Black and White Rabbit Breeds

Black and white rabbit breeds are beautiful, and incredibly distinctive.

They also make up some of the most popular pet rabbits in the world.

Black and White Rabbits

Throughout the ages sage philosophers have advised us not to view the world in black and white.

Clearly they’ve never gazed upon that most adorable little bundle of fur known as the black and white bunny rabbit!

These superbly colored bunnies have a charm all their own!

Black and White Rabbit Breeds

Click on a breed listed below to jump down to their section:

Or dive in and learn more about life with beautiful black and white bunnies first!

History of the Black and White Rabbit Breeds

It is thought that the Normans were the first known rabbit owners/enthusiasts.

In these early days rabbits were valued as a source of food and clothing.

As global food production increased, the role of rabbits in the food chain decreased.

And formal exhibition of rabbits (known as Fancy Rabbits) began to take place more than 200 years ago.

Modern day domestic rabbit breeds are plentiful, and their colors range from black to white to just about every hue in between.

These colors can appear singularly, in dualities or as part of a pattern.

But there’s something special about a dual colored black and white floppy eared bunny.

Black and White Pet Bunnies

Thousands of pet parents enjoy the company of domesticated rabbits.

And many of these amazing animals are also shown competitively.

Here we are going to review several rabbit breeds such as Dutch, Rex, and Lionhead.

All of which feature black and white bunnies.

As of 2016 the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) recognized nearly 50 unique rabbit breeds!

While the British Rabbit Council recognized over 50 breeds (including 500 varieties)!

So there are a lot of bunnies out there to choose from

Owning A Black and White Rabbit

Breeders speak in terms of generalities when describing a breed’s temperament.

But in reality each and every bunny enjoys its own unique personality and characteristics, just as human siblings from the same family do!

Some rabbit breeds are considered more easygoing, some more temperamental.

But the best way to socialize an animal is to handle it often and give it frequent exposure to other living beings.

Beyond the breed’s reputation, keep in mind a bunny’s size when deciding upon which breed of black and white bunny to bring home.

A smaller breed requires less living space and less food.

According to ARBA, the following guidelines should be used:

• 1.5 square feet of cage space for rabbits less than 4 pounds
• 3 square feet of space for those up to nine pounds
• 4-5 square feet of space for animals 9-12 pounds

Of course if you have more than one rabbit, you need to expand upon these suggestions to take into account their shared living quarters.

Black and White Rabbit Ears

In addition to a rabbit’s temperament and size, many owners consider appearance when choosing a bunny.

Ears and fur being two main considerations.

A domestic bunny’s ears are either up or down (Lop), big or small.

Lop breeds such as the American and English have large, lolling ears that typically flop onto the sides of the head.

So, if it’s ears that you are in love with, it’s good to know that the English Lop has the biggest ears of all the Lop breeds!

In contrast, other breeds have smaller, erect ears that stand at attention on top of the head. Both types are adorable, in my estimation!

Types of Rabbit Fur

Short and smooth rabbit fur is described as “flyback,” or “roll back.”

The former descriptive term applies to short rabbit fur that immediately flies back into place when it is stroked against the normal growth pattern.

When the same is done to what is known as roll back fur, the hair takes longer to fall back into place, and instead slowly rolls back into its usual position.

This type of fur is longer and denser than flyback fur, which rests closer to the body.

In general flyback fur is easier to care for.

Wool coated rabbit breeds have long, fluffy fur and include the American Fuzzy Lop and the Lionhead.

A woolly coat is dense but soft.

The Rex type of fur in rabbits is characterized by hair that sits upright.

The coat is short but very lush and velvet-like to the touch.

This type of coat is only found in Rex and mini Rex rabbits.

Black and White Netherland Dwarf Rabbit

Rabbits range in size from mini (Dwarf rabbits) to maxi (Giant rabbits).

Dwarf rabbits are easier to handle, with their slender size caused by a genetic mutation.

These small animals should always be handled with gentleness and care due to their slight structure.

Experts recommend keeping dwarf rabbits indoors only, due to their size and sensitive systems.

How small are dwarf bunnies?

Dwarf rabbits of various breeds average 1 to 3 pounds, give or take an ounce or two!

Nonetheless, the Mini and Dwarf Lops can reach up to a whopping 5 pounds apiece.

Dwarf rabbits are characterized by short noses, small ears, compact bodies, and large heads in relation to the body.

Their fur can be either long or short, the ears regular or Lop, and their colors mimic the standard ranges found in full size bunnies.

These itty bitty bunny rabbits are unquestionably cute little critters to have around.

And so over time breeders began to develop smaller and smaller dwarf breeds in order to meet the appeal for cute, pocket-sized rabbits.

However, such breeding practices are not without issues of their own.

For example, tiny rabbits are prone to dental and jaw issues due to the compactness of their facial structure.

Black and White Dutch Rabbit

The black and white Dutch rabbit makes for a great pet

This bunny has a gentle, mild mannered nature, making it a solid choice for first time owners.

A bunny from the Dutch rabbit breed averages approximately 4-6 pounds, and this is considered to be a relatively small breed.

This makes them a little easier to lift, and to keep their claws clipped

The Dutch bunny has upright ears and flyback fur.

It comes in white and black, but also blue, chocolate, tortoise, gray, or steel gray.

Black and White Lionhead Rabbit

The extraverted Lionhead rabbit breed is a hairy, yet wee, breed of bunny.

In fact, they are alternately known as the Dwarf Lionhead due to their petite stature.

While some rabbit breeds easily reach upwards of 10 pounds, the Lionhead averages 3-4 pounds.

As you might expect these rabbits are named for their majestic appearance.

They sport a huge fluff of fur around the neck, just like the king of the jungle.

Some particularly bushy haired Lionheads also come with a big swath of long fur that extends along the tummy.

But all that glorious fur comes with a price: Lionheads require diligent, regular brushing in order to keep mats at bay.

For all their adorableness, this breed is not common in the average pet home, constituting less than 3% of domestic rabbits in the U.K. (as of 2016).

The little Lionhead rabbit is known as an affectionate and intelligent animal who does well with children.

Lionheads come in a variety of colors including black, white, lilac, and chocolate.

Black and White English Spot Rabbit

The English Spot rabbit is a medium sized breed known as an affectionate and curious bunny.

It is characterized by a full body and long front legs.

The breed was developed during the 19th century and ranges from 5 to 8 pounds in weight.

This breed has a one-of-a-kind dramatically colored flyback coat that features cheek spots, eye circles, nose markings, and a chain of spots.

Colorations include black, white, gray, blue, lilac, and chocolate.

For all of its positive attributes, potential owners should be aware that the English Spot is not considered to be the most docile, laid-back bunny breed.

This is a lively rabbit breed, requiring at least an hour of exercise daily.

They prefer to sleep during the day and be active at night and in the morning.

Naturally. along with this dynamic lifestyle comes a big appetite!

Black and White Lop Rabbit

Lop rabbits come in different varieties and sizes, but all are known for their long, floppy ears.

Did you know that there is both an English Lop and an American Lop?

The former is a big boy averaging 10 pounds and up, sporting Lop ears and flyback fur.

This granddaddy of domestic rabbits is very nearly rabbit royalty, and is known as the “King of the Fancy.”

The English Lop has a lop-sided body, with the rear end being rather bulbous, and the rest of the body tapering toward the head.

Its impressive ears are almost as long as its body!

Many consider the English Lop to be the oldest breed of domestic rabbit, with records of its existence stretching back to 1700.

While the longstanding English Lop is no doubt the best known of the breed, the French and Danish Lops also have their place in history.

Just like the English Spotted rabbit, this legendary Lop comes with a caveat: The English Lop is known to be a bit of a high maintenance rabbit!

Smaller Lop rabbits

The much smaller American Lop weighs an average of 3 to 4 pounds, has Lop ears, and long fur that requires extensive daily grooming.

The face appears a bit flattened and American Lops are bred in many colors, including the distinguished black and white rabbit.

There is also a Dwarf Lop, a.k.a. Mini Lop.

The Mini Lop has a gentle nature and features short hair that is easy to maintain.

In addition, the mini Plush Lop weighs around 3-4 pounds.

The mini Plush Lop makes a good first time rabbit pet, as it has an affectionate personality.

It is a new breed, developed in the 1990s.

This breed was created by mixing the Mini Rex and the Mini Lop.

It therefore has Rex type fur.

Black and White Rex Rabbit

The popular Rex rabbit breed averages 6-11 pounds, has upright ears, and of course the Rex type of hair.

While the English Lop rabbit is known as the “King of the Fancy,” the distinguished Rex breed is known as the “King of Rabbits.”

The Rex hair type in rabbits features a uniquely short but very plush fur that feels like velvet.

Rex coats are unlike normal rabbit fur, in that the guard hairs are almost the same length as the undercoat.

This rabbit is a medium sized bunny with a well-rounded appearance.

Circa 1924 the first Rex arrived in the United States from Northwestern France.

Today Rex are among the top three commercial breeds shown in the United States

And they come in a multitude of colors including black, white, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, sable, and seal.

The Rex is officially classified as a commercial type rabbit due to its meat-producing factor.

Like several other rabbit breeds, the Rex has a mini-me!

The Mini Rex weighs around 3-5 pounds and features upright ears and narrow shoulders.

Black and White Hotot Rabbit

The gorgeous Hotot has a soft white coat and gorgeous black markings around their eyes.

An incredibly distinctive black and white bunny, the Hotot comes in a couple of varieties.

The dwarf Hotot is one of the smallest pet rabbits, and needs handling with care.

They make great pets for gentle owners, and live a good lifespan of up to ten years.

A lot of their health issues are common to many rabbit breeds, although they are more likely to have issues with misaligned teeth.

Probably due to their tiny size.

Britannia Petite Rabbit

The Britannia Petite is a small breed, as its name suggests.

They are found in a range of colors, all of which have to include white.

You can find black and white Britannia Petites, but they aren’t incredibly common.

They tend to be busy little bunnies, that aren’t really a lap pet.

Though they are incredibly entertaining to watch!

Despite their small size they need large enclosures, with plenty of space to run and hop.

They also benefit from lots of enrichment including hiding spots and things to climb on and chew.

Black and White Californian Rabbit

Californian rabbits have dark markings on their extremities.

These can be black or brown, and show on their noses, ears, feet and genitalia.

When these black markings show up on a white coat the impact is incredibly eye catching.

Breeders ideally want neat batches of black in each of the marked areas.

But some rabbits are what is known as over marked.

And the dark splotches run up the backs of their legs and even across their lower back.

Californian rabbits tend to be medium to large bunnies, with a fairly docile temperament.

Rabbits bred for show are likely to be handalable as they need to be inspected by show judges and transported to various locations easily.

Checkered Giant Rabbit

The Checkered Giant is a spotty rabbit with a short coat.

Their coats have spots or splodges of back, mostly around the back end and faces.

They have long black ears, and are a fairly large sized breed too.

This bunny is unlikely to be a cuddly companion.

Relaxed but a little indifferent to human companionship, the black and white Checkered Giant needs lots of space and activities to entertain themselves.

Like every rabbit, they do best in a pair or group that have been together since they were young.

Black and White Angora Rabbit

Angora rabbits are a delightful breed to look at.

And they have been around for several centuries now, with no sign of their popularity dwindling.

Their fluffy wooly coat grows in the same manner all over their body, even on their ears.

And this hair is even used in the textile industry to make incredibly soft wool!

The downside of this gorgeous coat is that it can cause them to become unwell.

When they groom their fluffy coat particles of hair can be swallowed accidentally and cause blockages.

You will need to have a really good brushing routine for your bunny to help them look after their lovely fur.

Black and White Harlequin Rabbit

The Harlequin rabbit has bold patches of color, and none look more impressive than the black and white Harlequin bunnies.

Their fur is thick and silken to the touch.

A larger breed of rabbit, these cuties came from France originally and is usually found in black and orange.

A great companion rabbit, they are fun, active and also keen to spend time with their owners.

If you are calm and gentle with them, they will reward your efforts with time together.

Especially if there is a carrot on offer!

Black and White Himalayan Rabbit

Himalayan rabbits at first glance look a lot like Californians with their dark ears and dark feet.

Not surprising when you know that the Californian rabbit can trace their genetics back to the Himalayan!

But the Himalayan gene also includes pink eyes.

They are medium to large in size, and have a reputation for being really calm.

A relaxed companion, they are happy to be petted and seem to enjoy the company of their humans as well as other rabbits.

Black and White Satin Rabbit

There are three types of Satin rabbit breed. The Satin, Mini Satin and Satin Angora.

They all have in common a particularly silky coat.

This short fur stands up on end and is very soft to the touch.

They are medium sized rabbits, and generally have relaxed and gentle natures.

It’s important to keep satin rabbits either indoors or in a rabbit shed that is very well isolated.

They have no guard hairs and can be less able to keep themselves warm than those bunnies with more wild rabbit-like coats.

Black and White Rabbit Breeds

We hope that you enjoyed our look at black and white baby rabbits and adult rabbits.

Is a black and white Lop eared rabbit in your future? Or maybe you are leaning toward a velvet-furred Rex?

Bunnies make great pets and those with distinctive and dramatic black and white markings are especially delightful.

Just think of all the fun names for black and white rabbits that can be dreamed up!

Resources and Further Reading

• American Rabbit Breeders, Inc
• British Rabbit Council
• Lop Rabbit Club of America
• House Rabbit Society
• National Rex Rabbit Club
• Carneiro, M. et al (2017). Dwarfism and altered craniofacial development in rabbits is caused by a 12.1 kb deletion at the HMGA2 locus. Genetics, 205.
• Huynh, M. et al. (2014). Retrospective cohort study of gastrointestinal stasis in pet rabbits. Veterinary Record, 175.