English Lop Rabbit (Size, Color, Behavior, Temperament)

Do you love long-eared rabbits? If yes, consider an English Lop rabbit!

The first thing you will notice about an English Lop rabbit is its ears. Lop rabbits have ears that flop down rather than point up.

Their ears flop down almost to the ground, and they gently undulate as the rabbit hops.

Known for their remarkably long, floppy ears, these gentle creatures have captured the hearts of many rabbit enthusiasts.

Ears on English Lops rabbits can grow extremely long.

The Guiness World of Book Records category ‘Longest Ears on a Rabbit” is currently held by an English Lop rabbit that had ears 31.1 inches (79 cm) long.

Aside from ear care, English Lop rabbits are easy to care for. They are large enough and sturdy enough to make good pets for children, and they are affectionate, friendly pets for seniors and single adults.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about choosing and taking care of an English Lop rabbit. But first, let’s review some essential facts.

Essential Facts about English Lop Rabbits

Zoological name: Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus

Care level: Average, but need special attention to ears,

Temperament: Easy-going, not easily frightened. Makes a good pet rabbit.,

Coat: Short, stiff flyback fur (when you run your hand over an English Lop rabbit’s coat, it “flies” back into its original position).

Colors: Black, fawn, gold, and/or white. Can have solid or broken colors.

Temperament: Inquisitive, likes to explore. Not afraid of other small oats, Likes to be petted, but on the floor or on the ground, not in your lap.

Lifespan: 5 to 7 years.

Compatible breeds: Any other K-Lop rabbit (American Fuzzy Lop, Velveteen Lop, Mini Lop, Holland Lop, and so on).

Dietary requirements: Similar to other rabbits. Primarily hay, enjoys celery and apples. Keep feed pellets to no more than 10 percent of the diet.

Size of the cage: This breed can spend up to 20 hours a day in a 24-inch wide by 36-inch long by 14-inch tall (60 cm by 90 cm by 35 cm) cage with any wire on the bottom covered with hay to protect the rabbit’s feet. Needs several hours a day outside its cage to get exercise. Does well in an outdoor hutch raised off the ground with protected play space.

Considered a fancy breed. About 15 percent of all rabbits have lop ears, so this breed may be hard to find.

History of the English Fuzzy Lop Rabbit

Research biologists have discovered that rabbits that live in dry climates tend to have longer ears.

Probably the Imperial Palace in China ordered the collection of long-eared desert rabbits to become royal pets.

Lop rabbits were bred for pets in China as long as 500 years ago. They reached England in the 1700s.

They were essentially unknown in the United States, however, until about 50 years ago,

Prior to the reign of Queen Victoria (1818-1901), rabbits were considered a source of meat and fur in England.

She and Prince Albert popularized the idea of keeping them as housepets. Lop rabbits didn’t look like rabbits, certainly not like wild hares, so they became the pet rabbit of choice in nineteenth-century England.

Other breeds of lop rabbits, such as the French Lop rabbit, were bred from English Lop rabbits. Breeders have never succeeded in creating a new breed of rabbits with longer ears,

Lop rabbits have only been popular in the United States since the 70s, the 1970s, not the 1870s, when they caught on in Europe.

The Lop Rabbit Club of America promotes English Lop rabbits and other lop breeds for American rabbit fanciers.

Though our understanding of animal welfare has come a long way since the Victorian era, it’s worth mentioning that in the past, some breeders used crude methods to pull the rabbit’s ears to make them longer. Thankfully, this practice has been abandoned, and today’s breeders follow humane methods to maintain the unique characteristics of English Lops.

Appearance of the English Lop Rabbit

English Lop bunnies look like they are all ears.

The ears themselves stop growing when the rabbit is about five months old, but they may protrude farther as the skull matures.

The ears of most English Lop rabbits are nowhere close to the maximum listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

They will usually be about a foot (30 cm) long. That’s about as long as the rabbit is tall, however, and the ears will rest on the ground when it is lying down,

The American Rabbit Breeders Association standard for English Lop rabbits is that they must measure at least 21 inches (52 cm) from tip to tip, counting the width of the head.

Ears of English Lops are always rounded, never pointed. The ears are the primary distinction of the breed. But there are also coat and color standards.

Coat and Color of the English Lop Rabbit

The British Rabbit Council publishes a long list of acceptable colors for English Lop rabbits.

• Agouti (gray-streaked fur with bands of slightly different colors, like the South American agouti, for which the color is named) with opal streaks
• Black with fawn or orange.
• Blue.
• Chinchilla (gray).
• Gray (but not chinchilla).
• Sooty fawn.
• White with red eyes.
• White without red eyes,

An English Lop’s coat will be short. It will not need a lot of grooming.

Size

English Lops are large but not giant. They are big enough that children can hold them safely without the danger of breaking their bones.

They are also large enough not to be intimidated by most other pets. You should not, however, keep English Lop rabbits with aggressive dogs or large snakes of any kind.

Males typically weigh between 9-12 pounds (4-5.4 kg), while females weigh slightly more at 10-15 pounds (4.5-6.8 kg).

Ear Length

One of the most remarkable features of the English Lop rabbit is their exceptionally long, floppy ears.

It is believed that the English Lop has the longest ears of all rabbit breeds.

The ears generally hang loose alongside their face, which gives them their distinctive look.

Also read: What to Do if Rabbit Ears Are Cold?

Temperament of the English Lop Rabbit

One way to describe English Lop rabbits is “calmy inquisitive.” They like to explore their habitat. Their large, floppy ears and soft fur add to their charming appearance, and their behavior is both curious and easygoing.

They enjoy cuddling with their human family members and playing with interactive toys but also appreciate their downtime, often spending hours sprawled out and relaxed. 

They thrive in protected outdoor hutches that allow them to hop around a play with a ball or the cardboard from a roll of paper towels.

They enjoy the company of other rabbits, but they can also be happy as solo pets.

English Lop rabbits tend to display the following personality traits:

• Friendly
• Calm
• Gentle
• Curious
• Laid-back
• Affectionate

Training

Your English Lop needs a crate as a place to “hang out” up to 20 hours a day. This protected location becomes its nest.

You may need to lock your rabbit in its crate for most of the day and overnight at first so it gets the idea that this is home.

It can take two or three weeks to potty train your English Lop rabbit.

Rabbits of all kinds eat their droppings after they have excreted them for the first time.

These “soft poops: go into a different part of the rabbit’s digestive tract, where they release fatty acids and protein that the first pass through the digestive tract does not extract.

Place your rabbit’s soft fecal matter in a litter box lined with timothy hay or shredded paper (which it may also eat).

It will eventually get the idea that it needs to “go” in its litter box rather than all over your floor or lawn.

One way to keep your rabbit safe outdoors is to walk it on a leash. That way, you can keep it from running away and pull it back from confrontations with larger animals.

Both you and your rabbit will have to learn how to walk your rabbit on its leash without entangling its ears.

Care for Your English Lop Rabbit

Every rabbit is happier with three or four hours a day hopping around in a large, protected playspace.

About 100 square feet (10 square meters) is enough. Your rabbit will relieve itself on its playspace, and it will look for items to chew on. Protected outdoor space is ideal.

Diet for Your English Lop Rabbit

Every rabbit needs hay and other high-fiber foods for most of its diet. Never try to sustain your English Loo on “rabbit chow” alone.

Most of these products contain sugars that younger rabbits cannot digest.

They lack the fiver that rabbits need to keep their teeth from growing too long and to avoid potentially fatal constipation.

Housing and Bedding

English Lop Rabbits should have a spacious and comfortable living environment.

A hutch or a cage, large enough for the rabbit to move around freely, is ideal. The ideal cage size for a doe should be at least 4 feet by 2 feet.

Make sure the cage is clean and provides a warm, dry area with bedding, like hay or softwood shavings.

It is essential to clean the cage regularly and provide fresh bedding to maintain a healthy living space for your rabbit.

Grooming

English Lop Rabbits have short hair, making their grooming needs relatively low.

However, regular grooming is still necessary to keep their fur clean and healthy. You should groom your English Lop at least once a week.

This will also help to strengthen your bond with your rabbit and maintain its overall well-being.

Special Health Problems of English Lop Rabbits

English Lops don’t have a lot of health problems—except with their ears.

The Royal Veterinary Council confirms that English Lop rabbits are more prone than other breeds to develop:

• Ear wax buildup. Never apply a Q-tip to the ears of your rabbit or any other pet. Their ear canals bend in ways that human ear canals do not. The Q-tip can cause injury that leads to infection. Remove excess wax with a cotton swab. If the problem persists, see your veterinarian.,
• English Lop rabbits also tend to have narrow ear canals. Their ear canals trap wax, foreign objects, and infections. An ear check is a necessary part of any veterinary checkup for your English Lop. To be able to pay for this needed veterinary attention, it is best to buy pet insurance as soon as possible after you get your bunny or even before. In the UK, Petplan offers insurance for rabbits.

There is one more concern for rabbit owners who live in cold-winter climates.

Be sure not to leave your English Lops outdoors in cold weather. Their ears are susceptible to frostbite.

Also read: When Do Holland Lop’s Ears Drop?

Popular Bunny Names for English Lop Rabbit

Here’s a table with popular English Lop Rabbit names, reflecting their breed characteristics.

The English Lop Rabbit is known for its large size, long and floppy ears, and friendly personality. Many of these names are inspired by their unique appearance and gentle nature.

These names emphasize the distinctive long ears, size, and friendly temperament of the English Lop Rabbit breed, making them fitting choices for your rabbit.

Also read: Popular Pet Rabbit (Bunny) Names (Girl/Boy)

Frequently Asked Questions About English Lop Rabbits

Other articles you may also like:

• Popular Pet Rabbit Breeds
• The American (Blue and White) Rabbit
• American Chinchilla Rabbit
• English Spot Rabbit
• Britannia Petite Rabbit
• American Sable Rabbit