Netherland Dwarf Temperament and Personality

Bright, and that cuts both ways

Netherland Dwarfs are the cleverest rabbits we raise. They learn a routine fast, they work out which cupboard the food is in, and they are the most likely of the four to do something that makes you laugh out loud. A Dwarf that trusts you is tremendous company.

The same intelligence makes them harder. They notice everything, they startle at things the lops ignore, and they hold a grudge about being grabbed in a way a Mini Lop simply does not. A Netherland Dwarf in a loud house with doors slamming is a rabbit that spends its life under the furniture.

Not a children's rabbit

We say this plainly because it matters. At one and a half to two and a half pounds this is a very small animal, too light for a child to support properly and quick enough to be dropped. Combined with a reactive temperament, that is the wrong pairing. If the rabbit is for a child, a Holland Lop or a Mini Lop is the right answer and we will say so.

What they are like once settled

Confident, opinionated and surprisingly bold for their size. A settled Dwarf will stand up to look at you, box at a hand that is in its way, and claim a particular chair as its own. They bond strongly with one or two people and are noticeably less interested in visitors.

Getting there takes longer than with the lops. Expect a fortnight before a Dwarf is really itself, and do not chase it during that time. The way to a Netherland Dwarf is to sit on the floor and ignore it until it comes to investigate you.

Do they bite?

More readily than the lops, and almost always as a warning rather than an attack. A Dwarf that does not want to be picked up will tell you first by turning away or boxing. People who ignore that get nipped. People who approach at floor level and let the rabbit come to them mostly never do.

The health thing that shapes the temperament

The short face means dental alignment is worth watching properly. Check the front teeth monthly. A rabbit with overgrown or misaligned incisors is a rabbit in pain, and a rabbit in pain becomes a rabbit that bites, hides and stops eating. Most sudden temperament changes in this breed are a dental problem rather than a behaviour one.

Common questions

Are Netherland Dwarfs friendly?

With patience and a quiet house, very. They are slower to trust than the lop breeds and more loyal once they do.

Are Netherland Dwarfs good for beginners?

Not usually our first suggestion. A Holland Lop is more forgiving of the mistakes everybody makes early on.

Are they aggressive?

No. They are reactive, which is different. Almost all of it goes away with floor-level handling and neutering.

Do they need a companion?

They do well in bonded neutered pairs, and in a quiet single-person household they bond to the person instead.