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Rabbits come in many different shapes and sizes, but there are three distinct types:
- Fancy Breeds - rabbits for showing and exhibiting (as well as being pets!).
- Fur Breeds - originally bred for their fur or meat.
- Rex Breeds - no guard hairs, which makes them very soft - rather like velvet.
This section contains some examples from each of these three broad categories. If you would like more information, and to learn about more breeds, then have a look at our Rabbit Breed Guide.
Fancy Breeds
There are over 50 different breeds and endless colour variations so this is by no means a comprehensive list of fancy rabbit breeds. If you would like a definitive list, visit the British Rabbit Councils website here
Angora
This breed has particularly long hair, up to 5in/12cm, needs constant grooming and is very high maintenance. We would not recommend this breed as a pet.
Belgian Hare
A large rabbit with some similar characteristics to a Hare. It has long everything! Ears, body and legs. We wouldn't recommend keeping this breed - they are very large.
Dutch
The stereotypical rabbit! It is coloured with a white stripe around the front of the body and a white blaze on the face.
English
A white rabbit with some distinctive markings. A line of colour along the spine, around the eyes and on the ears.
Flemish Giant
These are the heavyweights of the rabbit world, weighing in at a minimum of around a stone!
Himalyan
A pure white body with coloured ears, legs, face and tail. They look as if they have been dipped in ink or chocolate. They also have red eyes.
Lop
The following all have one characteristic in common - floppy, long ears.
English Lop
Has extremely long ears - not for a novice rabbit keeper.
Dwarf Lop
A very popular breed for showing and keeping as a pet. Small, compact and manageable with long ears
Fur Breeds
As the name suggests, these breeds were originally kept for their coats. Some of them have fur that simulates or is very similar to other animals, e.g. the Silver Fox.
Rex Breeds
With no guard hairs the Rex really does look as if it is coated in velvet. Couple this with being a medium size and nice and friendly, they make good pets. The coat of underfur with no guard hairs only really came into existence in about 1920 as one of the many results of intensive breeding.
Comments
Marion, 13 June 2019
I have adopted a 5yr old rabbit. Not sure on breed, def lop eared. Has a large roll of skin around neck like a collar. Any suggestions please.
Rabbit, 9 June 2019
You are incorrect in saying that rabbits with rex fur have no guard hairs. They do have guard hairs, they are just very short, ideally the same length as the undercoat.
Denise, 26 March 2018
I have a dwarf bunny she is 9 months old liter trained and has the run of my apartment.I would like to know if I'm feeding Funny Bunny with all the things she needs.Organic spring mix, kale, carrots,apples and rabbit food.Thanks