Middle Tennessee Rabbitry

                                                                                          DUTCH   RABBIT

The Dutch rabbit is one of the most popular rabbits kept as pets and one of the most easily recognizable breeds today.

The Dutch rabbit is a  fairly small, compact rabbit with erect ears.  It is always white with the addition of another base color.  The average adult will weigh 4 to 5 1/2 lbs and live an average of 5 to 8 years but 10 years are not that uncommon.  The longest reported life span was 15 years.

                                                                                                 HISTORY

  There are two theories about the origins of the Dutch Rabbit.  Both theories agree that the Dutch rabbit is one of the oldest breeds of domestic rabbit known.  Moth theories also agree that the breed was developed in the later 1800's

  The first theory suggests that the Dutch rabbit originated in Holland sometime around 1850 where it was called the Hollander Rabbit.  It was transported to England in 1864 where it was further developed and exported around the world.

  The second theory is that the breed descended from the very old Brabancon race and can be found in paintings from the 15th century.  In the later part of the 1800's large consignments of meat rabbits arrived in London every week from Ostend in the Netherlands.  Rabbits with neatly divided markings were selected from the consignments and from there early breeders developed the breed to what we know today.