dental problems which is a running cost rather than a purchase one. Budget for a vet who sees rabbits regularly, not the cheapest practice in town.
What is included in our price
A Netherland Dwarf from Arlen Rabbitry goes home eating well on its own, litter trained, and vaccinated against RHDV with both doses given here before it travels. It travels with a written care sheet and enough of the food it was raised on to get through the first fortnight. The full list.
Collection in Bakersfield is free. Delivery anywhere else is by road, driven the whole way. A deposit applies only if you want a rabbit held for a later date. The terms every sale runs on.
Compare across the breeds
Holland Lop at $250 to $280, Mini Lop at $200, Netherland Dwarf at $250, French Lop at $350. The larger the rabbit, the larger every running cost that follows it.
See the netherland dwarfs we have now
Prices are on every listing, with photographs and what each rabbit is like.