Holland Lop Rabbit Facts, Size, Lifespan and Care

Holland Lop facts

Here are quick facts about this rabbit breed:

• Holland Lop lifespan: 7 and 12 years
• Country of origin: Netherlands or Holland
• Original creator: Adriann de Cock with a purpose of creating a miniature bunny similar to the French Lop
• Body type: Dwarf bunny
• Similar breeds: Netherland Dwarf, French Lop, American Fuzzy Lop
• Who can own them:  beginners, advanced and intermediate owners, singles, couples, and families with older kids. 
• Average weight: 2 to 4 lb. or 0.9kg to 1.8kg

Origin and history

The Holland Lop rabbit was developed by Adriann de Cock who had the intention of creating a dwarf version of the French lop. To achieve this, he crossed the Netherland Dwarf with the French Lops and adding the English Lop to help strengthen the lop gene.

The Netherlands Governing Rabbit Council (NRC) accepted this bunny in 1984, after the ARBA recognizing it in 1979. However, the British Rabbit Council (BRC) instead recognized the English version, the Miniature Lop.

Note that the Miniature Lop, found in the UK can be slightly smaller than the Dutch and it is not the same as the American Mini Lop.

Holland Lop lifespan is 7 and 12 years

The average Holland Lop lifespan is 7 to 12 years. Some bunnies can live as little as five years while others can live up to 15 years.

If you want yours to live longer, consider neutering the bucks and spaying does. Excessive doe breeding can shorten her lifespan.

Also, spaying and neutering reduce the chances of reproductive system-related diseases such as uterine cancer in does.

Generally, any indoor rabbit (a rabbit living in captivity) is bound to live longer than the outdoor since it is shielded from unpredictable weather conditions, exposure to parasites, pests, predators and it is given much attention.

Finally, proper care, exercising it, good food, and ensuring your bunny is healthy can make it live much longer since, under normal circumstances, its lifespan would be 5 to 10 years

Holland Lop size and appearance

This is a dwarf-sized rabbit that should have a maximum weight not exceeding 4 lb. (1.8 kg). Typically, its weight ranges from 2-4 pounds. Juniors aged below six months should not weigh more than 2lbs while seniors, aged six months and above should not exceed 4 lbs.

It has a small compact type of a body described as a “short, stocky body, a broad head, with a well- defined crown (or a puff of fur/cartilage) at the back of the head, and the ears are lopped (source - Rabbitpedia.com) i.e. the ears are hanging on either side of their head downwards and not erected upwards.

Their ears may not lop immediately after birth, i.e., they may take up to 6months or much longer to lop.

Its body to head ratio is about 2:1 as opposed to the 3:1 ratio for commercial body shaped rabbits. It's head and body sizes are proportional meaning the small its size, the smaller its head will be and vice versa.

Also, its body must be muscled, well balanced in-depth, length, and width, i.e., a massive, short and thick body.

The Holland Lops “shoulders should be deep with depth carried back to the hindquarters, and the chest should be broad and well filled” (source - Justrabbits.com).

The width of their shoulders should be comparable to its hindquarters but not greater.

The hindquarters should be well rounded, broad, and deep with the lower portions well filled. Does can have a simple, small dewlap.

Coat

It has short, dense and fine-textured fur. The fur has to be uniform with a length of about 1 inch and rolls back gradually if stroked opposite its natural direction. The coat should be good, firmly set on its pelt, and appear healthy with vigor.

Their flesh must be firm – neither too bony or too fatty, flabby or soft. 

Colors

This bunny comes in an array of colors which can be grouped into eight main categories, i.e. the self, shaded, agouti, tan, pattern, wideband, pointed white ticked and broken. Each of these categories has some specific colors.

Purpose

Their small size indicated that they were created for the show, as house pets and companion rabbits.

Holland Lop rabbit care

Their care requirements are much or less like those of any other pet rabbits. Shelter, food, and companionship are vital.

Their main diet consists of high-quality hay and rabbit pellets like Kaytee Timothy Hay and Oxbow Animal Health Bunny Basics Essentials Adult Rabbit Pet Food respectively. Also, a few leafy greens in small amounts and treats of some fruits and vegetables will be ideal. Ensure they have unlimited clean and fresh drinking water.

According to Dyan Murphy of Murphy’s Lops, “an owner who has the time to devote to them and to interact with them on a regular basis is preferred over an owner who plans to put them in a cage and then ignore them.” This clearly indicates that your bunnies will improve their level of social interaction if you spend time often with them.

Groom them regularly (once a week) and do it more when they are molting to avoid wool blocks where they ingest some fur as they are self-grooming and when it accumulates, it can block their digestive systems.

Avoid bathing your bunnies as it stresses them and only spot-clean them if they are dirty using a damp towel.

Trim their nails monthly, check for overgrown teeth (they overgrow if you do not give them the right diet with lots of hay and roughages).

Their indoor or outdoor cages must be spacious to allow them to stretch and hop freely. The recommended size of your cages will depend on the actual weight of your bunny. 

Outdoor enclosures must be safe from predators and weatherproofed. Raised ones will be ideal. Do not forget to provide a sleeping place for your bunnies.

Being social animals, ensure you get them in pairs. Also, get some time to interact with them out of their cages for a few hours daily, probably in a fenced part of your backyard or inside your house or apartment. This will help grow a bond.

When handling them, be careful not to hurt them since they are small and delicate. Pet them if they trust you, avoid holding them incorrectly to prevent injuries, and ensure only children who are above nine years of age can have them as pets.

Health concerns

These bunnies are susceptible to all diseases that affect rabbits without any specific one unique to them. Always check for signs of illness. They should also get standard vaccinations.

Experienced breeders have noted that unlike larger bunnies, these bunnies and other small rabbits have sensitive digestive systems.

Always check for enteritis in baby rabbits if they are less than eight weeks, bloat and gut stasis. Also check for fur or ear mites, ticks, and fleas. This is often with poor husbandry, cleanliness, and management.

Some simple ill-health signs to check for are your bunnies include them not eating or drinking, pooping or poop is not well-formed, fever, nasal and eye discharge, diarrhea among other symptoms.

Holland Lop temperament and behavior

Its temperament can be described as sweet or excellent. Most of the Holland Lops are more gently and docile when compared to other equally popular breeds. This makes them good pets even for children since they always crave attention and they can be handled easily.

These rabbits are quite intelligent and can be trained to use their litter boxes, if well placed in the house.

Does are equally sweet, but during their teenage and when they are on heat, they can be grumpy and shy, with some grunting and boxing. However, not all of them show this behavior.

On the other hand, the bucks are cuddlier throughout even at teenage, and they love attention, with a character closely resembling that of a dog. Dyan Murphy notes that “I personally have some boys that will come when called and will circle around my feet and put their feet up on me looking for attention”

To add charm to their playtime, including rabbit toys or pet-safe toys which you can find in your local pet store, as well as used toilet paper tubes, small plastic balls, boxes, pieces of wood that are safe and untreated, among other safe items. Small dog and cat toys will also be a good choice. 

Spraying does, and neutering bucks can help them improve their behavior and temperament.

However, you cannot generalize a rabbit’s behavior or personality since it tends to vary from one individual bunny to another even if they are of the same breed.

Holland Lops bunny for sale and prices

Since they are not rare breeds, and their popularity increases each year, you will not struggle so much to get some nearby where you live.

It is worthwhile knowing that the price of the Holland Lops is about $50 to $250+ with pedigreed, show quality and purebred costing more. You will spend about $500 annually on each pair.

To buy some near you, search for them online to get the various breeders, rescue centers or reputed rabbitries. Going for breeders recognized by ARBA will be an added advantage.

While searching for them, do not forget to include your location. For instance, if you are in Maryland or Vancouver search for ‘Holland Lop rabbit breeders in Maryland’ or ‘Vancouver.’

If you want to breed them, start when they are 6-7 months old for safety reasons, i.e., even though they can produce from three to four months, do this to avoid fetal death and other complications.

Conclusion

For healthy rabbits, always work closely with your vet, report any unusual issue behavior, get advice on the best foods and ratio and much more.

Are you a Holland Lop breeder? Did we miss some critical information? Do you have any Holland Lops for sale? Kindly send us your profile or add a comment below.