Hollywood Rabbits - Holland Lop vs. Mini Lop

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Treat your Bunny like a Star! with Hollywood Rabbits Feed.

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Our feed has PAPAIN ENZYME which is a hair ball dissolving enzyme to help keep your bunny happy and healthy!

Pellet form in 9 lbs. bag.

Hollywood Feed 36lbs

$39.75

Treat your Bunny like a Star! with Hollywood Rabbits Feed.

Show Quality Rabbit feed.

Our feed has PAPAIN ENZYME which is a hair ball dissolving enzyme to help keep your bunny happy and healthy!

Pellet form in 36 lbs. bag.

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$15.00

2.5 lbs Thimothy Hay

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Holland Lop

Holland Lop Breed History/Origin

The Holland Lop got its start in the 1950s in Netherlands. A Dutch breeder Adriann de Cock wanted to combine the qualities of a French Lop and a Netherlands Dwarf, two very different breeds. The resulting litter of six was unsuccessful however, as their ears were erect and did not have the loping effect of the Holland Lop we know and love today. In 1952, de Cock took a doe from the litter of six and bred her with an English Lop buck. After a few hit and misses of breeding from these litters, de Cock successfully bred the Holland Lop with the French Lop’s characteristic floppy ears.

This breed was recognized by Netherlands’ Governing Rabbit Council in 1964 and by the American Rabbit Breeder’s Association by 1976.

The Holland Lop is a dwarf rabbit, which means it should weigh about 4 lbs. once fully grown.

Overall Description

The Holland Lop is a dwarf rabbit, which means it should weigh about 4 lbs. once fully grown. They have a wide, short body, consequently giving them a compact body shape. They pose similarly to a cat, resting mostly on their hind legs and only slightly on their two front ones. Their most famous feature is their large fur-covered ears which fall on either side of their heads.

Coat

A Holland Lop’s coat is of the rollback variety and is medium in length and dense. It does not require much grooming to keep it in good condition, so weekly or bi-weekly brushings with a brush should be sufficient. When springtime comes along, you may notice your rabbit will begin to shed a little more than usual – be sure to increase the amount of brushings should you want minimal fur in your home.

Colors

This breed of rabbit is recognized in a variety of colors and groups. They are divided up into two classifications: solid (one color only) and broken (which contain patched of one or two other colors). Some examples include chestnut agouti, chinchilla, chocolate and opal in the “Agouti” group, tortoise, seal, smoke pearl and sable points in the “Shaded” group and cream, fawn, frosty, orange, and red in the “Wide Band” group.

The Holland Lop is recognized in a variety of colors and groups.

Care Requirements

To keep a Holland Lop happy and healthy does not require much time and effort in comparison to a dog or cat, for instance. Their diet and indoor/outdoor balance are two of the most important aspects of becoming pet parents to a rabbit.

A rabbit’s diet consists of 70 percent good-quality hay and the rest a balanced mixture of fruits, vegetables, pellets, and leafy greens. You may find that your rabbit prefers one type of fruit to another (like apples, for instance). While it’s great that your hopper has found a delicious fruit he loves to nibble on, perhaps you can use his love for this fruit as an advantage and use it only during training as a treats. This trick can be used for animal in order to train them to do simple commands such as heeling or hopping or more complex things such as litter training (more on that to follow).

An indoor Holland Lop’s enclosure should be made of wire but have a plastic bottom in order to place soft bedding. The cage should be large enough for the rabbit to stretch out comfortably (this shouldn’t be difficult, as the Holland Lop is relatively small). Pet owners need to spot-clean the bedding every day to rid it of feces and replace the entire bedding ideally every week.

Health

A Holland Lop is not susceptible to any hereditary health issues, but taking proper care of your rabbit will make their life (and your veterinary bills) better in the long run. Make sure you regularly check their teeth for overgrown teeth, which can grow into their jaws and mouths and become extremely painful. A diet high in hay will make sure this does not happen, as hay naturally files down a rabbit’s ever-growing teeth.

Spaying and neutering can be done at a young age in a rabbit’s life. Does need not be older than six months before they can be safely spayed (some veterinarians will perform the procedure at four months, but most would rather wait until six months). Bucks, on the other hand, can be neutered as young as three months old and it is commonly known that spayed bucks make for less aggressive companions (although Holland Lops are not known be aggressive at all, so neutering the buck may not do much).

Holland Lops pose similarly to a cat, resting mostly on their hind legs and only slightly on their two front ones.

Temperament/Behavior

In order to really let your Holland Lops’s personality bloom, it is important to give them plenty of time out of their enclosures/hutches. Indoor rabbits should be let out of their cages with access to roam around at least in one particular room, if not your entire home, in order to stretch out their legs, get some sunshine and most of all, interact with their favorite humans. These little guys are wonderful first pets whether it is for a single person, a couple or a family with younger or older children.

The Holland Lop is a relatively active bunny and would also love to spend some time outdoors when the temperatures are just right. Fenced yards are wonderful but if you have an open yard, investing in an exercise pen should definitely be a priority, as it gives your rabbit a little bit of freedom but doesn’t let them roam around into your neighbor’s property.

In terms of toys, each rabbit has their own personality and may enjoy some toys to chew up and entertain themselves with. It may be as simple as a toilet paper roll to destroy to as elaborate as a mental pet toy from your local pet store.

Photo credit: elenathewise/Bigstock; naruden/Bigstock; pakkij/Bigstock

Mini Lops

Mini Lop Breed History/Origin

The Mini Lop originated in Germany when a German Lop was bred with a small Chinchilla rabbit. The newly developed breed became known as the Klein Widder or “Little hanging ear.”

In the early ’70s, a Californian breeder named Bob Herschbach spotted this newly developed breed at a show in Essen, Germany, and consequently brought a trio of them to the United States. He began breeding them and crossing the breed with a Standard Chinchilla rabbit. The first rabbit of this kind was presented to the American Breeder’s Association (ARBA) with the name “Klein Widder,” but the name changed to the Mini Lop in in 1974. The Mini Lop was successfully accepted into the ARBA later in 1980 by a man named Herby Dyke.

The Mini Lop makes an excellent pet for families with children and seniors.

Overall Description

This breed is often described as being a “basketball with a head.” That it to say that the ideal Mini Lop should have a round body with thick depth, long thick ears and a large head.

Coat

Mini Lops have a luxurious soft, medium-length rollback coat. They do not require much care in the grooming department compared to wooly breeds such as the English Angora. Weekly brushings for the most part to keep their coat soft will be enough, however owners may wish to increase the amount of grooming to twice a week during molting periods, which usually occur twice a year.

Colors

The Mini Lop is accepted in a range of colors and markings, the list far too long to communicate in this breed description. This breed is accepted as a solid pattern or a broken pattern and is available in colors such as black chinchilla, chocolate chestnut agouti, lilac/fawn tri-color, gold-tipped black steel, sable, seal, smoke pearl and many more.

Mini Lops should be out of their enclosures to play and create a lasting bond with their human handlers.

Care Requirements

Like all rabbits, Mini Lops need an adequate enclosure to spend time to eat, sleep, etc. Outdoor enclosures should be raised and have enough space for the rabbit to stretch their legs out comfortably. It should also have a ramp that lowers to the bottom of their fenced enclosure so they can feel some grass and ground beneath their feet. Indoor rabbits should have a wire enclosure that also allows them enough space to stretch out, and a corner to do their business. Their bedding should be spot-cleaned every day so they can lay down on clean, soft bedding and it should be completely replenished every week.

Thankfully, the Mini Lop’s diet does not differ from any other rabbit breed, which means they require a diet consisting of 70 percent good-quality hay such as orchard hay or timothy hay (the occasional alfalfa grass should also be good for their overall health). The rest of the diet should be a good balance of fruits, leafy greens, vegetables, and pellets. Like hay, there are plenty types of pellets available on the market, some with higher protein content than others. Be aware of what kind of fruits, leafy greens and vegetables you have in your home as some are rabbit-safe and others are not. In fact, most leafy greens are unsafe as they can cause digestive issues, especially if you feed your rabbit a large amount of it. Feed your rabbit greens that are high in fiber and nutrients, such as romaine lettuce, and be aware of what kind of fruits you’re feeding (nothing too high in sugar).

Mini Lops should be out of their enclosures to play and create a lasting bond with their human handlers as often as possible. Remember to bunny-proof the room your indoor rabbit resides in, as they will often chew on anything they deem a toy that could be as harmless (but pricey). Should you wish to provide your rabbit with some outdoor fun, remember to place them in a fenced portion of your yard (there are a few rabbit fences readily available online or at pet stores) and always have an adult present to supervise and shield your rabbit from any dangers (such as racoons, dogs, etc).

Health

Mini Lops are not susceptible to any particular disease (such as Wool Block), but there are a few health concerns every pet rabbit owner needs to be aware of.

First and foremost, should a rabbit be outside, they are very susceptible to flystrike, a condition in which flies lay their eggs on soiled pieces of fur (usually around their rear). When the eggs hatch, their main source of nutrition is the rabbit itself and they will start to devour the rabbit from the inside out, causing excruciating pain. Symptoms include seizures, loss of motion (listlessness) and skin irritations.

Always be sure to check your rabbit’s teeth, as they continuously grow throughout their entire lives and are usually worn down by a high-hay diet. If their teeth are overgrown, they may pierce their jaw and/or faces, which also causes a lot of pain and limits your rabbit’s ability to eat. Be sure to also carefully inspect your rabbit’s ears for ear mites and if you suspect your bunny has them, be sure to visit your local veterinarian.

The Mini Lop is often described as being a “basketball with a head.”

Temperament/Behavior

These medium-sized rabbits are known to be the cuddliest pet rabbits around and are often described as looking like teddy bears because of their adorable looks and affectionate nature. True to their nicknames, they are indeed great pets for children to pick up, and more than happy to be petted from head to little fuzzy tail! Like most rabbits, their personalities bloom when they are given plenty of time to be out of their enclosures where they can safely roam around their rabbit-proof room or outside in a fenced portion of the yard. Your rabbit may also benefit from having a few toys to nibble on and play with. This can be as simple as an empty toilet paper roll or as complex as a mentally stimulating rabbit-safe toy from your local pet shop.

Because of their sweet disposition, Mini Lops make excellent pets not only for families with children (both younger or older), but also for couples, singles and seniors who are looking for a cuddly companion.

Most rabbits are a little more difficult to train than the common house cat or dog, however it is not impossible. Litter training is possible with lots of patience, rewards, and a few well-placed litter boxes around the house. Teaching your Mini Lop stop, come or perform other common commands and tricks will come with time and plenty of repetition.

Photo credit: Life on White/Bigstock; bobbiesnaps/Bigstock