A pet owner's guide to selected breeds....
| BREED | APPROX WEIGHT |
COMMENTS | PHOTOGRAPH |
| British Giant
Typical 'Proportions' based on measuring adult female aged 2 years: Overall length when viewed from side in natural standing position: 60cm Overall length measured across back from nose to base of tail: 74cm 'Waist': 58cm
|
+ 12.5lbs/5.7kg | A potentially
huge breed weighing a minimum of 12.5lbs for boys and 13.5lbs for girls.
It is possible that Giants can grow significantly larger with the largest
recorded British Giant (Daddy's Girl) tipping the scales at a mighty
26lbs - and her owners say she previously reached 26lbs 12oz. Phew!
Giants have upright (prick) ears and a narrower head than French Lops. They are ideally suited to becoming free-range house bunnies - which is also borne of necessity as there aren't very many purpose-built indoor cages made for these mighty beasts! If they do have to live in a hutch then a pair would need about 12' x 4' to allow space to stretch out and move around happily. A shed might be a suitable housing option for overnight but they will still require daily access to a garden and sunlight. Flemish Giants (dark steel grey colour only) are a little smaller at 11lb and 12lbs weight. Continental Giants can be very much larger than British Giants. Due to their size and weight, they are not suited to being children's pets. |
|
| French Lop
(Monique photographed) Colour: steel Visit our French Lop website at: http://continue.to/frenchlops Typical 'Proportions' based on measuring adult female aged 2 years: Overall length when viewed from side in natural standing position: 50cm Overall length measured across back from nose to base of tail: 65cm 'Waist': 52cm |
10 - 26 lbs | A large breed
with a superb docile, gentle, affectionate character and
personality. Just like puppies & enjoy walks on leads!
French Lops make ideal house-rabbits. They can have a large cage plus adjoining playpen for their early days and whilst unsupervised but, as adults, they will be much happier to be free-range to share your home with you. This is how we prefer any of our adopted Frenchies to live..
If housed outdoors, they need a large hutch of at least 6' x 3' or, better still, 8' x 4' plus a garden or house to run around for additional daily exercise. Unfortunately, they can have a relatively short (average) life-expectancy of just 4 years. |
|
| Dwarf Lop
(Teasel photographed) Click HERE to visit our DWARF LOP site. |
4.5
- 5.25lbs
2.04-2.4kg |
Medium-sized breed - and very cuddly. Can live indoors or out and make good pets for adults and older children. They tend to be more active than the relatively lazy French Lop breed. |
|
| Cashmere Lop
(developed from Dwarf Lop breed) Colour: sooty-fawn |
4 - 5.25 lbs
2.04-2.4kg
|
Long-furred breed of dwarf lop size, requiring daily grooming to maintain silky coat condition. Grooming is highly recommended for stress-relief and is enjoyable for both bunny and owner! |
|
| Mini Lop
(Jerry photographed) See below for development of this relatively new breed. Colour: blue Typical 'Proportions' based on measuring adult female aged 2 years: Overall length when viewed from side in natural standing position: 36cm Overall length measured across back from nose to base of tail: 42cm 'Waist': 42cm |
3.4 - 3.8 lbs
1.5-1.6kg |
Small breed
which can live indoors (ideally with a large indoor cage and attached
playpen when unsupervised) although they can be free-range if your home is
bunny-proofed.
If living outdoors, a pair will need a hutch of at least 5' x 2' plus daily access to a large run for exercise. Thoroughbred mini-lops may or may not be carrying the dwarfing gene - in those who don't, the bunnies appear approximately the size of a dwarf lop. Our Bellis is an example of such. |
|
| Dutch
(Nutmeg photographed) |
4.5 - 5 lbs | Small/medium breed with
a noticeably firm body and short, dense coat.
Note: Nutmeg, photographed, is 'mismarked. A Dutch bunny should have precise white markings on the collar and a white nose blaze. Dutch bunnies have a reputation for being superior mothers and make excellent pets. |
|
| English Angora
(Hattie is photographed) |
5.5 - 7.5 lbs | Woolly-coated
breed with woolly feet and fluffy ear-tufts. Can be housed on a wire
floor for hygiene. Need regular grooming. Pet bunnies' coats
should be clipped for ease of maintenance. Usually have
extremely gentle personalities. They can become excellent
house-rabbits and their high-maintenance coats benefit from life on
carpets rather than wood shavings!
In our experience, they are an extremely gentle breed. |
|
| Netherland Dwarf
(Moonlight is photographed)
|
2 - 2.5 lbs | Small breed
best suited to living in hutches rather than becoming house-bunnies
(unless caged when not supervised). Being small, they have a
definite 'cute' appeal and make good pets for younger children. Despite
their small size, they are quite tough, sturdy and resilient and enjoy a
long life-expectancy. We have a teenager and know of other
Netherland Dwarfs aged + 10 years.
Netherlands tend to be more active than some other breeds and some have a reputation for being more timid or 'skittish'. However, this can be related to their parentage and up-bringing. When we had Netherlands until the late 1990's, ours were very friendly and affectionate, but we handled them from birth and ensured they were fully socialised from a very young age. |
|
| Lionhead
(Milky Way is photographed) |
3 - 3lbs 12oz (1.7kg) | A cobby breed with short ears (max 3") with a 2-3" mane around the head which extends into a 'V' at the back of the neck and falls into a fringe between the ears. The hair on the chest and cheeks should be longer. Younger bunnies (under 5 months) may have longer fur around their flank. | 
|
| Rex and Mini Rex | 6-8lbs (2.7
- 3.2kg)
Mini Rex 3.5 - 4.5lbs (1.5 - 2kg approx |
The distinguishing characteristic of Rex rabbits is their short (1.2"), dense coat which almost resembles velvet. |  |
All weights are 'ideal' and approximate.
Breed history and development
French Lops were first noted in France in the mid-19th century and are thought to have evolved from crossing lop-eared rabbits with the French breed, Giant Normande, to produce a very large lop. It wasn't until 1933 that they entered the UK although it was still another 40 years before their popularity grew. Britain's native English Lops, with their huge ear-span, became less common.
Dwarf Lops are a relatively new breed, developed in Holland in the 1950's by crossing dwarf breeds with French Lops to produce a miniature version of the French Lop. They took considerably longer to develop since some grew too large, ears refused to lop or they didn't have the correct, broad head shape. In the early 1970's there was a ban on importing rabbits into the UK, so while the Dutch continued to work on the new breed, the British were falling behind and had to work on their existing rabbits while the Dutch were able to make faster progress.
Mini Lops, like dwarf lops, were developed in Holland which has a reputation for miniaturising breeds - best illustrated by the 2lbs Netherland Dwarf. In view of their ancestory, Mini Lops are also known as 'Holland Lops'.
The Rabbit Owner's CD also illustrates different breeds, coat colours and patterns - see RABBIT OWNER'S CD page for details...
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