The Dwarf Lop is slightly larger and heavier than a Mini Lop. Nevertheless, they
are adorable, loving bunnies, although not ideal for a very young child when it
comes to handling purposes. An adult dwarf lop weighs, on average 4 1/2 - 5lbs.
The Dwarf Lop is very laid back, and loves cuddles, I love the personality of
the dwarf lop, they are extremely loving and provide plenty of
unconditional love if given the interaction they so deserve on a daily basis.
They are happy to be handled and picked up. They are just as easy as a smaller
breed to house-train so do make wonderful house rabbits. In America, the
Dwarf Lop is called the Mini Lop, which can cause confusion if you purchase an
Americanised book about rabbits.
Mini Lionhead
Lionheads are, contrary to belief, small rabbits, equivalent to the size of a
mini lop which is why I refer to my lionheads as the Mini Lionhead (which is my
own term, not a BRC standard term, I have found that if they are referred to
purely as the Lionhead, most people automatically assume that this breed is
quite large, as they did once used to be when first introduced into the UK years
ago).
The average adult Mini Lionhead weight is approx. 3
1/4 lbs, which is less
than the mini lop which is 3
1/2 lbs so they are an
ideal sized rabbit for a child. Overall their fur is short so quite easy to
maintain and look after (again, contrary to belief) although it is a little
thicker than the coat of a lop rabbit. The mane around the face is longer
obviously, hence the name Lionhead, but again, it is very easy to maintain and
does not require daily grooming, although an occasional comb through once a
week/fortnight with a metal comb will keep any stray shavings or hay from
causing tangles or knots, the rabbit will love this also, grooming is a good way
to bond with your rabbit, even with short haired rabbits such as lops.
Mini Lionheads have lovely temperaments also, and I find that they are ideal
'lapdog' companions. Lionheads ears' stand up rather than lop.
Lionhead
Lop / LionLop
Lionhead Lops (Lionlops) are a lop rabbit, with a mane around their head/neck
and ears. The fur is not as thick as the straight eared Lionhead, and is only
around the head, and does tend to thin out further as the rabbit grows and
undergoes the moult. Again, these breeds are low maintenance, apart from a metal
comb through once a week/fortnight to keep stray shavings and tangles at bay.
They are very laid back rabbits, have excellent temperaments and do make
wonderful house rabbits and companions also. They love attention and love
to be picked up, cuddled and handled. They are also very easy to house train.
Lionhead Lops are slightly larger than Lionlops. They are a relatively new breed
to the Uk therefore the size/weight does depend a lot on the parentage/pedigree.
Netherland
Dwarf
The Netherland Dwarf is the smallest 'pet' breed of rabbit. There is a smaller
breed known as the Polish, which looks very similar to a Netherland dwarf,
however is more lean, and very similar in looks to a hare in miniature, however
the temperament of a Polish rabbit is perhaps not the best temperament for a
'pet' rabbit. Adult Netherland Dwarfs weigh in at approx. 2 1/2 Lbs. They
have very short fur which is easy to maintain. Personally, I do find them
a little more timid and shy compared to the lop and lionhead breeds, but if you
have patience and lots of one to one tlc to offer this breed, there is no reason
why they cannot be just as loving as the lops and lionheads. I no longer keep
the netherland dwarf breed.
