Last Updated on May 31, 2023 by
When it comes to choosing what rabbit breed is the cutest, the choice is definitely a hard one. There are so many rabbit breeds to choose from and so many coat colors for each breed. You’d probably be needing a day or two to really decide on what breed is the cutest and the best for them!
If I’m to be sure of one thing it’s that rabbit lop-eared bunnies will always be at the top of any bunny lover’s choice. Lop ear bunnies are very distinct thanks to their droopy ears that hang until below their large heads.
In this article, I will be focusing on the most popular Lop breeds and how best to take care of them
Contents
What are some of the most famous lop-eared bunnies?
There are a number of cute lop bunny-eared rabbits that can be found today. Their popularity is mainly due to their cute features and their amazing and gentle temperaments as pets.
Listed below are some of the most popular breeds:
1. Holland Lop
The Holland Lop is a popular dwarf-sized rabbit breed. It weighs anywhere from 2 to 4 lbs when fully grown and can live a long life, from 7 to 14 years.
The origins of the Holland Lop can be credited to Adriann de Cock of the Netherlands. This breed is also an old breed, originating as far back as the 1950s.
The Holland Lop is a result of selective breeding. He wanted to create a breed that had the best qualities of the French Lop and the Netherland Dwarf. However, the first batch of kits was deemed unsuccessful as they had upright ears instead of lop ears. De cock took a doe from this resulting litter and bred it again with an English Lop. Thus, the Holland Lop was born.
ARBA considered this rabbit official in 1976 and since then has become one of the most popular rabbit breeds in the United States
Holland Lops have the dwarf gene so their features reflect that of animals that have dwarfism. They have wide heads and compact bodies. This breed also has a “crown” or tufts of fur that can be found behind the head.
Holland Lops are famous for their fur-covered ears that hang past their jaws. They also come in different coat colors that can be solid (one color) or broken (intermixed with other colors).
Holland Lops are sweet and curious animals. However, due to their small size, it is important that you handle them carefully.
2. American Fuzzy Lop
The American Fuzzy lop is another interesting breed of rabbit. This breed is just like the Holland Lop but with an extra gene, the wool gene. This then makes their coat wool instead of fur. Thus, rendering their coats with a fuzzy feel.
The American Fuzzy Lop was recognized by ARBA in 1985 and its origins can be credited to Patty Greene-Karl. She realized that Holland Lops actually has a recessive wool gene and that breeding them together has a possibility of getting a rabbit with wool fur. Turns out, she was absolutely right.
The American Fuzzy Lop shares the same characteristics with the Holland Lop albeit their fuzzy fur. This Head of the Fancy breed can weigh from 3 to 4lbs and can live from 5 to 8 years.
3. English Lop
The English Lop is a medium-sized rabbit breed with an amazing temperament. When fully grown they can weigh from nine to 10lbs. They also have a long life span and can live from 5 to 7 years.
The origin of the English Lop is a mystery. Some say the breed originated from Africa but no one can really say for sure. They, however, first appeared in England in the 1800s and were soon exported to the United States.
Aside from their mysterious origins did you know that English Lops were also a victim of cruelty. There existed a practice of stretching their ears to make them longer and more “fashionable”. Fortunately, this cruel practice has stopped and these Lops can live in peace.
English Lops have mandolin-shaped bodies with large heads and distinct rounder floppy ears. They also come in different color coats are generally known for their sweet disposition
4. Mini Lop
The Mini Lop is another small rabbit breed very famous for its dropping fluffy ears. They are a medium-sized breed although, they tend to weigh on the lighter side. Mini Lops can weigh from 4.5 to 6 lbs when fully grown and can live from five to ten years.
The Mini Lop’s origin can be traced back to Germany when German Lops were bred with Chinchillas. They were then first called “Little Hanging Ear” (Klein Widder).
Bobb Herschbach saw took some of the kits and brought them to the United States where they were again bred with Standard Chinchillas. The Mini Lop was first recognized as a breed by ARBA in 1980 by Herby Dyke. During this time, the name of the breed was already changed to “Mini Lop”.
Mini Lops have a compact, well-muscled body. They have a soft coat that comes in many colors. They are gentle and well-mannered breeds adding to thus to their irresistibility as pets.
5. French Lop
The French Lop is one of the biggest rabbits. This breed is considered to be a Giant as it weighs from 10 to 15 lbs! They can also live from five to seven years. So, If you’re a person who doesn’t like small breeds then this breed is the perfect breed for you.
As its name suggests, the French Lop originated in France when an English Lop was bred with a French Butterfly Rabbit. These rabbits then experiences great popularity all across Europe until they were brought to the United States in the 1970s.
French Lops are very similar in features to Flemish Giants albeit, with large droopy ears. They however have smaller bodies than Flemish Giants. They also have a very chubby body with large chubby bunny cheeks.
How do you take care of lop-eared bunnies?
Taking care of lop-eared bunnies is the same as other bunnies. You need to keep them hydrated, give them enough exercise, and quality food at all times. They must also be spayed and neutered once they reach sexual maturity.
Since they have such distinct ears, aural care for lop ear bunnies is very important. Because of the position of their ears, lop-eared bunnies need their ears expected at regular intervals.
They may be prone to infection more because they’re folded thus keeping moisture in. This is because they have narrow ear canals that are more susceptible to building ear wax.
However, if you check and clean their ears regularly, you won’t have to deal with infections all the time, if at all.
It is also important to note that lop-eared bunnies are products of selective breeding. There are no lop-eared bunnies in the wild and thus, their uniquely shaped heads make them more susceptible to dental problems.
The same with ear checking, if you regularly keep your lop bunnies’ teeth trimmed and their dental health checked by the vet, you will most likely avoid having any health issues.
Conclusion
It is not hard to see why Lop Bunnies are one of the most popular rabbit breeds today. They are definitely one of the fluffiest cuties out there.
