Dutch rabbit
The Dutch is a small show and pet rabbit of 3½–5½ lb with a white blaze, a white front half and a coloured rear half. It suits a keeper short of space and is easy to find: ARBA counts it among its ten most popular breeds. For anyone who shows, getting the markings clean and sharp is the hard part.
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
- Space needed
- 4 sq ft
Is the Dutch right for you?
Good fit if
- You are short of space: Texas A&M calls the Dutch ideal for fanciers with limited room
- You want a rabbit that is easy to find. It is one of ARBA's ten most popular breeds
- You enjoy a breeding challenge: markings count for more show points than body type
Poor fit if
- You want a meat rabbit: Penn State points to medium-weight breeds for that
- You want quick show wins. Texas A&M says clean, sharp markings are sometimes difficult to achieve
- Your rabbits would sit in a hot yard with no shade
Appearance and varieties
The markings make the breed. The head and ears are coloured, with a white blaze running from the nose up between the ears. The front half of the body is white and the rear half is coloured, with a straight line between the two. Texas A&M says the markings should be clean cut, clear and sharp, and that this is sometimes difficult to achieve.
Texas A&M describes the body as cobby and compact, well rounded and smooth, at 3½–5½ lb. The breed club's president asks for a round head, a short body, shorter legs and a shorter, open ear of good thickness. In a club article he adds that a Dutch should be a bit trimmer through the shoulders, sides and hips than a Florida White.
Markings carry 50 of the show standard's points and type 25, according to a question in the club's own magazine.5161516
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| Black | Dark, shiny black with undercolour running deep towards the skin.1114 |
| Blue | Shiny medium blue with deep undercolour.1114 |
| Chinchilla | Bright chinchilla pattern with good banding; the belly is white on the surface.1114 |
| Chocolate | Shiny dark brown with deep undercolour.1114 |
| Golden Yellow | Rich orange with deep undercolour; the underside is lighter but must show colour.1114 |
| Gray | Pale chestnut surface with good banding; belly light or white on the surface.1114 |
| Lilac | Shiny dove grey with deep undercolour.1114 |
| Steel | Black base with ticking throughout the coat; the belly is slightly lighter.1114 |
| Tortoise | Orange with smoky blue shadings.1114 |
Production numbers
What to expect from a healthy doe. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gestation | 28–32 days8 | Give the doe a nest box by day 28. Figure for rabbits in general. |
| First breeding age | 4–6 months8 | ARBA's recommendation for small breeds |
| Weaning | 6–8 weeks8 | ARBA's recommendation for best growth; always before 10 weeks. Figure for rabbits in general. |
Planning a litter? Use the rabbit gestation calculator.
Housing, feed and health
Housing
UMass Extension gives a 24 × 24 × 16 in cage for small breeds and names the Dutch among them. ARBA's published legal minimum for the breed is 3 sq ft of floor and 14 in of height.
ARBA gives 55–70°F as the ideal range. Rabbits acclimated to cold cope well with it; they do poorly above 85°F, so give shade and moving air in summer. Shelter the cage from direct sun, rain, snow and wind.108
Feed
For a pet rabbit, Utah State University Extension recommends unlimited water, grass hay as about 80% of the diet, leafy greens as about 10%, and small amounts of pellets and treats. Its pellet guide is ¼–½ cup per 6 lb of rabbit.
Change feeds slowly over a few days. The same guide warns that a sudden change of diet can cause fatal gut upset.17
Health
Rabbit teeth grow all their lives, so give something safe to chew. Summer heat is a risk: Alabama Extension says rabbits don't cope well above 90°F and in high humidity. Penn State Extension lists cleanliness, good ventilation, close observation and protection from sun and rain as the basics of keeping rabbits healthy.
This is a starting point, not medical advice. For any health concern, ask a vet who treats rabbits, or your county extension office.17182
Where to buy
We found no breeder page with a dated Dutch price, so we quote no range.
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| American Dutch Rabbit Club breeders directory | Directory | Club members, searchable by location or name |
| ARBA Find a Breeder | Directory | Search by breed and state |
Budgeting for housing and feed as well? See the rabbit cost guide.
Similar breeds
| Breed | Adult weight | Litter size | Beginner | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch (this breed) | 3.5–5.5 lb | |||
| Mini Rex | Up to 4.5 lb | $20–$90 | ||
| Florida White | 4–6 lb |
History
ARBA says the Dutch was developed in England during the 1830s, when breeders began selecting rabbits with the distinct markings. Texas A&M says the breed is said to have originated in Holland and was improved for exhibition in England. A breed club article calls the Holland origin a popular belief, says the original Dutch was gray, and says the Dutch was one of the first breeds raised in the United States.
The same article credits the Dutch with a hand in other breeds: the Tan was first found in a tortoise Dutch litter, the Polish began as an albino Dutch, and the Florida White came from a Dutch and Polish cross with New Zealand White added.
The American Dutch Rabbit Club was founded in 1929 and chartered on May 29, 1930. The first National Dutch Show was held in Detroit in 1932.41919
Common questions
How big do Dutch rabbits get?
Texas A&M gives 3½–5½ lb, and ARBA's maximum is 5½ lb. Penn State lists a mature weight of 3–6 lb.142
Are Dutch rabbits from the Netherlands?
Probably not as we know them. ARBA says the breed was developed in England during the 1830s. Texas A&M says it is said to have originated in Holland and was improved in England, and the breed club calls the Holland origin a popular belief.419
What colours do Dutch rabbits come in?
ARBA's January 2026 breed ID guide lists nine varieties: Black, Blue, Chinchilla, Chocolate, Golden Yellow, Gray, Lilac, Steel and Tortoise.1114
What do Dutch rabbit markings look like?
The head and ears are coloured with a white blaze from the nose to the ears. The front half of the body is white, the rear half is coloured, and the line between them is straight.5
What size cage does a Dutch rabbit need?
UMass Extension gives 24 × 24 × 16 in for small breeds and names the Dutch as one. ARBA's published legal minimum for the breed is 3 sq ft of floor.108
How long do Dutch rabbits live?
No lifespan figure here is specific to Dutch rabbits. Utah State University Extension says pet rabbits in general live 8 to 14 years.17
Are Dutch rabbits good for showing?
They are popular for it: ARBA counts the Dutch among its ten most popular breeds, and it is shown in four classes. The hard part is markings, which Texas A&M says are sometimes difficult to achieve.4111
Where can I buy a Dutch rabbit?
The American Dutch Rabbit Club keeps a breeders directory of its members that you can search by location or name.20
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Rabbit Project Reference Manual (AS 2.010, April 2000).
- Penn State Extension, Rabbit Production.
- Utah State University Extension, Understanding the Basics of Rabbit Care.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, Recognized breeds.
- Ohio State University Extension, Ashtabula County, Study Tips for Rabbit Breeds, revised 2016 (PDF).
- American Dutch Rabbit Club, About the Breed: The Dutch Rabbit: Overview.
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, hosted by University of New Hampshire Extension, ARBA Recommendations for the Care of Rabbits and Cavies.
- American Dutch Rabbit Club, The Dutch as a Forefather, by Megan Gottschalk (PDF).
- UMass Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, Rabbit Housing.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, ARBA Official Breed ID Guide: Rabbit (updated January 2026).
- University of Illinois Extension, ARBA rabbit breed identification guide: breeds, varieties and showroom classes (PDF).
- The Livestock Conservancy, Conservation Priority List.
- American Dutch Rabbit Club, About the Breed: Recognized Varieties.
- American Dutch Rabbit Club, Dutch Type, by Kevin Hooper (Dutch Reporter, 2005; PDF).
- American Dutch Rabbit Club, About the Breed: Markings.
- Utah State University Extension, Pet Rabbit Projects: Getting Started (PDF).
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Summer Heat and Rabbit Production, UNP-0082 (PDF).
- American Dutch Rabbit Club, History of the American Dutch Rabbit Club (PDF).
- American Dutch Rabbit Club, Breeders Directory.
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