Status

Our online vet service is live

5 Most Aggressive Rabbit Breeds (With Info & Pictures)

chocolate-Domestic-Holland-lop-rabbit_Ersen-Yoldac_shutterstock

In general, rabbits are known to be gentle creatures and kind, if wary, pets. If you’ve ever seen a rabbit who feels threatened, you may know that their sharp teeth can cause extensive damage.

If you’re thinking of buying or adopting a rabbit as a pet, you may be wondering which breeds are most likely to be aggressive. While aggression in rabbits is often a behavioral problem more than genetic, some breeds are predisposed to more aggressive tendencies in response to danger.

Below, we’ll examine the five most aggressive breeds.

Divider_Rabbit Paw

The 5 Most Aggressive Rabbit Breeds

1. Belgian Hares

Black and brown belgian hare
Image Credit: Cassidy Te, Shutterstock

There’s something even in the stance of a Belgian Hare that shows they mean business. They were developed from wild Belgian rabbits and still have their distant ancestors’ lithe bodies and powerful feet. Some breeders say it’s the insistent presence of these wild genes that lends Belgian Hares one of two personality traits, making them either fighters or runners (but rarely both).


2. Checkered Giants

Checkered-giant-rabbit_Lukasz-Pawel-Szczepanski_shutterstock
Image Credit: Lukasz Pawel Szczepanski, Shutterstock

As one of a very limited selection of full arch breeds in North America, the Checkered Giant has a similar shape and disposition as the Belgian Hare listed above. Though their larger size (up to 16 pounds) might otherwise lend them a more mellow temperament, some Checkered Giants just seem to have a mischievous streak. They can get aggressive if they feel threatened.


3. Lionheads

Lionhead rabbit sitting in the grass
Image By: Camraw26, Pixabay

As with many smaller rabbits, the under-4-pound Lionhead has been known to get confrontational when feeling ill at ease. Though generally mild-mannered, Lionheads settle arguments with physical aggression rather than demurring to other animals.


4. Holland Lops

white brown Holland lop rabbit
Image By: monofly, Shutterstock

Often described as being like a bulldog in shape, the Holland Lop can be temperamental. Don’t let their petite size fool you; when irritated, they often bully their way through whatever happens to lie in front of them. Thankfully, their miniature stature often keeps them from being able to do any actual harm to much of anything besides an unfortunately placed electrical cable.


5. Netherland Dwarfs

netherland dwarf rabbit
Image By: RATT_ANARACH, Shutterstock

In some situations, a fearless, courageous attitude for the Netherland Dwarf can just as quickly become hostile and mettlesome given the wrong set of circumstances. They have a reputation for spunky behavior like this, which some rabbit owners find endearing, as they also have almost no ability at all to back it up with their sub-3-pound bodies.

Divider_Rabbit Paw

What Causes Aggression in Rabbits?

YouTube video

While each of the breeds we’ve listed above may be more predisposed to physically aggressive behavior than other more docile breeds, rabbit behavior is highly trainable. Often, aggression can be a sign of something else going on with your rabbit, such as:

  • Not being spayed or neutered. Aside from the benefits to your rabbit’s lifespan, spaying or neutering them will also reduce aggressive impulses.
  • Being in pain. If they’ve recently suffered a minor injury, your rabbit will be more likely to respond even to kind gestures with aggression to protect themselves.
  • Spring hormones. Spring is the natural breeding time for rabbits, and an excess of hormones can cause them to act more aggressively than usual.

Use a soft, quiet voice and slow, gentle movements to build trust. No matter the cause of your rabbit’s aggression, taking slow and gentle steps towards training that behavior out of them will almost always yield good results.

Divider_Rabbit Paw

Final Thoughts

In general, rabbits make extremely kind, affectionate, and friendly pets. If you adopt a more high-spirited breed of rabbit, such as those listed in this article, be prepared to spend more time training their behaviors and exercising patience! Over time, they’ll come to know and trust you in a way that will diminish any aggression, leaving you with an energetic and loving friend.


Featured Image Credit: Ersen Yoldac, Shutterstock

Share

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve PangoVet for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

No stressful travel

Personalized advice

Trending Articles

Read more

Related posts

Want to talk with a vet online?

We are here to help. Simply schedule an appointment by clicking on the button below.

Didn't find what you need? Use the search!

Close the search