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Rabbit – Himalayan Profile

General
Other Names		Russian
Lifespan		On average the Himalayan rabbit can live to 5 years or more.
Breeding		The ideal age for the female Himalayan rabbit to start breeding is between 5 to 6 months of age. The first litter must be born before the female is one year old. The reason for this is that after this age the pelvic bones fuse and she would not be able to give birth naturally. They should have no more litters after the age of three years.
Average Litter Size		The Himalayan rabbit has on average litters between 2-4, they have been known to produce up to 6.
Gestation Period		The gestation period is between 28-31 days. On average they give birth at 30-32 days.
General Physical Description		The Himalayan rabbit is a small, slender rabbit. They are very striking in their markings. They are white with red eyes. The face, ears, feet and tail are coloured. They have a long, pointed head and the ears are erect.
Size		The average weight of the Himalayan rabbit is 2kgs.
Feeding		The mainstay of a rabbit’s diet should be large unlimited amounts of fresh hay, fresh fruit and vegetables, a well-balanced dry rabbit mix and plenty of clean water. Rabbits have quite delicate stomachs so when feeding fresh fruits and vegetables make sure they are added to the diet one vegetable at a time and eliminate specific varieties if they cause diarrhoea. An earthenware bowl is the best type of feeding dish to use, as they are harder to knock over than the plastic ones, also they not chewable. A water bottle fixed to the outside of the cage, with the water tube going into the cage, ensures a fresh water supply is available.
Cage & Bedding		For an outdoor rabbit the ideal home is a wooden hutch made of a heavy wood with a waterproof roof, and raised off the ground. If the rabbit is going to live indoors then a wooden hutch can also be used or a cage. The cage would have a plastic or wire base with a wire lid fixed to the base. All rabbits must have an adequate exercise area, whether it is an outside run or an enclosed area in the house. Wood shavings should be used for the floor of the hutch or cage. Fine sawdust can cause eye irritations so this should be avoided. Bedding material should be provided especially in cold and wet weather for the outdoor rabbit. The best thing to use is straw on top of a layer of the wood shavings in the sleeping compartment. The rabbit home should be cleaned out weekly and any old food removed. If it is necessary to wash the home then only use a cleaner specifically designed for cleaning rabbit hutches. An earthenware food bowl and a drinking bottle will also be required to feed and water the rabbit.
Characteristics
Suitability For Children		The Himalayan rabbit is suitable for both children and adults. They are best suited for children over 10 years of age, for younger children an adult should supervise the care and handling of the rabbit. The Himalayan is generally good-natured, quiet to handle and docile, they make good pets. They are ideal as a first rabbit, for the novice owner.
Character & Temperament		The Himalayan rabbit is a good-natured rabbit, they are quite docile and not inclined to bite or scratch.
Sleeping Habits		Rabbits are most active in the morning and at night; they generally sleep during the day.
Toys & Exercise		Rabbits need things to climb on, crawl through, dig and chew. It is possible to provide plenty to entertain this rabbit with using household items, such as toilet roll tubes and boxes. Several boxes can be put together with holes in them so the rabbit can go from box to box, just like being in a warren. Ramps can also be put against the boxes so the rabbit can climb up; they like to have a lookout post.
Grooming
Types of Coat		Short haired
Colour		The Himalayan rabbit is white in colour with a different colour on the face, ears, feet and tail. The other colour can be black, blue, chocolate or lilac.
Other
Intelligence		Rabbits can become trained to learn their name. They are more intelligent than guinea pigs and hamsters. They can even be trained to go to the toilet in one specific area, which makes cleaning up after them much easier.
Show Characteristics		This rabbit should be small, long and thin. The head should be long and pointed and the short ears stand erect. For showing their markings should be white with red eyes. The face, ears, feet and tail are coloured black, blue, chocolate or lilac.
Country of Origin		China http://www.petplanet.co.uk/small_breed_profile.asp?sbid=13

Dwarf rabbits are a variety of domestic European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Dwarf rabbits are much smaller than normal rabbits, but are capable of interbreeding with them, so are not recognized as a separate species.

A dwarf rabbit

Purebred dwarf rabbits weigh 0.7-1.4kg. Their heads and eyes are disproportionately large with respect to their body, and their ears are small and carried high on the head. The exception to this is the dwarf lop — a cross between the French lop and the dwarf — which is both heavier (3.0-4.0 lb) than a standard dwarf and has long, dangling ears. Many different colorations make up breeds in dwarf rabbits, such as Himalayan, Red, Siamese, Chinchilla, Blue, and White-tipped Black.

A small black dwarf rabbit on a windowsill.

Dwarf rabbits were originally bred as Hunting companions in The Netherlands. Dwarf rabbits generally have the same behavioral traits as other domestic rabbits, though the smaller dwarf rabbits can be more skittish and quick to exhibit aggressive behavior, as their small size can cause them to feel more threatened than a standard size rabbit. They also tend to be more energetic and “high-strung”. They can be housetrained and can be socialized with dogs, cats and hamsters. However, they are extremely fragile animals and easily stressed, and do not make good pets for young children. Also, its a good idea if they’re babies to feed them with just born nursing bottles for pets.

Most of the rabbits sold as dwarves in pet stores are not true dwarfs, but crosses between a dwarf and a standard rabbit. These “mongrels” are hardier, but grow to a larger size and lack the characteristic small head and low carriage of the true dwarf.

Like other domestic rabbits, dwarf rabbits consume grasses, grains, and other succulent greens. Their digestive system is somewhat less hardy than European rabbits, and many leafy vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage can give them health problems.

Breeding two rabbits both with the dwarf gene may result in peanuts. Peanuts are very small and deformed baby rabbits that will be born with a very large head, almost no ears and their back legs often cross. Peanuts usually live for a few days but sometimes will last a couple of weeks.