Dwarf Rabbit Care

Among the pets, rabbits rank a close third only behind dogs and cats. They have gone to become very popular in the last few years. Of the rabbits, the dwarf rabbits are the ones, which have become very popular as they are far easy to take care of, as opposed to their bigger cousins. A lot of people choose to have dwarf rabbits, as they do not grow very big in size. There are some species of rabbits, which can grow to almost 8 to 9 kg and become very difficult to take care of in an apartment. One of the most popular species of the dwarf bunnies are the Netherland Dwarf. These rabbits are smaller in size and weigh around 500 g to 1.6 kg. Due to their smaller size they are often chosen as pets. One does not have to dedicate a lot of time for dwarf rabbit care and can be kept as pets by family.

How to Take Care of Dwarf Rabbits?

The dwarf rabbits are generally quiet and sober pets, however, if there is something that is troubling them, then there may be days, when they will be restless and make a lot of noise. Likewise, when they are happy they will definitely show their contentment as well.

Cage
The dwarf rabbits do not require a huge enclosure. Depending on the species of the rabbits, they normally need 3 to 3.5 feet enclosures. It is important that the rabbits have sufficient amount of space in the enclosure to move around. Wooden cages are the best for the rabbits as compared to the wired cages, as they may hurt themselves with the wire, when they are hopping around. In the enclosure do not forget to place some toys for the rabbits to play with. Some of the baby toys can also be given to the rabbits, so that they enjoy themselves in their cage. It is ideally recommended that the cage should have a small box, where the bunny can hide himself, when he is scared. Often they will be seen entertaining themselves using the box as a prop.

Temperament
Caring for the dwarf rabbit breed, who are naturally temperamental can be a little difficult. Their aggression can be seen, when they are running around or are chasing one another. In most other circumstances they are naïve and happy creatures. It is best to always have a pair of rabbits as they enjoy company of their own kind. If the behavior of rabbits is to be observed it will be seen that they have their own mate and are inseparable. Most of the activities will be performed together. Often it is seen that they help each other cleaning themselves, especially while cleaning the difficult to reach spots.

Food Habits
An important part of the dwarf bunnies care is the food to be given to the rabbits. The bunnies should be fed with sufficient quantities of cleaned, yet raw vegetables and fruits. 2 to 3 cups of vegetables will have to be given to each of the bunnies. Do remember to notice what your bunny relishes. Those food items can be given as treat to the bunny once in a while. It is seen that most of the rabbits enjoy eating carrots (don't we know that?), apples, etc. Since their diet is rich in greens, they may not require a large quantity of water, however, it does not mean that you do not give them water at all. They should be provided with a small bowl of water from which they can sip, when thirsty.

Exercise
It is not the best practice to let the bunnies be only in their pen all the time. They should be let out of their cages for at least 3 to 4 hours everyday. The enclosure space is not sufficient for the rabbits. It is best to let the rabbits in the open area, like a garden. However, if you stay in an apartment and do not have such leisure, then you may choose to let them loose in your apartment. Here, make sure the phone wires, computer wires are safe as rabbits love to chew on them.

The dwarf rabbits life span depends on the species of the pet. Some of the species are known to live for as long as 9 years. An important tip as part of the dwarf rabbit care is not to pull them out of their cage. They may get agitated and claw or bite you. It is best to let them take their time, before they come out of the cage and you cuddle them. If you are going to get the pet from a breeder, it is best to talk to him about handling tips. It is seen that rabbits handled by humans from birth are more friendly towards human touch.