Rabbits are adorable creatures that have been popular pets for decades. Whether you’re a child or an adult, they can be perfect to keep around the house. They love to interact with people and enjoy being petted and loved by their owners. These rabbits will make fantastic companions for other rabbits as well!
There are so many different rabbit breeds in the world. In fact, the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) actually recognizes 51 different breeds.
It’s easy to just go to a pet store and purchase a rabbit, but there are some breeds that will be better suited for your lifestyle and personality.
The tenacity of the Dwarf Hotot breed is perfect for young children who want to learn more about rabbits while playing with them. The Mini Lop may be small in size, but it has big fluffy ears that will make you feel loved.
Check out this blog post to learn more about the top 11 friendliest rabbits that you’ll want as pets! This list is by all means in no particular order. However, the rabbits on this list are simply some of the most friendly and loving rabbits in the world.
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Number 1: Mini Lop
Mini Lops are known for being one of the friendliest rabbit breeds in the world. This breed is an ideal choice if you’re looking for a lap animal to cuddle with on cold nights, and they’ll make perfect companions in your home!
Mini Lops are known to be intelligent and inquisitive rabbits that love exploring their surroundings. They will spend hours roaming and trying to quench their thirst for knowledge of their new home.
The Mini Lop rabbits will make great additions to your family, and they’ll be there with you every step of the way! They can live around 7 to 12 years in captivity if given proper care, so that’s plenty of time to spend together as a companion or friend.
This breed is known to have floppy ears and they usually weigh about 6 pounds when they reach adulthood. They are also considered medium-sized rabbits that love to be around people and other rabbits.
I can only describe these bunnies as fluffy, round balls of joy.
The Mini Lop is the perfect size for a smaller space, as they do not typically grow to be too long and can weigh up to 6.5 pounds when fully grown. They are known for their floppy ears that have large tufts.
Number 2: Holland Lop
The Holland Lop can be described as a small-sized rabbit. They are usually a pale color, with light brown splotches on them but they can really be any color. Holland Lops have large ears and they also have big eyes that look like the letter “O” when looking at them from the side of their head.
The Holland Lop is known to be one of the friendliest rabbits out there. It’s also one of the world’s most popular rabbits today.
Holland Lops usually live around 7 to 14 years, and they don’t grow very large.
The Holland Lop is the perfect size for a smaller space, as they do not typically grow to be too long and can weigh up to six pounds when fully grown. They are known for their floppy ears that have large tufts.
Holland Lops only require basic grooming and are oftentimes easier to take care of than other rabbit breeds. Just give them a chew toy and they are satisfied.
They are considered very calm, and they are known to be a bit more social with humans than others.
Number 3: Flemish Giant
Flemish Giants are one of the world’s largest rabbits. These creatures are considered the gentle giants of rabbits. They can weigh up to 22 pounds, but males on average are just over 15 pounds while females are 14 pounds or less.
Flemish Giants can live on average around 5 to 8 years.
Some people believe that Flemish Giants do not make good pets because they are large, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. They just need more attention than some other breeds of rabbits and will do best in a home without small children or dogs because they can be easily startled.
They are considered a docile breed and so you won’t get much excitement and commotion from these bunnies.
They are also very social creatures and love to play with their owners. They may even snuggle up with you if they really feel comfortable. You will need a lot of space in your home for this breed because they do not like being confined to small spaces.
They love exploring large areas and playing outside.
Number 4: Polish
These are the second tiniest critters on the list. They usually weigh in the range of 3.5 pounds and are very playful and affectionate. Polish rabbits have short years that connect from top to bottom. They also have very short necks.
These little guys are incredibly lovable and don’t require much maintenance. All need is a little bit of grooming and they are set.
Polish rabbits are smart, friendly, and easily trained rabbits. They make great pets because they are so small and playful.
They are pretty small so it’s not recommended for young children because they can be injured pretty easily if accidentally mishandled.
Number 5: Netherland Dwarf
You wouldn’t believe how small these little guys are (the tiniest in this list). Netherland Dwarf rabbits weigh in at a whopping two to three pounds and stand no taller than a few inches.
They can be confused with the Polish rabbits but no, the Netherland Dwarfs are way smaller.
These breeds have been domesticated for several generations and are otherwise dependent on humans. They can be very well trained and are very smart.
They also require very little grooming, which is perfect for those who want the least amount of work when it comes to keeping their pet rabbit healthy and happy. However, these rabbits are very active and energetic while also having a tendency to be stressed and nervous.
Nonetheless, they are wonderful companions to have.
Again, for such a smaller-sized breed, we don’t recommend them around small children unsupervised.
Number 6: Himalayans
Being that these rabbits can weigh between 2.5 to 4.5 pounds they can also be confusingly small and similar to the Polish rabbit but only in size.
These rabbits can be described as cylindrical. They generally have characteristics of a black nose, ears, and paws. They are almost like panda bear colored.
Himalayan rabbits are gentle rabbits that enjoy human attention. They are considered as one of the most laid-back rabbits.
They can be around other rabbits and are very socially friendly when it comes to interacting with other rabbits.
However, they do require very little grooming to maintain their appearance. All that’s required is simply brushing their hair once a week. They only require more grooming when molting. But that’s nothing out of the ordinary for most of the rabbits on this list.
Number 7: English Lop
The English Lop is a rabbit with an unusually large set of ears. These ears are so large that they give the rabbit a very distinctive appearance. So large that owners have to be careful not to step on them.
These rabbits are known for being quite docile and gentle, making them great companions to have around children or other animals that may not be as used to handling pets.
They can get to weighing around 10 to 11 pounds as adults so they are considered a part of the larger breeds.
These rabbits do not require too much grooming because they are self-sufficient and often take care of themselves. Their fur is easy to maintain. But, really the only thing owners need to be careful about are those giant ears.
Overall, they are wonderful, friendly, docile, and lovable rabbits that you and your family could easily fall in love with
Number 8: Mini Rex
The Mini Rex is one of those rabbits will a multitude of personalities. They can be very calm and friendly, or active and playful. They can even scare very easily so you might have to teach young children not to alarm it.
Their fur is quite dense and grooming such fur should be handled with care.
These rabbits, on average, weigh roughly around 3.5 to 4 pounds. These rabbits can live anywhere between 7 to 10 years and because of their weight, they are categorized in the small category. Hence, the name of the breed.
These rabbits will actively seek out new experiences, which allows them to be quite curious and adventurous.
Number 9: Dutch
These are considered the classic rabbit. They are perhaps the most popular form of rabbits you can imagine popularized throughout the world.
They can grow to weigh around 3.5 to 5.5 pounds making them closer to the upper end of the small category rabbits. They are gentle and loving animals that make them fantastic pets for children.
They live to be 5 to 8 years old and so they can live with a family for a very long time.
Number 10: Lionhead
What’s so funny about these cute cuddly rabbits is the fact that they literally have a mane of fur that covers their head and all the way down to their shoulders. This is what makes them stand out from other rabbits, but they are also a gentle breed as well.
They can be shy at first, but once they get comfortable with you they will approach you quickly for attention or food. They live between 7 to 10 years. So that’s plenty of years to love them.
Lionheads usually will weight about 3 pounds when they become adults. They’re not big rabbits and are categorized in the smaller range. Picking them up can be very easy and they will invite you to do so, but like all smaller rabbits, they are fragile. It’s best to make sure small children are taught to hold them with care.
Because of their lion fur, they will need it brushed a few times a week to prevent knots from forming.
They are fun and active rabbits so they will love interacting with you and your family.
Number 11: Harlequin
One of the most surprising things about this breed you’ll find is the colorful patterns on this rabbit. That’s what this breed is based on.
It was once nicknamed the clown of rabbits because of the color separation and patterns.
But don’t just a book by its cover. These rabbits are very playful, intelligent, and docile. These rabbits love socializing and being around others.
They also have a lifespan of around 5-8 years and can weigh anywhere between 6.5 to 9.5 pounds branding them as medium-sized rabbits.
My final thoughts
If you’re considering finding a new pet, a rabbit would make the perfect company. They are easy to care for and they love interacting with their owners because of this connection that is made between them.
If you’re considering adopting one or more rabbits as pets, these 11 breeds will be great choices for you!
Related interesting articles:
- Why Rabbits Can Live a Long Time: Guide to Expected Lifespan
- Rabbit Language: How to Tell What Your Rabbit is Trying To Say
- What is a Dewlap? The Curious Case of the Unusual Double-Chin Rabbit
