Plush Lop Breed History/Origin
The Plush Lop Rabbit is a newer breed that can be divided into the standard size and the miniature size, but the Miniature Plush Lop was developed first.
Devie D’anniballe is credited with creating the Miniature Plush Lop in the United States, starting in 1995. She was able to develop this breed by crossing the Miniature Lop, the Miniature Rex, and the Holland Lop. Her goal was to breed a pet rabbit that would showcase a combination of all of the positive qualities of those breeds, while at the same time breeding out any problems that were associated with them.
D’anniballe ended up creating a new breed that featured a compact body, lopped ears, and hypoallergenic Rex fur. This new breed also has a wonderful personality, as these rabbits are friendly, adventurous, outgoing, affectionate, and playful, as well as docile and tolerable of being held.
The Standard Plush Lop was developed later, in 2002, by Christine Toyer in Australia. She crossed the Standard Rex with the Dwarf Lop, creating a breed that combined the short and velvety coat of the Rex with the endearing personality of the Lop Rabbit.
In the United Kingdom and Australia, the Plush Lop Rabbit is still considered in development.
The Plush Lop is a newer breed that can be divided into the standard size and the mini size.
Overall Description
The body of the Standard Plush Lop should be compact and firm, and it should feature well rounded loins, a deep and broad chest, and wide shoulders. Overall, the rabbit should have a well muscled and strong appearance.
The hindquarters and the shoulders should be about the same in terms of width, and the head, which is well developed and bold, should be set well on the animal’s shoulders. There will be little visible neck, and there should be a good width in between the eyes, which are large, bright, round, and bold. You’ll also note a broad muzzle and full cheeks, and the basal ridge of the animal’s ears should be prominent across the top of the head.
Also, the hind legs will be strong, short, and parallel with the body, while the front legs will be straight, short, and strong. The rabbit’s tail should be well furred and straight. A small dewlap can be found on the females.
The ears should be well furred, rounded, thick, and broad, as well as carried close to the cheeks. They should also hang down straight behind the rabbit’s eyes, and they should not point backwards or forwards. The insides of the ears shouldn’t be visible.
The overall appearance of the Miniature Plush Lop is similar to that of the Standard variety. The body should be compact, thickset, firm, and bold, as well as cobby, well muscled, and short. The head, which has a rounded profile, should be broad and bold and feature well developed, full cheeks, and it should be set well into the rabbit’s shoulders. The muzzle should be broad, the basal ridge of the rabbit’s ears should be prominent, and there should be a good width between the eyes.
There should also be little visible neck, and the rump should be well rounded, well muscled, and short. Also, the chest should be deep and broad and feature curved sides where the chest meets the shoulders, which are strong and broad.
The front legs should be straight, short, and thick, while the hind legs should be strong, carried parallel with the body, and short. The tail should be well furred, strong, and straight, and a small dewlap may also be noted.
A Mini Plush Lop will have ears that are well furred, rounded, thick, and broad, and they should be carried close to the animal’s cheeks, straight down behind the eyes, not pointing backwards or forwards. The insides of the ears shouldn’t be visible. The eyes should be large, bright, round, and bold as well.
Coat
For the Standard and the Mini, the soft coat of the Plush Lop should be about ½ inch in length, and it should feature a fine and silky texture that is free from wooliness. There should be good density, and it should be level and smooth over the whole body. There should also be a lustrous sheen, and the fur should be plush and firm without any projecting guard hairs.
The Plush Lop also does not shed excessively, but will molt two times a year.
Colors
The Standard and Mini Plush Lop can feature any pattern or color that’s accepted by the British Rabbit Council (BRC), except the broken pattern.
The coat of a Plush Lop is smooth, soft, and silky.
Care Requirements
The Plush Lop does better when housed indoors, though you do have the option of keeping your pet outside if you provide him with a large enough enclosure that is safe from predators and the elements. Indoors, you can give your rabbit a cage to use as a place to retreat and rest when he’s not playing and exploring.
Always provide your rabbit with plenty of fresh, clean water. In terms of diet, rabbits do well on a variety of high quality hays, as well as rabbit pellets and plenty of vegetables, including leafy greens.
Health
Like other rabbit breeds, the Plush Lop might develop dental problems, particularly if his diet is lacking in fibrous vegetables and he isn’t provided with gnaw toys that will keep the teeth at the appropriate length.
You can talk to your vet about having your pet treated for ticks, worms, and fleas, especially if he’ll be spending any time in your garden. Your vet can also discuss the option of having your pet spayed or neutered, as well as vaccinated.
Always feed your rabbit a healthy diet that will allow him to maintain an ideal weight, as overweight rabbits have a hard time grooming themselves and become vulnerable to flystrike.
The Plush Lop has a friendly and docile personality.
Temperament/Behavior
The Plush Lop makes a fantastic family pet because it’s known for its sweet and docile personality. These rabbits will be happy when sitting in your lap and relaxing, but they’ll also hop around the house with curiosity. Plus, they enjoy playing, so you can provide your pet with a variety of toys, and they get along well with children because they are gentle.
Photo credit: Dale/Flickr; Evelien/Flickr
