Rabbits are the cutest pets to keep. American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) which has 20,000 members all over the world, recognizes 49 domestic breeds of rabbits.
Each rabbit breed has distinct characteristics. Rabbit enthusiasts are always developing new rabbit breeds via selective breeding techniques. Some of the known rabbit breeds are dwarf and mini lop.
Key Takeaways
- Dwarf Lop rabbits are smaller than Mini Lop rabbits, with an average weight of 2-2.5 pounds, versus Mini Lop rabbits, which weigh between 4-6 pounds.
- Dwarf Lop rabbits have more rounded faces and shorter ears than Mini Lop rabbits, with longer ears and flatter faces.
- Dwarf Lop rabbits have thicker and denser coats than Mini Lop rabbits, which have softer and less dense coats.
Dwarf Lop vs Mini Lop
The difference between dwarf lop and mini lop is that dwarf lop breeds of rabbits are larger compared to mini lop. As a result, they differ in weight. The dwarf lop breeds of rabbits are heavier than the mini lop breeds of rabbits. The dwarf lop breeds weigh about 2.5 kg. On the other hand, mini-lop breeds weigh about 1.6 kg.
During the 1950s, the dwarf lop breed was first developed in the Netherlands. This is why dwarf lops are also known as Holland lops.
Dwarf lop rabbits are medium to small-sized rabbits weighing almost 2.5 kg on average. Mini lop rabbit was first developed by crossbreeding a smaller Chinchilla rabbit with a German lop rabbit.
Mini lop rabbits originated in Germany, and the ARBA (American Rabbit Breeder’s Association) was first recognized in the late 1980s. One of the smaller rabbits breeds and weighs 1.6 kg on average.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Dwarf Lop | Mini Lop |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | During the 1950s, the dwarf lop breed was first developed in the Netherlands. | Mini lop rabbit was first developed by crossbreeding a smaller Chinchilla rabbit with a German lop rabbit. The ARBA (American Rabbit Breeder’s Association) first recognized mini-lop rabbits in the late 1980s. |
| Weight | The average weight of dwarf lop rabbits in their adulthood is 2.5 kg. | The average weight of mini-lop rabbits in their adulthood is 1.6 kg. |
| Colour | Dwarf lop rabbits come in blue, black, white, brown, opal, orange, agouti, Siamese sable, and chinchilla. | Mini-lop rabbits come in blue, black, chinchilla, white, opal, orange, chestnut, and red. |
| Nature | Dwarf lop rabbits are very friendly rabbits. They are very playful and active and love the company of other rabbits and people. | Mini lops rabbits are very friendly and love cuddles and attention. |
| Disease | Dwarf lop rabbits are prone to develop fatal conditions and dental diseases. | Mini-lop rabbits are prone to several health issues like GI Stasis, Flystrike, Ear Mites, and Woolblock. |
What is Dwarf Lop?
The dwarf lop rabbits are a popular exhibition rabbit. During the 1950s, the dwarf lop breed was first developed in the Netherlands.
This is why dwarf lops are also known as Holland lops. In 1976 the dwarf lop was first recognized by the British Rabbit Council.
Dwarf lop rabbits have a substantial build. They have thick-set, short bodies, strong and short legs.
They have a broad heads with full cheeks and wide foreheads. The thick ears hang down beside the broadhead.
Dwarf lop rabbits have a dense coat of medium-length hair which is extremely soft. The average weight of dwarf lop rabbits in their adulthood is 2.5 kg.
Dwarf lop rabbits may be solid-coloured or have a white patch on the chest, legs, or head. Dwarf lop rabbits come in blue, black, white, brown, opal, orange, agouti, Siamese sable, and chinchilla.
Dwarf lop rabbits are very good-natured and friendly pets. They are active, playful, and love the company of other rabbits and people.
Dwarf lop rabbits are prone to develop fatal conditions and dental diseases. Despite the recent popularity of mini-lop rabbits, dwarf lop rabbits remain the most popular pet.
What is Mini Lop?
Mini-lop rabbits are domestic rabbits that originated in Germany. Mini lop rabbit was first developed by crossbreeding a smaller Chinchilla rabbit with a German lop rabbit.
The ARBA (American Rabbit Breeder’s Association) first recognized mini-lop rabbits in the late 1980s. The mini-lop rabbits are one of the smaller breeds of rabbits.
These rabbits have a heavily muscular round body with very short necks. They have a dense coat of medium-length hair which is extremely soft.
The average weight of mini-lop rabbits in their adulthood is 1.6 kg. Mini-lop rabbits come in blue, black, chinchilla, white, opal, orange, chestnut, and red.
Mini lops rabbits are very friendly and love cuddles and attention. Mini-lop rabbits like to do exercise and spend time playing outside with toys.
Mini-lop rabbits have a short lifespan compared to some other breeds. They live for five to ten years- an average lifespan of eight.
Mini-lop rabbits are prone to several health issues. Like GI Stasis (digestive system stops completely or partially), Flystrike (symptoms: loose motion, skin irritation).
Ear Mites (a common parasite of domestic rabbits), malocclusion (dental problem due to the misalignment of upper and lower teeth). Avoid these by getting checked up by the vet quite often.
Main Differences Between Dwarf Lop and Mini Lop
- During the 1950s, the dwarf lop breed was first developed in the Netherlands. On the other hand, the Mini lop rabbit was first developed by crossbreeding a smaller Chinchilla rabbit with a German lop rabbit. The ARBA (American Rabbit Breeder’s Association) first recognized mini-lop rabbits in the late 1980s.
- The average weight of dwarf lop rabbits in their adulthood is 2.5 kg. While the average weight of mini-lop rabbits in their adulthood is 1.6 kg.
- Dwarf lop rabbits come in blue, black, white, brown, opal, orange, agouti, Siamese sable, and chinchilla. Mini-lop rabbits come in blue, black, chinchilla, white, opal, orange, chestnut, and red.
- Dwarf lop rabbits are very friendly rabbits. They are very playful and active and love the company of other rabbits and people. Mini lops rabbits are very friendly and love cuddles and attention.
- Dwarf lop rabbits are prone to develop fatal conditions and dental diseases. Mini lop rabbits are prone to several health issues like GI Stasis, Flystrike, Ear Mites, and Woolblock.
References
- https://www.agriculturejournals.cz/web/vetmed.htm?type=article&id=12_2018-VETMED
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0093691X21002806
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
As someone looking to choose between Dwarf lop and Mini lop rabbits, this article has been incredibly informative and helpful in making that decision.
The description of the physical features of both breeds has given me a very clear distinction between Dwarf lop and Mini lop rabbits. What a great article!
The information provided about the diseases each breed is prone to is important for anyone considering keeping a pet rabbit. It’s essential knowledge that is overlooked.
The comparison table is very useful in highlighting the differences between these two popular rabbit breeds. It is great insight into the world of rabbit breeding.
The insight into the development of both the Dwarf lop and Mini lop breeds adds an intriguing historical perspective to this article.
The information detailing the history of both Dwarf lop and Mini lop rabbits is fascinating, and the physical characteristics really help to distinguish between the two breeds.
Thanks for sharing such valuable information about the differences between Dwarf lop and Mini lop rabbits. The weight comparison is particularly interesting.
I’m impressed with the level of detail provided about the nature and characteristics of Dwarf lop and Mini lop rabbits. It’s clear a lot of research has gone into this article.