Jersey Wooly Rabbit 101:  All You Need To Know (Part 1)
Channel: Pets Life
Date: 2021-02-06

The Jersey Wooly is a popular rabbit renowned for its playful and docile nature. These rabbits love affection and attention, and always enjoy snuggling on their keepers’ laps. They are also one of the most commonly exhibited rabbits in national and local shows in the U.S. The Jersey Wooly is a surprisingly low maintenance breed, despite its thick coat. It only needs to be brushed once a week, and more often during shedding seasons.

The Jersey Wooly is nicknamed the “no-kick” bunny because of its even-tempered nature. Although it’s a relatively newer breed, it’s really popular in the United States. Once you understand how to take care of a Jersey Wooly, your pet can lead a healthy and happy life in its new home. The Jersey Wooly is one of the most docile rabbits. It’s a popular show rabbit because of its thick, Angora-like coat, but it also makes an adorable pet because of its love for human attention and care.

The Jersey Wooly is a small rabbit developed by crossing the French Angora and the Netherland Dwarf. The resulting rabbits were made smaller with the influence of the dwarfing gene. Unlike the Angora rabbit, Jersey Woolys do not need to be sheared or trimmed. They’re a low-maintenance breed that only needs to be brushed once a week and more often during shedding seasons to avoid the wool block.


Jersey Wooly's Size and Appearance.

A fully grown Jersey Wooly weighs around 2.5 to 3.5 pounds. 3 lbs. is considered the ideal weight of a mature Jersey Wooly. Jersey Wooly rabbits have a compact, semi-arched body type. They have small and erect ears that measure about 2.5 to 3 inches long. For exhibitions, 3 inches is the maximum length allowed according to the ARBA’s Standard of Perfection. For rabbit shows in the U.S., the head and ears of a Jersey Wooly earn the most points. Jersey Wooly have a squarish and bold head, which is the reason for their popular nickname “mug-head.”


Jersey Wolly's Coat.

To keep your Jersey Wooly’s coat tangle and matt-free, you need to brush its coat at least once a week during non-shedding seasons. Once spring arrives, you’ll need to brush adult Jersey Woolys more often as they tend to shed more during this time. If your rabbit’s coat gets dirty, spot clean with a clean, damp cloth. Never give a rabbit a full bath as this can lead to stress and life-threatening cardiac issues.

Use rabbit-safe clippers or trimmers instead of scissors in case your rabbit’s coat gets severely matted and if spot cleaning and detangling doesn’t work. Using scissors can accidentally cut your rabbit’s sensitive skin, causing stress and fear during grooming.


Jersey Wooly's Lifespan.

The average lifespan of this breed depends on many factors, the biggest ones being genetics and quality of care. It’s not uncommon for Jersey Wooly rabbits to live anywhere around 7 to 10 years if given proper care.  A common myth is that rabbits that have had litters die sooner. This hasn’t been proven scientifically. Many Jersey Wooly owners have reported owning healthy rabbits that have had multiple litters and unhealthy Jersey Woolys that have had no litters.

Spaying or neutering, coupled with proper healthcare can expand their lifespan. Unneutered or unspayed rabbits have a higher likelihood of developing life-threatening reproductive system tumors and cancers.


Jersey Wooly's Behavior and Temperament.

Jersey Woolys are known for their affectionate and playful nature. As pets, they may range from being laid-back lap rabbits to curious explorers. They’re known as no-kick rabbits because they’re not aggressive and do not bite or kick their handlers. This makes Jersey Woolys good family pets for individuals with children of any age. However, young children should be supervised when they’re handling rabbits, especially small breeds like the Jersey Wooly as they can be highly fragile and easily stressed.

They also make remarkable pets for seniors or retirees, first-time pet owners, couples, and singles who’d enjoy a cuddly companion. Jersey Woolys are social rabbits. Therefore, they’re happiest when they’re in pairs or trios. Some rabbits form inseparable pairs as they’re bonded quite closely to one another. If your Jersey Wooly isn’t bonded, care should be taken before it is matched with another rabbit. You may have to house your Jersey Wooly separately while it gets to know its new friend.

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