The Holland Lop is a dwarf rabbit that normally weighs about four pounds once fully grown. Their body is wide but short. Thus, they tend to have a dense body shape.
They act similar to a cat, resting frequently on their rear legs and only slightly on their two front feet. The Holland Lop’s head is large with a distinct puff of fur at its back, which has become distinguished as the “crown”.
While their stubby body and fuzzy round head would have been more than enough to make these bunnies adorable, it’s their floppy ears that make this breed district and endlessly lovely.
Without a doubt, the Holland Lop’s most prominent trait is their large fur-covered ears which fall on either side of their heads. The ears are well-furred and full, having a similar shape as a teaspoon (rounded tips and wider at the bottom). The lazy ears that frame their cute faces only add to the appeal of these bunnies.
These rabbits were bred to be as cute as possible, so you can expect them to sneak their way into your heart at first sight.
The Holland Lop is one of the most famous rabbit breeds, thanks to their easy-going, sweet, and friendly nature.
Skip to section
- History and Origin
- Colors
- Coat
- Behavior
- Care
- Health
- Breeding
- Spaying or Neutering
- Where to Get One?
- Supplies and Cages
- Other Notes
- FAQs
- How much should a Holland Lop weigh?
- What are the uses of Holland Lop Rabbits?
- At what age are Holland Lops viewed as fully grown?
- How much should Holland Lops eat?
- Do Holland Lops smell?
- Do Holland Lops bite?
- Do Holland Lops shed a lot?
- How long do Holland Lops usually live?
- What do Holland Lop rabbits eat?
- Do Holland Lops are easy to care for?
- Do Holland Lops hold grudges?
- Final Thoughts
History and Origin
Not all breeds of rabbits made it into this world naturally. Some were produced with the help of careful breeders who aspired to guarantee that their clients got the best bunnies that money could buy.
The Holland Lop got its origin in the 1950s in the Netherlands. A Dutch breeder Adriann de Cock wanted to merge the features of a French Lop and a Netherland Dwarf Rabbit.
These are two very distinct breeds, so it was an interesting mix, to say the least.
Sadly, The resulting offspring of six were unsuccessful. This was because their ears were upright and did not have the loping influence of the Holland Lop we know and adore today.
In 1952, de Cock took a doe from that offspring of six and cultivated her with an English Lop buck. After several hit and misses of breeding from these offspring, de Cock triumphantly bred a Holland Lop with the French Lop’s signature floppy ears. And the rest, as they say, is history.
This breed of rabbit was noticed by Netherlands’ Governing Rabbit Council in 1964 and by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 1976. Ever since then, the whole world has appreciated having the incredible Holland Lop in their lives.
Colors
This breed of rabbit comes in various colors and groups.
They are split up into two classifications: solid (one color only) and broken (which include bits of one or two other colors). They also come in various patterns, including chestnut agouti, chinchilla, chocolate, and opal in the “Agouti” group; tortoise, seal, smoke pearl, and dark spots in the “Shaded” group; and cream, fawn, frosty, orange, tricolor, and red in the “Wide Band” group.
The awesome variety of coat colors within this breed only appends to the appeal and fame of these bunnies. Cuteness is guaranteed with a Holland Lop, and in no less than 15 various colors and color mixtures! The possibilities are almost limitless.
Coat
The Holland Lop’s coat is of the rollback class. It is thick and medium in length. This soft and glossy coat does not demand much grooming to keep it in great condition. So in addition to being charming and lovable, the Holland Lop is a low-maintenance breed of rabbit. No wonder why children around the world go so ga-ga for these things!
As a great rule of thumb, a weekly or bi-weekly grooming session should be enough. Just simply brush your bunny with a smoother brush or a fur splitter (a.k.a. a wide-toothed comb) to have their coat tangle-free and shiny.
Of course, the idea of coat grooming is not only to maintain your rabbit’s beautiful appearance. Rabbits are keen groomers, and as a result, they will surely ingest a lot of their hair. Unfortunately, all of that fur munching might cause a deadly intestinal blockage in your little friend. So the aim of brushing this bunny is to lessen the amount of loose hair your pet will ingest.
Hair brushing is particularly critical during their molting season. At the shift of seasons, you may notice your rabbit will start to shed a little more than usual. During these heavy-shedding days, you will be required to brush your bunny a few times a day. It may seem like your little bunny won’t require those extra brushing sessions, but trust us, this is so crucial.
On the flip side, bathing is never suggested for rabbits. They aren’t remotely fond of being washed and it can produce significant stress, which is the last thing you want for your pet. If your Holland Lop gets soiled, simply use a dampened cotton ball to clean their fur. It might need a longer amount of time to clean your pet this way, but will be so much better for the bunny in the long run.
Behavior
To support your Holland Lops’ personality to bloom, it is necessary to provide them plenty of time out of their enclosures or hutches.
Indoor rabbits should be let out of their cages with passage to stroll around at least in one particular room, if not your entire home. This will enable them to stretch out their legs, catch some sunshine, and interact with other people.
These little guys make for pleasing first pets whether it is for a particular person, a couple, or a family with younger or older children.
The Holland Lop is a relatively energetic bunny and would also prefer to spend some time outdoors when the temperatures are just right. Fenced yards are excellent, but if your house has an open yard, investing in an exercise pen is recommended. This will provide your rabbit a little bit of indulgence without letting them roam around into your neighbor’s property.
Bunnies might seem more adaptable than dogs or cats on paper, but when they get agitated they will get away from you rather instantly and get up to all sorts of mischief. You may well have a normal Bugs Bunny on your hands and demand to keep that little scamp under control accordingly.
In terms of toys, every rabbit has a personality and may appreciate some toys to chew up and entertain themselves with. It may be as uncomplicated as a toilet paper roll or as intricate as a mental pet toy from your local pet store. The only method to know for sure is to provide your bunny some options and see what they actually prefer.
You can’t force a bunny to play, you can only manage how they play and how much struggle they will get into. But don’t let any potential trouble-making situation get in between you and the bunny of your dreams.
Care
To keep a Holland Lop comfortable and healthy does not demand much time or effort.
In contrast to a dog or cat, rabbits are much less troublesome pets. Their diet and a proper ratio of indoor to outdoor time are two of the most essential aspects of their care.
The first thing you should do is give decent rabbit housing. A Holland Lop might be a small bunny, but they’ll still require lots of room to feel happy and stay healthy in your care.
The majority of bunny owners keep their pets indoors since they are also known as family pets. That also leads to being the case with the Holland Lop.
If you are the type of rabbit owner who chooses to let their bunny hop freely around your house, you will be required to rabbit-proof your home. Make sure that there are no wires, chords, or other risky objects on the floor that your bunny could chew on. They should also have their own litter and a cage to run to when they feel like it.
An indoor Holland Lop’s enclosure should have sides composed of strong wire to stop them from chewing through the cage. However, they should never have a cage with a wire at the bottom. Cages and hutches with wires at the bottom will only hurt your pet’s feet and lead to sore hocks. So, always make sure that your bunnies are only hopping on light and comfy bedding instead.
Pet owners must spot-clean the bedding every day to get rid of the feces and replace the whole bedding every week. It may be a bit of an annoyance for sure, but one that will make your bunny’s life so much more pleasant.
The cage should also be big enough for your rabbit to stretch out conveniently. But since they’re relatively small, a Holland Lop can fit in an 18 inches by 25 inches cage. Although bigger is always better.
Of course, no matter how large the cage is, your pet will still require a lot of out-of-cage time to exercise and be content. In addition to freedom in a rabbit-proofed space, you can always take your Holland Lop for some outdoor recreation. Let them hop and play in a securely enclosed part of the garden or yard with your supervision.
As for your rabbit’s diet, it must consist of 70 percent of high-quality hay and the rest should be a balanced mixture of fruits, vegetables, pellets, and leafy greens. You may find that your rabbit fancies one type of fruit to another (like apples, for example).
While it’s excellent that your hopper has discovered a delicious fruit he loves to nibble on, perhaps you can practice his love for this fruit as an advantage and utilize it only during training as treats. This trick can be done for your animal to train them to perform simple commands such as heeling or hopping or litter training.
Health
Fortunately, the Holland Lop is not prone to any hereditary health problems. But giving proper care to your rabbit will make their life (and your veterinary bills) so much more satisfying in the long run.
Make sure that you frequently check their mouth for overgrown teeth, which can be painful. A diet high in hay will make sure that this will not happen, as the hay will normally file down your rabbit’s ever-growing teeth.
Spaying and neutering can be performed at a young age in a rabbit’s life. Your bunny does require not to be older than six months before it can be safely spayed (some veterinarians will conduct the process at four months, but most would rather wait until six months). Bucks, on the other hand, can be neutered at as young as three months old and it is generally recognized that neutered bucks make for less destructive companions (although admittedly Holland Lops are not perceived to be destructive at all, so neutering the buck may not do much)
Breeding
Holland Lops should be at least 6 months before they can start to breed. The bucks can be as young as 4.5 months, though it is normally best to wait until 6 months to ensure that they are ready for it.
For male rabbits, it is vital to make sure that their testicles have dropped. The gestation stage of a rabbit is normally 28 to 33 days, while most of them deliver on days 30-31. Before you let them breed, choose a date that you want for birth, so that you can be at home to accommodate her nesting box. It is also suggested to plan to guarantee that you will be there for two months wherein the babies require to be with their mother, just to avoid any concerns from arising before they are weaned.
Rabbits may give birth at any time of the year. However, warm summer months can make mother bunnies get exhausted. On the other hand, wintertime can be risky for the babies as they are born hairless.
Therefore, spring and autumn are the most suitable times for a doe to get pregnant.
Spaying or Neutering
This can be performed while your rabbits are still at a young age. However, most veterinarians wait until their pets reach six months old to follow the most reliable practice of spaying.
Sure, bucks can usually be neutered at a young age, even as young as three months, to make them less vigorous. But the truth is, they are naturally unaggressive. This suggests that neutering the bucks is not totally required.
Where to Get One?
When it gets to price, the extent of getting a Holland Lop depends on whether you are purchasing it from a breeder or not. Price may also depend on whether you are buying one for a show or a pet.
Looking for a trustworthy breeder is very crucial to make sure that you are only receiving a healthy rabbit and not one with genetic issues.
If you want your Lop for a show, you would also want to have a purebred race with no genetic disorders.
Supplies and Cages
The home of your Holland Lops should be covered with a wire enclosure and a plastic bottom. The bottom of the cage must have soft bedding lined up so that it is comfortable for your rabbit.
Since they are very small, there is no need to provide a bigger enclosure. You can also acquire rabbit hay feeders that you can attach to the side of the cage. This will allow your rabbit to pull them out and eat when they feel hungry.
For their bedding, you may want to apply aspen or wood pellets. Pelleted horse bedding may also be used. Avoid supplying them with cedar or pine. The cage may be cleaned by either applying a cage safe cleaner or white vinegar. Avoid using bathroom cleaners, as well as other cleaning supplies which may be toxic for your pets.
A regular spot cleaning of their bedding is recommended, along with replacing it each week. This helps in getting rid of the feces, which is necessary for keeping both the rabbit and its home fresh and clean. This is not just ideal for the hygiene of the rabbit, but also for the owners, as it reduces the annoying smell.
Holland lops are very neat animals. They will even refine themselves and each other. They are characterized as crepuscular, which means that they are mainly engaged in the daytime and evening.
Their feedings are mostly prepared in the evening and they sleep for an average of 8 hours. By nature, these breeds of rabbits are born without fur, and with their eyes closed. They prefer living in groups, which is something to consider if you want to have a Holland Lop for a pet.
Other Notes
Holland Lops love to chew on things. They will even chew on wooden fittings and wiring if possible.
To avoid these disasters and possible accidents, give your pet some hay or chew toys in addition to their food. Make sure that everything that runs to their mouth has not been sprayed with pesticides or any chemicals. It is essential to be careful about providing just any yard clippings to your lops.
Younger lops require alfalfa hay as it provides them enough calcium, required for their growing bones. The adult ones, on the other hand, fancy legume hay.
These rabbits are advised to be kept in pairs as they prefer companions. It has been noted that being with another rabbit adds to the happiness of the rabbit, even enabling it to live longer. Plus, these rabbits are very social when in the wild.
Deworming is also prescribed for Holland Lops. It is a major concern and needs to be performed in the spring and fall. For this, you can use a pea-sized amount of deworming paste and place it in their mouth.
FAQs
How much should a Holland Lop weigh?
Holland Lops normally weigh around three to four pounds. This is a perfect weight. In the show ring, however, three pounds is the model weight.
These rabbits are well recognized for their cobby and short bodies, round heads, and overall huge appearance despite being small-sized rabbits. As an owner, if you see that the weight is different from the typical weight stated, it may be essential to pay attention to the health of your pet.
What are the uses of Holland Lop Rabbits?
At an average weight of 3.5 pounds, Holland Lops are no doubt regarded as the ideal house pets. They are distinct from other rabbit varieties, such as the American Fuzzy Lop, being non-aggressive pets. They also have fur, rather than wool.
If you are searching for a real dwarf, rabbit race, Holland Lop rabbits are the ideal pets to consider. They are small and make great family pets.
At what age are Holland Lops viewed as fully grown?
Dwarf breeds like the Holland Lops are normally considered fully grown when they reach 6 months.
How much should Holland Lops eat?
An average-sized Holland Lop can eat ½ cup of pellets each day. They can be provided whenever you want, though the suggested schedule is ¼ cup of pellets in the morning and another at night.
They can also be supplied all at once, especially when you are going out for the day or as training treats throughout the whole day.
Do Holland Lops smell?
Unlike other domestic pets, such as dogs, rabbits do not have a body odor. This means that you will not notice any odor coming off them. On the other hand, if they are going through certain conditions, such as an ear infection, it may give off a musty smell that is not that pleasant.
From time to time, a buck or an adult male rabbit may also create a musky scent, especially when he is around a female.
Do Holland Lops bite?
At times rabbits nip just to gain attention. If this is what you saw with your pet, other owners suggest squealing loudly to alert the rabbit. They may also bite severely aside from nipping, also just for attention. Another reason for these activities is when they are very aggressive or territorial.
Do Holland Lops shed a lot?
In general, Holland Lops runs through a big and clean molt at least once a year. Afterwards, they will retain a nice coat for some months. With this type of molt, you can eliminate the excess fur every day, brushing your bunny to remove as much dead fur as possible.
Note that when your rabbit goes through this stage, he or she is not sick. Rabbits that are wool breeds look normally terrible when they shred.
How long do Holland Lops usually live?
Mini and dwarf rabbits normally live for about 9 to 10 years. In contrast, the bigger breeds of lop-eared rabbits typically last for about 5 to 6 years. Holland Lop rabbits usually survive for about 5 to 7 years. Just like other breeds, a lop rabbit can also remain up to 10 years after they go through the neutering method.
What do Holland Lop rabbits eat?
Rabbits can eat starchy vegetables, such as carrot roots, as well as other fresh fruits. However, they should be provided with just a few tablespoons in a day.
One thing that should be learned when feeding lops is that they should not be served with human foods, such as grains or corn. It is safe to adhere to pellets, hay, and leafy vegetables for their diet.
Do Holland Lops are easy to care for?
Since Lops are not that big, they are usually easy to handle. They only require basic grooming.
Do Holland Lops hold grudges?
Rabbits, in general, tend to hold grudges when mistreated. They can keep sulking for several days and would often step away.
If you notice that your rabbit has turned away completely, folding its ears to its back, then a tremendous grudge is going on.
Final Thoughts
The Holland Lop is a cute bunny and a wonderful pet. So if this post has piqued your interest in any way, run to your nearest pet store and try to see if they have a Holland Lop.
The pet of your dreams might just be a quick drive away. So get out there and look for your personal Roger Rabbit today!
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