9 Rabbit breeds that make the best pets

by Mary Fetzer
Dec 17, 2015 at 1:00 pm EDT

Dec 17, 2015 at 1:00 pm EDT

Small rabbit on shoulder of young — Image: Angela Lumsden/Getty Images

“Mommy, I want a bunny!” Who knew there were so many types of rabbits to choose from? Here’s a look at some of the best rabbit breeds for pets… especially if you have children.

Image: Pets4Homes.co.uk

The Sussex rabbit is like a silly, playful golden retriever puppy. This real live teddy bear has a lovable, outgoing personality and actually enjoys being handled by children. And just look at that face!

Image: Corinne Benavides/Flickr

The popular Dutch rabbit is just about 5 lbs. fully grown — just right for little hands to hold and play with. It’s calm and sweet and will quickly become friends with your children.

Image: Nature'sAura – C.McKee/Flickr

The lionhead rabbit is an absolute sweetheart that can easily be litter trained. It can also be taught to follow commands such as “Eat” and “Come.” But the little furball does like to chew, so keep an eye on those wire cages!

Image: Michelle Owner of the Squishy/Flickr

One of the oldest breeds of domestic rabbit, the angora is sweet, friendly and (obviously) super-soft! It’s best suited for older kids who can manage regular grooming of its fabulous fur coat.

Image: Jamaltby at en.wikipedia

At a full-grown 10 lbs., the Palomino rabbit is strong and sturdy. It loves people and tends to be particularly fond of children.

Image: "Himalayanrabbitchilling - Signpost edit" by Amber. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Himalayan rabbit thrives on attention and loves being handled. Its docile nature and tiny size (just 2 to 4 lbs.!) makes it the perfect pet for kids to cuddle up with.

Image: Susan Schmitz/Getty Images

The harlequin rabbit is smart and sweet and one of the best choices for families with small children. It loves to be held and snuggled, and it can be trained to respond to its name! The harlequin rabbit’s gorgeous markings are a work of art.

Image: Corinne Benavides/Flickr

The soft, fluffy standard chinchilla rabbit is the perfect package. It’s intelligent and easy to train. It’s playful and sociable. It’s calm and loving. And it’s small enough (5 lbs. fully grown) for even the littlest kids to cuddle.

Image: Greg Bulla

The easygoing Florida white rabbit was bred for laboratory testing. The gentle, tolerant nature that made it so appropriate as a test subject is what makes it such a great option as a family pet. (And every Florida white that’s living in a loving home is one less Florida white that’s dying in a lab.)