1. Netherland Dwarf Bunnies
Their Lifestyle, Habits, and Proper Care

2. What are Netherland Dwarf Bunnies?
Netherland Dwarf Bunnies are a smaller breed of bunny. They originated in the Netherlands, in the early 20th Century, where small Polish rabbits were bred with smaller wild rabbits.

3. Physical Features
Netherland Dwarf Bunnies have the appearance of baby bunnies even through adulthood, due to their round, fluffy bodies, small ears that stand straight up, and flattish, round faces. They weigh 1.1 to 3.5 lbs when fully grown, though usually they just weigh around 2 lbs. Their fur is short, dense, soft, and glossy. They are popular for showing and as pets.

4. Temperament
Netherland Dwarfs used to be rather feisty and disagreeable from their wild heritage, but due to careful breeding, they are now known to be domestic and docile. This makes Netherland dwarfs great pets.

5. How to Know if Your Bunny Is Healthy
Ears:  Should be clean inside.
Eyes:  There should be no discharge from the eyes and no cloudiness.
Nose:  It should be clean and dry.
Teeth:  The front teeth should slightly overlap the bottom teeth.  If one set of teeth is longer than normal it indicates the rabbit has malocclusion.
Front/Hind Feet:  A rabbit's legs should stretch out straight and have five toenails on the front feet and four toenails on the back feet. Also check the bottom of the feet for redness which would indicate sore hocks. 
Body:  The overall body should be clean, smooth and firm. 
  A brown, crusty appearance could mean the rabbit has ear mites.   A brown, crusty appearance could mean the rabbit has ear mites.   Cloudiness could indicate the rabbit is blind.   If you notice the rabbit has a runny nose, combined with crusty or wet fur on the front legs, the rabbit could have a cold or a serious illness like snuffles.   Rabbit teeth with maloclussion prevent the animal from chewing properly, can grow into the mouth, and must be trimmed regularly.      Sometimes this is caused by poor cage sanitation, other times the rabbits feet are being aggravated by the wire floor.  You can help a rabbit with sore hocks by keeping a board in the cage to give it a place to sit off the wire.  This is not as common in Netherland Dwarfs as it is in larger breeds.   Feel the body to check for any abcesses and for the build-up of droppings on the underside that could indicate dietary or other problems.  

6. Nutrition

7. What TO Feed Your Netherland Dwarf
Essential:
Vet Approved Food Pellets
Timothy Hay
Good:
Grass
Treats:
Carrots
Carrot Tops
Bananas
Apples
Oats
Stale Bread

8. What NOT to Feed Your Netherland Dwarf
Lettuce
Celery
Cabbage
Spinach
Potato Peels
Grass that has had chemicals sprayed on it

9. Proper Care
Netherland Dwarfs should be fed approximately 1/3 cup of pelets consistently every day, and they should always have fresh water. Since Netherland Dwarfs have short hair, they do not USUALLY need to be brushed, although they rather enjoy it. Also, their nails need to be clipped at least once a month.
To clip the nails, simply hold your rabbit with its head tucked under your arm and gently hold a paw and clip back to the fur line.   If you clip the nail too short, you will clip into the "quick" and the nail will bleed.  If you do this, hold a clean towel or rag over the nail until the bleeding stops.

10. Hay and Straw
Hay: Timothy Hay is an ESSENTIAL part of Netherland Dwarf Bunnies’ diets. It helps them digest their food better along with other benefits. They should be allowed to eat as much Timothy Hay as they like! Caution: Do Not feed them alfalfa hay. It can give them gas.
Straw: Netherland Dwarfs need straw in their cages so they can make nests in it and to make them feel comfortable.

11. Habitats
Netherland Dwarfs are comfortable in an 18x24x14 in. cage or larger.  You can choose a cage with a wire bottom and a drop pan or one with a solid bottom and try to litter box train your rabbit. I prefer the latter.

12. Playtime and Habits
Netherland Dwarfs love to play. They need “run time” (time out of their cage), and toys. They NEED chew toys so that their teeth don’t get too long. If their teeth get too long, it causes them to not get enough food, and it can make their teeth grow into their heads. They also need things to climb on so that they don’t get bored.

13. Litter Box Training
Yes, Netherland Dwarfs CAN be litter box trained. Make sure the litter box is low enough for the rabbit to jump in and out.  Put pine shavings in the litter box. Caution: NEVER use Cedar! It can be fatal for Netherland Dwarfs.
Sometimes, rabbits who are being litter trained will find that the litter box is more comfortable than the cage and start to use it as a resting place.  If this happens, offer your rabbit a better option, such as a comfortable piece of wood to rest his feet on.  Sometimes, just extra hay on the floor of the cage will do the trick.  If you decide you want to litter train your rabbit, let the rabbit spend the first day in the cage deciding which corner it likes to use best to do its business.  The next day, put the litter box in the corner that the rabbit prefers. and put some of the droppings into the box so the rabbit will get the idea.   It will recognize its own smell and return to the same spot.  If a rabbit goes outside the cage, sweep up the droppings and put them in the box.

14. What Your Bunny Is Saying to You
Grunts or Growling- When your bunny growls at you it means that he is angry.
Oinking- This sound is made when your rabbit is content or when he/she is in heat.
Biting or Nibbling- It can be a sign of affection, but more often that is your bunny gently telling you that it wants you to stop whatever you are doing at the moment.
Squalling- The rabbit is very scared.
Running in eights or Circles around you- If your bunny is doing this, it means he is trying to court you.
Chinning- Rabbits have scent glands under their chins. If your bunny is rubbing its chin against you, then it means he is marking you as his. Congratulations, you now belong to your rabbit.
Tooth grinding- A low grinding sound means your bunny is happy. Louder grinding might be cause for worry.
Licking- Your bunny is grooming you. This is a great honor to receive from a rabbit as in nature lower bunnies groom the ones ranking higher in the hierarchy. If your bunny is licking you then it either means that he accepts you as a superior or he likes you so much that hierarchy doesn't matter.
Nose poking- The rabbit is showing affection and it wants you to pet him.

15. Ears forward- Intently listening to some sound that has the rabbit’s full attention.
One ear forward- Partly paying attention to something, but not 100% interested.
Ears flat- This can mean two things. If the bunny is generally happy, it means that he is relaxed. If he is angry it could be a sign that he is ready to attack and bite.
Sitting upright on hind legs- The rabbit will do this when it is curious about its surroundings, often prompted by a strange sound that has not been deemed immediately threatening.
Thumping- Bunnies are pack animals and if your rabbit likes you, then you are automatically part of the pack. If your bunny is thumbing its hind leg, then it is most likely trying to warn you so you can get away from the danger it is sensing.
Digging- Rabbits are diggers by instinct. They were born to do it, however sometimes they will dig as a way of communicating. If you are holding your bunny on your lap and he starts digging, then it may be his way to say that he needs the toilet, or that he just doesn't want to sit with you anymore.
Lying flat on the side with eyes half closed and hind legs stretched out to the same side- This is the ultimate sign of trust. Your bunny is super relaxed, happy and feels so safe with you that he doesn't feel the need to be ready to run.
Binky- Jumping and twisting in the air. If your bunny does this it is a sign that he is a really happy rabbit.

16. LOVE!
Although diet, habitat and play are important for Netherland Dwarfs, the most important thing for them is LOVE! If you care for and love your bunny, it will love you back and you will have a very good friendship and always be happy. If you create a GOOD relationship with your bunny, it will be content and so will you!

17. The Rules For My Netherland Dwarf
You must be 9 years old or older to hold my netherland dwarf.
You must get permission from me in order to: hold, play with, or touch, my netherland dwarf, it’s cage or toys, or to feed it or pet it.
These rules are for the health, safety and contentment of my bunny. Because these animals are so sensitive and fragile, I want to keep mine safe and happy.
Thank You!

18. Sources www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherland_Dwarf#Appearance
Google Images