Have you had the chance to meet and greet some Rabbits with droopy ears? If we didn't know any better, these droopy ears almost makes them look like sad bunnies— yet at the same time, they seem perfectly fine the way they are ☺. Fret not, these fun Buns aren't sad or depressed, they were born this way!

The Holland Lop was developed in the Netherlands by a breeder named Adriann De Cock, He wanted a breed with the combination of dwarf-built from the Netherland Dwarf Rabbit with ears of the French Lop Rabbit. Although, his first attempt failed— resulting in rabbits with erected ears instead. He eventually succeeded after the next few attempts, of which included the English Lop rabbit.

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In 1952, the Holland Lop was born, and perfected in 1955. The breed was only exported into Britain during the 1970’s after interests spiked at a Rabbit Show. The Holland Lop was further introduced to America in 1976, and in 1980, The ARBA (American Rabbit Breeder's Association) gave recognition to the Holland Lop.


View related:

The Netherland Dwarf: Tiniest Rabbit Breed In The World

The French Lop Rabbit: The Largest Breed Of Rabbits With Lop Ears

The English Lop Rabbit: Ancestors Of Lop Ear Rabbits

The Holland Lop is reportedly the tiniest breed amongst all rabbits with Lop ears. There is also a frequent confusion between the Holland Lop and other lop-eared Rabbit breeds like Mini Lop and Dwarf Lop. All three are distinctive breeds of their own, with size comparison in of the order of largest to smallest:

1. Mini Lop (Largest)
2. Dwarf Lop
3. Holland Lop (Smallest)

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Depending on the country you're from, the usage of terms to classify Rabbit breeds may differ. Some examples are:

The Mini Lop (Britain) — referred to as The Holland Lop (United States)
The Dwarf Lop (Britain) — referred to as Mini Lop (United States)

The Holland Lop is one of the few dwarf Rabbit breeds. An adult Holland Lop weighs about 2 kilograms or a maximum of 4 kilograms.



Fun Fact      By show standards, a Holland Lop Rabbit is to weigh no more than 2kgs. Otherwise, your Bun will not be qualified as a dwarf breed. 

Holland Lop bunnies have a rather flat nose, accompanied by a forehead that looks like a little hump (think dolphins)— but a hump of fur. They don a medium length, dense coat that rolls back, making grooming fairly easy.

The way a Holland Lop bunny sits differs slightly from the other rabbits, they're much more cat-like. Resting on their hind legs, and supporting with their front legs most of the time. Not forgetting the lop ears that hang by their cheeks, one of their most important features! Holland Lops can be found in various colours, categorised into two, Solid and Patched. Some of the colours include Chestnut, White, Chocolate, Opal, Smoke, Cream, Orange, Tortoise, and Seal-point,

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A coat of medium length fur requires a weekly brushing at least, but it does require strenuous work to maintain a beautiful coat. As mentioned, it is of a roll-back variety— the fur and hairs roll back to their original positions effortlessly. It is not advisable to bath any Rabbit in water, this may induce shock. If absolutely necessary, use a damp cloth to clean soiled areas and dry very thoroughly after.

Holland Lops do tend to shed a little more during certain periods of the year, simply increase the number of times you brush their coats, to rid loose fur or hair. This also minimizes the chances of your Buns choking on them during self-grooming.

The personality of a Holland Lop is said to be pretty friendly, fun and affectionate. They are also fast learners through proper guidance and training— to even be potty trained. Holland Lops are also rather active, don't forget some free-roam sessions around the house! These bunnies require a good amount of fresh Timothy Hay daily, a balanced diet of pellets, fruits and leafy greens.

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The temperaments of Rabbits in general can be rather subjective, though a lot of research have reported that it is much more likely for a neutered or spayed Bun to have better temperaments. Other than that, a Holland Lop rabbit is said to be a loving rabbit breed that enjoys being petted, and because of its size, it is absolutely a charming tiny bunny with minimal fuss to own. Establishing a bond and trust with your bunnies is a must. Rabbit ownership can be very enjoyable and rewarding! Learn more about it here.

Did you know that small animals are also being abandoned everyday, even in Singapore? Some of these rabbits are of the dwarf breed and they are looking for a forever home. Before purchasing one, why not head to local Animal Shelters or check for available options in the community? ☺

You might also be interested in:

What Is My Rabbit Thinking?

How To Tell If Your Rabbit Is Sick

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