While any rabbit is a cute pet, lop rabbit breeds rank among some of the most popular rabbit types and for good reason. Incredibly cute, cuddly and sweet dispositions all add up to make lop eared rabbit breeds desirable pets, while their intrinsic attractive appearance make them great show animals.
Perhaps the most distinctive feature on lop eared rabbits, are the large ears. They are thick and wide and they flop along side of the head area. Out of all the domestic breeds of rabbit, they are the oldest breed and they can be traced back to the 17th century.
There are different lop eared rabbit breeds but every type is considered small, muscular and they all have the signature floppy ears by the time they reach 4 months old.
Lop Rabbits Breeds
As their name would indicate, the lop rabbit has ears that may be short or long, but always floppy. There are several varieties within the lop eared rabbit breeds to be considered as pets that would do equally well in that role.
American Fuzzy Lop Rabbit
The American Fuzzy Lop rabbit has a long, dense coat of fur. Their droopy ears are on the shorter side compared to some of the varieties. A few different varieties fall into the American Fuzzy Lop category, depending on their coloration. In general, these can be any one of an assortment of colors, from solid whites to shaded hues and wide bands.
Mini Lop Rabbit
A truly sweet pet is the Mini Lop rabbit. They genuinely love the attention they receive from their owners, and love to cuddle and play. Smaller than the average rabbit pet, they are ideal as pets for children who enjoy showering attention upon them. Mini Lops are intelligent as well, and have been known to become litter trained. There is a wide spectrum of color variations for the Mini Lops, although for show bunnies, only 5 of those are recognized.
Holland Lop Rabbit
Another lop rabbit variety that is widely sought as a pet is the Holland lop. A dwarf variety, the Holland lop rabbit weighs only about 3.5 to 4 pounds and are very playful animals. While toys are available for purchase in pet stores, they enjoy simple toys that can be fashioned from items readily found within most homes; items such as empty toilet paper rolls and golf balls.
The Holland lop is actually the smallest breed of lop eared rabbit. It weighs in at less than 4 pounds and the ears are thick and long and they drag on the ground. This type of rabbit comes in many colors and patterns and it has a stocky, muscular body. The Holland lop is known for having a sweet temperament and it is non aggressive.
English Lop Rabbit
The English lop is called the “king of the fancy” because it is the first type of lop eared rabbit. This rabbit can weigh a full 9 pounds and it has the longest ears out of all lop eared rabbit types. Usually the ears are 21 inches and they can drag on the floor along side of the rabbit. They behave well and are very smart.
The English Lop rabbit sports the longest ears of all types of rabbits. These floppy ears can reach an impressive length of over twenty inches! Of course, with ears this long, owner must take some careful considerations when providing for their pets. One of the most overlooked special needs is the requirement for a hutch that is much larger than what another rabbit might need.
At the other end of the spectrum is the English lop rabbit; one of the larger of the breeds. This rabbit on average measures out to around 22 inches long, with magnificent ears that grow as long as 20 inches long! With truly great personalities, the English lop lavishes in love and attention, and responds with an extremely docile manner. This breed is known to be one of the oldest breeds of rabbit, with history back to the 16th century.
French Lop Rabbit
The French lop is said to be the largest of the lops. It can weigh over 10 pounds but the ears are much shorter than the English lop. If it is kept outside, it will need a large hutch or area to move around in. They are friendly and have a relaxed temperament but it isn’t a good idea to have them around small children. Toddlers can accidentally harm the rabbit or the rabbit can become aggressive and bite the child.
German Lop Rabbit
The German lop is a small type of rabbit. The average German lop weighs around 7 pounds. The ears can flop up to 11 inches and they come in a variety of color patterns. This rabbit is muscular and has thick, course hair. It can live and be happy living indoors or outdoors and although it does have bursts of energy, it should have a hutch or specific area to rest in because this type of rabbit enjoys a certain amount of downtime.
Dwarf Lop Rabbit
The dwarf rabbit is one of the smallest types of lop eared rabbit. The average dwarf weighs in at around 4 pounds. The ears are relatively short and they have dense short hair. They come in a variety of colors and patters that include chinchilla, sable and seal point. They are smart and can be trained to use a litter box and they can also learn their own names and respond to them. The dwarf rabbit should probably be kept inside away from the elements.
The lop eared rabbit is one of the most adorable animals that people choose to keep as pets. They are not hard to train and they can be taught to use a litter box and kept within the home. They groom themselves and if you have your pet lop eared rabbit spayed or neutered, it can live up to 10 years. This small animal requires little care and it is friendly and playful.
The lop rabbit is among the most popular of the rabbit breeds.
Velveteen Lop Rabbit
The Velveteen Lop is a new breed of rabbit that is gaining in popularity.
The Velveteen Lop has one of the sweetest dispositions. They also love attention. They are very cute, looking almost like the velveteen rabbit in children’s storybooks. They are much easier to take care of than Angoras. If you are looking for a rabbit that enjoys cuddles this one might be perfect for you.
Velveteen Lops weigh five to seven pounds and they are mandolin shaped. They have long ears, about 12 inches. They are on the small side for rabbits. The fur of the Velveteen Lop is very plush and velvety, which may explain their name. Their fur is very short when compared to other rabbits and also has minimal guard hairs. This makes them much easier to groom.
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