Rabbits are a diverse group of animals with a wide range of appearances and behaviors. One thing that all rabbits have in common is that they have large, noticeable ears that are usually quite long. But that doesn’t mean rabbit breeds with short ears don’t exist! Let’s take a look at the 12 rabbit breeds with shorter ears compared to other species of rabbits.
12 Rabbit breeds with short ears
The size of this species’ ears is determined by the climate in which they live. When the weather is warm, their ears help with temperature change and allow them to stay cool. Here are 12 examples of rabbit breeds with shorter ears.
1. Netherland Dwarf
Scientific Name: Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus
The Netherland Dwarf is a rabbit breed that originated in the Netherlands in the early twentieth century. They’re one of the smallest rabbit breeds, weighing only 1.1-2.5 pounds at maturity.
These cute animals also have shorter ears than other breeds, measuring up to 2.5 inches in length. Their fur coloration varies greatly; some are solid white or black, while others are silver or chestnut. Another intriguing aspect of this breed is its ability to live longer than many other types of rabbits—up to ten years.
2. Polish rabbits
Polish rabbits have short, compact bodies and are small in size. These rabbits can weigh anywhere from 2 to 3.5 pounds, but the ideal weight for this breed is 2.5.
They have small, upright ears that touch each other from tip to base. The fur on their body is short, soft, and glossy, with six different colors, and it must be brushed once a week or biweekly to keep them in good condition. The Polish rabbit has a very distinct personality and is known for being a very friendly animal that enjoys being around humans.
3. Argente Crème
The Argente Crème is a medium-sized rabbit breed that’s regarded as one of the best for beginners and rabbit enthusiasts. They typically weigh 8.5 to 11 pounds and can live for up to 9 years. This cuddly animal also has shorter ears than other rabbit breeds and cream-colored overcoats with orange undercoats that are short and don’t require regular maintenance.
Argente Crèmes are friendly rabbits who enjoy being handled by humans. As playful creatures, they also need large spaces where they can roam around.
4. Lionhead
The Lionhead rabbit is one of the most unusual and interesting breeds, and their distinct appearance and personality make them a popular choice among rabbit enthusiasts. Lionhead rabbits are small rabbits weighing between 3 and 4 pounds depending on gender and age.
They have a mane of hair that runs down their neck to their shoulders and is typically 2 inches long, but the rest of their bodies have shorter coats. This breed comes in a variety of colors, the most common of which are black, blue, chocolate, and lilac.
5. Silver Marten
Silver Martens is a rabbit breed native to the United States. This breed is known for its beautiful coat, which is usually black with silver markings but can also be chocolate, blue, or sable. They can weigh between 6.5 and 8.5 pounds and have small ears that can be seen standing vertically.
These animals aren’t only lovely, but also gentle and sweet. Although they’re shy rabbits, these breeds can be kept as pets because they can learn to open up and be comfortable with their owners. Silver Martens will also require plenty of space to play and explore because they enjoy jumping around.
6. American Sable
The American Sable is a rabbit breed that originated in America. This breed is popular as a pet in any home because they’re friendly and affectionate rabbits.
They also have a distinct coat coloring that appeals to rabbit enthusiasts. American Sables have a luxurious brown coat that ranges from dark sepia on top to lighter sepia on the sides.
When fully grown, the average American Sable weighs about 8 pounds, though females may be larger than males. These cute animals are considered medium-sized rabbits with small and pointy ears.
7. Britannia Petite
The Britannia Petite is a rabbit breed with short ears. This rabbit is also distinguished by its small stature, weighing between 1 and a half and 2 lbs, making them ideal family pets.
It was first bred in Britain in the middle of the 19th century. They created the breed to be a companion for children to exhibit at fairs and other events.
This lovely creature has a very friendly personality and enjoys interacting with humans. Britannia Petites are also very social, enjoy spending time with family members, and are very active. The coat color of this breed can be white, black, chestnut, black otter, or sable.
8. Jersey Wooly
The Jersey Wooly rabbit is among the most commonly seen rabbits in the United States at local and national shows. It was created to be smaller so that it could be kept as a family pet. They’re also known for being extremely docile animals.
The Jersey Wooly is a small-sized rabbit that weighs between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds when fully grown. The ears are small and erect, measuring up to 2.5 inches in length. Their wooly fur comes in a variety of colors, including black, blue, chestnut, pointed white, and siamese sable.
Unlike other wooly rabbits, their fur doesn’t need to be trimmed regularly. You only need to brush it to keep it from becoming tangled.
9. Thrianta
The Thrianta is a small rabbit breed that weighs between 4 and 6 pounds. They also have their roots in the Netherlands, where they were created as a sign of loyalty to the Dutch royal family.
It has a medium-length coat that’s distinguished by its bright red-orange coloring. Since they‘re quiet, gentle, mild-mannered, and sweet, this breed is ideal for families with young children and seniors.
These rabbits are shy when meeting new people at first, but as they adjust to their new surroundings, they become more outgoing. This breed requires little grooming and only needs to be brushed on occasion.
10. Mini Rex
The Mini Rex rabbit breed is distinguished by its small size and small ears that don’t exceed 3.5 inches in length. These breeds are popular among families as pets because they’re known for being very sweet, sociable, and easygoing.
They form strong bonds with their owners and enjoy human company. Mini Rex is also intelligent enough to be potty trained and perform simple tricks. This rabbit breed comes in a variety of colors, such as lilac, lynx, opal, otter, red, and black.
11. Dwarf Hotot
The Dwarf Hotot rabbit is a small, friendly breed with a distinctive black and white coloring. They’re relatively low-maintenance and fun to keep as pets in the right home, but they do require some specific conditions to thrive.
Dwarf Hotots have completely white fur with either black, blue, or chocolate eyebands. Furthermore, they have tiny, upright ears. These creatures have a small, compact body type and weigh no more than 3.5 pounds.
12. Havana
The Havana rabbit is a medium-sized rabbit with fur that comes in five different colors. They’re distinguished by their extremely shiny and soft fur, as well as their short ears, which they use to express themselves and communicate with other rabbits. This breed can also only weigh 6 pounds.
Havana is an excellent choice for families with children or other small pets. They’re gentle, calm, and social creatures who make excellent companions. These cuddly rabbits are also extremely intelligent and simple to train, so you can teach them tricks like fetch.
