choosing a rabbit

Question
can you give some tips on what kind/sex of rabbit to purchase for our 7 yr old animal lover daughter, RAchel.  SHe is very loving & will want to hold her new pet a lot.  Due to space constraints we were considering a mini(dwarf) type breed.  ?polish rabbit.  someone told me the smaller rabbits aren't as cuddly & are higher strung in temperment.  Is this true or is it a Individual rabbit thing?  Is a particular gender more low key?  What about lifespan on full size -vs- smaller breed?  I assume it's better to find a breeder than buy from a pet store?  thanks!!

Answer
It really depends on the genetics of the rabbits. Some breeds do tend to have a mean tendancy. Defiantly don't get a Britannia Petite. They are the meanest of all breeds. Something like a Netherland Dwarf is a little too fragile for a small kid, and generally don't like to be handled too much. A Holland Lop on the other hand would make a great pet. Also a dutch or mini rex make good pet. Breeder's often have what we call pet quality for sale, and usually cheap.
Usually females are calmer while young, but as they age, they tend to be more agressive once breedin age, if not fixed. Either sex really is about equal. Life spans are about the same for all breeds. A healthy rabbit can live 10 years or more sometimes. It is definatly better to buy from a breeder because they can explain to you more about the rabbit and the breed than a pet store can. It is always good to talk with breeders because you can get so much information from them. They know how to care for rabbits a lot better than pet stores, and generally the bunnies bought from breeders are healthier and live longer.