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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Tell me about your Lops :)

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    • Hokankai
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        I’m a new rabbit foster mom, and after having these guys for just a week I’ve decided I need to have one of my own one day…probably within the next year. I was looking over the rabbit breeds and have FALLEN IN LOVE with lops. I wanted to know how this breed measures up to the others, comparisons between the different lop species (Hollands have really caught my eye), and whether or not this is a good breed for a first-time rabbit owner. 

        Also, where’s the best place to get lops with good temperament? Is temperament passed on to offspring like it is in rats and other domesticated species?

        Feel free to share your pics!


      • LoveChaCha
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          I don’t own a Lop, but from what I know Hollands are the smallest breed of rabbit.

          All rabbits have different personalites – I wouldn’t stick with the stereotype of how one breed is. I have a Netherland Dwarf and it is said that Dwarf rabbits are skiddish and high energy. My girl is the opposite. She loves to flop on the ground, take naps, and has the most demanding attitude.

          If a rabbit catches your eye, I say it shouldn’t depend on the breed. You should feel a connection with the rabbit. That is what I felt when I first saw Chacha’s photo. I felt an instant connection with her


        • luvmyhunybuny
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            I will tell you that I was hell bent on getting a Lionhead (which is a pretty small breed, under 3 lbs typically). I just love their fluff and after researching them felt it was the perfect rabbit for me. Not so much. The internet tells you that Lionheads have a good temperment. But I am with ChaCha, temperment CAN be breed specific but it does vary rabbit to rabbit. After talking with the rescue and several people who have Lionheads, they are very skittish and not alway the friendlies of rabbits. Of course this is not to say ALL are like this.

            If you do have your heart set on a lop, do take your time in choosing one. Find a rabbit rescue in your area and tell them what you want in a rabbit. They usually know how each rabbits temperments are and if they are good rescue, will find you what you want. For me, I now look at personality over breed.

            Good luck!


          • BinkyBunny
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              That’s wonderful that you are fostering! 

              I had a Holland Lop that I adopted from a shelter.  She was easy going with humans but very bossy with other rabbits!   There are small lops (Holland being the smallest), mini lops (which are larger than Hollands)– There are huge lops like French lops. 

              Because I have personally volunteered in and adopted from shelters and rabbit rescues, my experience has been that you will find quite a bit of variety (and many lops as they are a favorite) in shelters as well.   The great thing about going through a rescue is that many times the the will have a write up about their personality and you can look for “personality” that may match what you are looking for.    I agree with ChaCha about that “connection”.   I felt that with Jack (and I was expecting it).   He was overlooked I think more often just because he was a plain ‘ol white bunny…but wow…he was something special and full of personality.  (He’s the one in my avatar). So I always encourage people to keep an open mind when it comes to looks and find that bunny that has a personality and character that you are drawn to.  It’s a wonderful experience. 
               
              But I also understand why many people are swooned in by the cuteness of a particular type of bunny, some by tiny netherlands, floppy lops, soft rexes, and giant bunnies.   That is no uncommon but even within those breeds there are all types of personalities within one breed itself.  Though breeders can try and breed in a desired personality characteristic, I think another way to find a particular personality even within a breed, is check out a rabbit rescue and see the bunnies that are in need of being loved.  : )    


            • Hokankai
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                Thanks you guys ^_^. I plan on taking my time in finding the perfect one.

                One question, when can you usually tell what a rabbit’s personality is going to be like? I’d like to get one that was spayed or neutered early as to avoid too much teenage angst, but would also like one as young as possible where they could still be socialized (I love animal behavior and do a lot of socialization work with puppies and kittens…do rabbits respond the same way?). Basically what age is the best age to adopt a rabbit where they are young but you know what their personality is like.


              • bullrider76543
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                  Not too sure about that one KK cause when I got Nibblette he was very cuddley and loved being held. Since he got fixed he is the opposite and a lot more agressive to us, but one thing didnt change is him and Mr. Hopper are unseperable


                • Beka27
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                    I’d say a year old.


                  • bunnyfriend
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                      In my opinion, adopting an adult rabbit from a shelter is the safest bet on personality/behavior. As a baby there is no way to tell what personality bunny is going to have, you can socialize them up to a certain point but in my experience and from what I have heard it really doesn’t do as much as it does with a cat or dog. I adopted Wilbur who is some kind of Lop at 8-10 weeks old from a shelter knowing I was taking a gamble, but I picked her because she was so brave. Now her personality is sort of mixed, she’s very brave and outgoing but not very affectionate, she’ll nudge me with her nose and come running to me but hardly ever will let me pet her for more than 30 seconds. She also has started biting lately and has become skiddish which could be do to the fact she’s reaching maturity (she’s 5 1/2ish months). Totoro, who I recently adopted from the same shelter, is a mixed medium sized rabbit and was already neutered. I picked him because of his personality, I know it is probably going to be the same. He is cuddly, friendly, does’t mind being picked up and very people oriented (litter box habits are another story…). The first rabbit I ever adopted was again from the same shelter but was older, and his personality was awesome (he passed away). I really would suggest not picking a rabbit based on age, coloring, size or breed but solely on their personality and after they have reached maturity and have been altered. Babies are so cute, but honestly they are SO much work and unpredictable. And really you can’t pick a rabbit for personality based on a breed like you sometimes can with dogs, each individual rabbit is very different. Besides, all rabbits are pretty darn cute no matter what(:


                    • equalsign
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                         I don’t know if I’d say a bunny ever gets “too old” to be socialized, but then I don’t really know. My first bunny had an extreme aversion to being touched, but with nonstop TLC that changed. Now she’ll allow total strangers to walk up and pet her no problem. I’d agree with other posters that after about a year their personalities really manifest themselves more fully. I do feel like my bunnies have unique personalities that weren’t heavily affected by me. They are who they are, y’know?


                      • Hokankai
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                          Hmm that’s interesting. I have dwarf rats now and I know how you raise them and their genetics really influence how friendly they are. For example, my two boys had parents who were friendly, and I’ve never been bit. I know a part of that has to do with how much I handled them as well, but with rats genetics play a big part in temperament.

                          But that’s just the wonder of different species I suppose ^_^.


                        • peppypoo
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                            Agreed with equalsign – I don’t really feel like there’s an upper bound for being socialized, barring something like extreme trauma and aversion to people at a young age. And even some of those cases can be turned around, too.  I adopted Milo at almost 2 years old, and for the first few months he hid out in the cage, only coming out for food and was slightly averse to touch. However, with some TLC now he beg for pets (and will let you know if you’re petting him “wrong”, haha) and will actually jump into my lap when I’m sitting at my computer desk to look for attention .


                          • amysbunnersons
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                              well i too felt instant connection to cha cha that bunneh is sooo squee..


                            • LittlePuffyTail
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                                I have a REW Mini-Lop, Bindi Loo. I’ve also owned 2 lops in the past, one Holland Lop and another Mini-Lop. While I agree with the others that temperament and personality is “bunny-specific”, it’s my experience that lops are more easy-going and snuggly than the other small breeds. I call Bindi my “Huggy Bear”. He loves to be snuggled and pet.

                                Bindi loves to sit on the couch with me while I read. He’s more calm and laid back than my two uppy-eared bunnies. My previous Mini-Lop, Velvet, used to lay on the couch with me and watch TV for hours.

                                The only caution I give to new lop owners is keep an eye on the ears. Just like dogs with flop ears, lops are more prone to infections. Bindi has chronic ear infections.

                                Having both lop and uppy-eared bunnies, I can’t say I prefer one over the other. They are all so charming and wonderful.


                              • Elrohwen
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                                  Temperament is absolutely genetic! If you’re getting a baby rabbit, meeting the parents will tell you a lot about the baby’s potential personality. Breeds aren’t really a big factor in personality. Unlike dogs who are bred for specific personalities (to be able to do the work they were originally bred for) rabbits are bred for looks. Of course no breeder wants a nasty rabbit, but an aloof rabbit with perfect looks is worth more than a super friendly rabbit with imperfect looks and that’s why breed stereotypes aren’t very useful – you’ll get all kinds of personalities within a breed.

                                  Almost any breed of rabbit is good for a first time owner. I personally love lops and have two – a holland and a mini lop. In my experience, mini lops are more active – it’s true with my pair and it’s true of those I’ve seen in rescues, but it won’t be true of all lops. I know some people who think hollands are super active.

                                  My holland is very subdued – his favorite thing to do is lay around all day. He’s very submissive with other rabbits but is a bit grumpy with humans. He doesn’t bite or anything, but he doesn’t appreciate pets or too much attention. I love him to death though! He’s just the cutest thing so I don’t mind if he’s a little grouch.

                                  My mini lop is very sweet and looooves attention. She’s pretty active and is always running around and checking things out.


                                • Elrohwen
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                                    I just saw your question about age. My experience is that genetics is a bigger factor in temperament than good socializing. We got Otto at 8 weeks and spent so much time with him, but he’s still aloof and doesn’t like to be petted. No amount of socializing would have made him friendlier than he naturally is.

                                    I know older rabbits who were left in a hutch for a few years and ignored, then go home with a new owner and are complete love bugs – the lack of socialization doesn’t seem to be a big deal if they have a naturally friendly temperament.


                                  • LBJ10
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                                      I can tell you one thing about Holland Lops, my Leopold is a little trouble maker. He is very easy going, but he made Wooly very aware of the fact that HE was the boss. In other words, he humped the crap out of Wooly while they were bonding. He is definitely the leader. He always the first to decide to do something naughty and Wooly will always follow. He also gets mad if something gets changed so he can’t be naughty anymore. He is very nice to Wooly when no one is around and will even reciprocate grooming. But if he thinks there are treats to be had, he will plow Wooly down trying to be the first one there! He’s greedy, but I have heard other people say that about Hollands. He will let me pet him, but he’s not great about being held (which is normal). Oh and he’s a biter. Loves to nip me.

                                      I do think there is some personality tendencies when it comes to rabbit breeds, but it will also vary from individual to individual. How they are when they are young really has nothing to do with how they “truly” are. You just have to learn to accept them for who they are. It does help to get an adult rabbit that has already been fixed though. That way what you see is what you get.


                                    • Elrohwen
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                                        LBJ, I had to laugh about your description of Leopold – sounds so much like my Hannah! She can be so bossy to Otto sometimes and she also gets upset when we block her from doing things she’s not supposed to do.


                                      • LBJ10
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                                          Haha! I think I captured it pretty well! And if you read my thread about the pee spot, you will see what a temper tantrum he had (which you did, but maybe others would like to see). 


                                        • LoveChaCha
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                                            Ah, rabbitude. The thing that I get EVERY SINGLE DAY Rabbits definitely are BOSSY


                                          • littlemissflip
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                                              I’m a sucker for Holland Lops Of course, I’ve only had two bunnies, both Holland Lops, so it’s not like I can make a fair comparison among breeds… But both of our lops have been sweet, funny, demanding, active and affectionate. (Neither has liked being held though.)

                                              Mostly I just wanted to chime in on the lops post, even though I have nothing very important to contribute – haha


                                            • Hokankai
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                                                Haha thanks you guys. That’s good knowing temperament does have a genetic influence! If I were to get a baby rabbit, I’d definitely do some shopping around and check out the parents, just like I would if I were buying a puppy.

                                                I know rescue is the best thing to do, so we’ll see. I’m pretty picky when it comes to my animals and I like to know where they came from and what their parents were like. If I fall in love with a rescue or a foster, then so be it

                                                I definitely want a lop though. If I’m only ever going to have one rabbit in my life, I want it to be one I’ve always wanted. If that means waiting a little longer to find the perfect one then that’s fine ^_^


                                              • Elrohwen
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                                                  One thing I’ve learned about rabbits over the past couple of years – pretty much whatever rabbit you get will end up being perfect for you. Haha. I love Otto completely and he’s the best little bunny – to me. Others see an aloof little guy who runs away when I try to pet him, but I see him as my little baby.

                                                  I was iffy about Hannah at first and not sure if she was the perfect bunny for us, but after letting her settle in and learning about her I realized she was a fantastic bunny.

                                                  I wouldn’t want an aggressive bun, but otherwise I think I could get along with just about any-bun – especially one with floppy ears!


                                                • Beka27
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                                                    Well-put Elrohwen. The right rabbit is the one you get.


                                                  • Sarita
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                                                      I’ve never had the pleasure of shopping around for any of my buns and never thought about temperament and their parent’s – just never crossed my mind at all. I guess I’m not all that particular but I’ve always loved what I ended up with even the aggressive ones…I have kind of liked the challenge of the aggressive ones (although I can only think of one that I had that was aggressive but it was definitely due to fear as rabbits don’t have the capacity to be mean or malicious.)


                                                    • Hokankai
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                                                        I can appreciate those who like the trouble cases, but I’m not one for rehabilitation…not enough patience . I usually try and prevent behavioral issues from cropping up before they have a chance to start and therefore I think my animals (dogs, cats, chickens, rats and a gecko…not all of which are with me here at school HA) are pretty friendly and well-behaved. I think that if I got a rabbit young from good/friendly parents that was handled often from birth, learned how to read its body language (I LOVE researching animal communication) and use that to prevent myself getting bit, and got it fixed asap I think I could get a pretty well-rounded friendly/tolerant rabbit. And this is without the personality wild-card, which every species is going to have .

                                                        I’m excited! Although it won’t be for awhile, I’ve already found some awesome breeders, rescues, and shelters in my area that I’ll get a chance to comb over when the time comes. I like the idea of avoiding the teenage stage of rabbithood, but I’d hate to miss out on the baby stage too. And I think Mini-lops are the ones for me ^_^.


                                                      • equalsign
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                                                           I will agree that for the most part the “personality” generalizations are not  accurate. To me they’re kind of like those newspaper fortunes that are very open to interpretation and general. If you’re expecting signs of some sort of behavior out of your rabbit you’ll see them. I have two holland lops and they act nothing alike.

                                                           

                                                          Also, when you go looking for a rabbit I would try not to judge them too quickly. My rabbits act really different during different parts of the day, especially around nap time. A rabbit that seems really shy at first might turn out to be SUPER sweet and affectionate, like my little boy rabbit. Try and find that one rabbit that really melts your heart. Try to see them as individuals. I don’t think it’s fair to judge them by breed or by their parents. As others have said, the right rabbit is the one you get.

                                                           

                                                          http://www.rabbit.org/journal/2-10/mellow-lops.html


                                                        • Sarita
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                                                            Well, my very best advice after having been on this forum for a good while and having many rabbits is to not set your expectations that any rabbit will act in a certain way and that you accept the rabbit that you have. You may get lucky and the rabbit will meet your expectation 100% but you may find that your rabbit doesn’t act in a way you expect and you may be disappointed.

                                                            I always hope that rabbit owners will just accept their rabbit for what they are. I don’t know that good breeding and handling at a young age is always going to develop into a “lovable” rabbit. I honestly am not certain what breeders are trying to achieve when they breed rabbits other than the standards set which seem to be that of certain physical characteristics rather than dispositions…but hey, I could be wrong :~)


                                                          • peppypoo
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                                                              Ooo, equalsign brought up something that reminded me…

                                                              Bunny personalities can also depend a lot on their environment as well. When we got Remi (from a locally owned pet shop) the employee said that “she is the sweetest little bunny” and demonstrated by picking Remi up, turning him over, etc – and he didn’t put up a fight at all. Then whaddya know…after we got home and Remi got more comfortable in his new surroundings, he turned out to be quite the no-touchy bunny who will crawl all over you but shies away when you try to touch him. And of course, “she” turned out to be a “he” too . I guess he was just scared and resigned at the pet store so he let people do whatever they wanted to him. You can never know for sure what your bunny is like until they settle in!

                                                               


                                                            • Huckleberry
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                                                                LOL from reading all of these posts, it makes getting a bunny seem like those toys you would get as a kid where you wouldn’t know which one you got until you opened it up (pokemon comes to mind). Thats not to say that it isnt true, but I got an amusing mental image of kids in a commercial popping open little balls and there being buns inside, a cuddly loving one in one ball… a disapproving chacha bun in the next with a set scowl on her face…


                                                              • Hokankai
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                                                                  Haha it does! They’re just cryptic creatures I guess


                                                                • LoveChaCha
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                                                                    Posted By Huckleberry on 10/17/2011 07:32 PM
                                                                    LOL from reading all of these posts, it makes getting a bunny seem like those toys you would get as a kid where you wouldn’t know which one you got until you opened it up (pokemon comes to mind). Thats not to say that it isnt true, but I got an amusing mental image of kids in a commercial popping open little balls and there being buns inside, a cuddly loving one in one ball… a disapproving chacha bun in the next with a set scowl on her face…

                                                                     

                                                                    Her highness’ ears perked up when she heard her name

                                                                    Huckle, I agree – getting a baby rabbit is just like picking a random pokeball and not knowing what Pokemon is inside. They all have personality.

                                                                    I had no idea I would have a demanding rabbit. At first, it was hard adjusting to having a rabbit, but when I relaxed and received more information, I began to relax. A rabbit will be.. a rabbit. They will be a rabbit, and do rabbit-y things


                                                                  • Sarita
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                                                                      I would like to point out that because you get an animal at a shelter doesn’t mean they were dumped due to behavior issues. 99% of the time animals are dumped because it’s convenient for the owner and not because the animal has a problem – the OWNER has a problem.

                                                                      Older animals are dumped frequently due to health issues too or because they didn’t get along with the new animal that the owner has acquired…it’s totally true.

                                                                      So don’t think when you consider a shelter animal that they have some kind of baggage (health or behavior issues).

                                                                      I just want to say that on behalf of all animals in shelters.


                                                                    • Hokankai
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                                                                        Oh don’t worry, I know ^_^. I’ve volunteered at shelters for awhile and know a lot of the time people just can’t afford them anymore due to the economy and such. I’ll be looking at all my options when I choose my bun!


                                                                      • piperknitsRN
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                                                                          You’ve gotten good advice here and I won’t repeat what’s been said, but couldn’t help chiming in about my lops.  I’ve had two Holland lops–the first was a white bunny named Flip-flop.  She was mischievious, loved to climb on furniture, and terrorize the dog (I had a very laidback Westie, and she used to try to steal his dog food when she was free range).  She was a total hoot, very smart.  Was not one for being pet or held, but she was docile, and never bit, either. 

                                                                          Olive is my second Holland lop, and she’s slightly different–she will submit to petting and lets me pick her up, as did Flip-flop, but she’s no fan of it, either.  I’m letting her free range in the bedroom, and after trying to go after the wicker bedside cabinets, she’s crawling under the dresser.    Me thinks it’s almost time for her to go back into her Xpen… but wait, she’s just come out for another cursory sniff and hop around the room.  In general, I would say that Flipflop liked to chew and get herself into more trouble, but she was also somewhat more comical because of it. 

                                                                          I got both of my bunnies (I no longer have Flip flop) as babies, and admit it could have been a disaster, as you never know what a baby’s personality is going to be like.  Both Flip flop and Olive were cute bundles of fur when they were small (Olive is now five months old and has already been spayed) but I didn’t know how their personality would be when they got older–it really is a crap shoot with baby bunnies.  The blessing was, both of them self-housetrained and I never have had a problem with litter training habits. 

                                                                          I do think neutering helps with their attitudes in general,  and highly recommend it.   

                                                                           

                                                                           

                                                                           

                                                                           


                                                                        • 3 buns mom
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                                                                            I love lop rabbits! I have an albino French Lop. I was told he was a mini lop when I got him at 8 wks old but he is 14 pounds of French Lop! I also have a Rex and a Dwarf, and out of the three of them, the Lop is the most laid back rabbit. It could be because he has pretty much been free roaming almost all of his life and got used to all the people and cats walking around him and all the noise, that nothing seems to bother him. He will plop himself down where ever he feels like it….and it is usually in the way of where we walk.  He goes up and down a flight of stairs. He is awesome.

                                                                            He used to love to be held until he got sick. For the past year, he has had many health issues, such as bladder sludge, fluid in his lungs, eye and nasal drainage problems, teeth problems, and a current chin infection. So because of all these issues, he has had to be given so many meds and handled in different positions for xrays or to have work done, that he doesn’t like to be held anymore. He doesn’t even want my fingers any where near his mouth because he thinks I am going to be giving him meds.

                                                                            I figure his medical issues were probably due to bad breeding…but I am glad I have him. I figure if someone else took him, they may have had him euthanized or given to a shelter because of he costs of his medical care. So given all the crap he has been put through and considering his gentle nature, my opinion of lops is very positive!

                                                                             

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                                                                        Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Tell me about your Lops :)