Rabbit Breed Profiles: The Miniature Lion Lop

One of the more recently developed breeds of rabbit, the Miniature Lion Lop is a unique breed of bunny that is both small in stature and big in personality. Few who lay eyes on the Mini Lion Lop can resist his charm and personable nature but, unfortunately, this breed has yet to catch on in the United States. Will we see Miniature Lion Lops in the near future or will they remain a strictly European breed?

Introducing the Miniature Lion Lop

If you've had the good fortune of meeting a Miniature Lion Lop, chances are that you won't be forgetting them any time soon. To say that they resemble the little lions that they're named after is an understatement; complete with rounded heads, compact and powerful little bodies and with a 2-3 inch mane that hangs in a halo around their head, the Miniature Lion Lop is a sight to behold.

It's uncertain who first began breeding these little lion lops, but we do know that the original Lionhead rabbits developed in Europe. Causing a growth of longer hair or "mane" around the rabbit's head, the Lionhead gene is dominant. This means that, if you cross a purebred Lionhead rabbit with any other breed, the babies will all carry the Lionhead gene. This was the first major gene mutation in rabbits since the Satin gene in 1932.

Of course, when this was discovered, breeders began to experiment with creating new rabbit breeds that carried this Lionhead gene. One of the breedings, a cross between the European Mini-Lop (called the Holland Lop in the United States) and a Lionhead, resulted in bunnies that carried the small size and type of the adorable Miniature Lop, but also possessed the unique Lionhead mane. By selectively cross-breeding the two breeds and the hybrid offspring, European rabbit breeders were soon able to establish a new breed. In 2004, the Miniature Lion Lop would be recognized by the British Rabbit Council as a recognized breed. Ever since, they have been steadily gaining popularity.

The first Lionhead rabbits were imported to the United States around 2000 and breeders eagerly began working them into their breeding programs. To date, while both Lionheads and Lionheaded lops are under development in the United States, none of the Lionheaded breeds have been accepted or recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA).

The Miniature Lion Lop Description

The Miniature Lion Lop is a dwarf breed with an ideal weight of roughly 3.4 pounds, though they should weigh no more than 3.8 pounds as mature adults. Like the Holland, or Miniature Lop, they possess a short, thick and well-muscled body type. Their eyes are bold and bright, large in size and well-placed above full and rounded cheeks. The basal ridge between the ears is very prominent in this breed, producing a noticeable crown and resulting in good ear carriage in well-bred specimens. Carried in a lopped position, hanging down close to the cheeks, a Miniature Lion Lop's ears should resemble a horseshoe pattern when viewed from the front and the insides of the ears should not be visible from any angle, when carried correctly.

Originally, the Miniature Lion Lops were only available in a few select colors, though the standard has since been expanded to accept several other varieties. At this time, the recognized colors of the Mini Lion Lops include agouti, black, blue, fawn, sooty fawn, black fox, black otter, orange, white (blue-eyed or ruby-eyed), Siamese sable (light, dark and medium), opal, Siamese smoke, steel, beige and butterfly (what would be known as a "broken" in the United States, where the overall color of the rabbit would be 'broken' with white). Hopefully, over time, we will see a further expansion in varieties and colors of this unique breed.

Of course, in describing the Miniature Lion Lop, we must speak of his crowning glory - the mane. The mane of the Miniature Lion Lop should be roughly 2-3 inches in length, forming a halo around the head and coming to a vee-shape in the back. This is a natural genetic mutation in the rabbit, meaning that no pulling, plucking, cutting or shaving of the mane is permissible. This unique mane of hair should have a good wool density and appear thick and somewhat fluffy, as opposed to hanging limply down around the rabbit's face. Due to the length and wool characteristics of the mane, it's not uncommon for it to appear considerably lighter than the rest of the rabbit's fur. This is perfectly natural and any evidence of a dyed or colored coat will result in disqualification.

The Miniature Lion Lop as a Pet

Miniature Lion Lops can make excellent pets, provided they are purchased from reputable breeders. Due to the fact that this is still a relatively new breed, it's important to stress that you are looking for pet stock as opposed to show stock and you also want to ensure you're dealing with lines that are known for good temperaments. Some breeds of lop rabbits are known to be a little on the aggressive side, so you're sure to want to discuss this with breeders, particularly if you're buying your Miniature Lion Lop for a child. Do not make the mistake of thinking that a Miniature Lion Lop will be fine, so long as you get it as a baby - In many cases, aggressive traits are passed down to bunnies in their genes. If the adult rabbits are aggressive, there is a definite chance that the bunny will be equally aggressive, regardless of how you raise it.

Provided you buy from a responsible breeder, Miniature Lion Lops are small and easy to maintain. Their manes do require a weekly combing in order to keep them free from snarls and tangles but, aside from the occasional nail clipping, they are pretty easy to groom.

All in all, the Miniature Lion Lop makes a good household pet for older children and adults alike. Their unique appearance, clownish personality and compact size make them ideal house bunnies for those who want to try litter training rabbits. Hopefully, in the near future, we will see them recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, so that fanciers can enjoy exhibiting them as well as keeping the Miniature Lion Lop as a pet.

Sources:

Personal experience as a long-time rabbit breeder

http://www.thebrc.org/minilionlop.htm - Great photos and breed standard of the Miniature Lion Lop

http://www.bunnyhugga.com/mini-lion-lop-uk.html - Informative article on the origins of the Miniature Lion Lop