Plush Lop facts for kids
The Plush Lop is a special type of domestic rabbit. There are two main kinds: the Miniature and the Standard. Another kind, the Canadian Plush Lop, is also being developed. There's even a similar rabbit called the Velveteen Lop that's also new.
The Miniature Plush Lop was the first to be created. Devie D'anniballe started developing them in the United States in 1995. She mixed three existing rabbit breeds: the Holland Lop, the Mini Rex, and the Mini Lop. Her goal was to make a perfect pet rabbit. She wanted to keep all the good traits from these breeds and get rid of any problems.
How Plush Lops Started
Devie carefully chose the best qualities from each rabbit breed. She created a rabbit with the small, cute body and floppy ears of the Holland Lop and Mini Lop. It also got the super soft, short, and less-allergenic fur of the Mini Rex.
Since Devie wanted the perfect pet, the rabbit's personality was very important. Today, Miniature Plush Lops are known for being playful and friendly. They are also calm enough to be held for a while. Even though they are adventurous, they are easy to catch and love to be petted.
Developing the Breed
Standard Plush Lops were developed in Australia by Christine Toyer. She started working on them in the early 1990s. Christine created the Plush Lop by mixing Dwarf Lops with Standard Rex rabbits.
Christine Toyer described them well: "The Plush Lop combines the soft, velvety fur of the Rex Rabbit with the loving personality and cute looks of the Lop Rabbit breeds. It's a great breed for both pet owners and serious breeders."
In Australia and the UK, Plush Lops are still a new breed. However, they might soon be officially recognized by the British Rabbit Council. In the United States, the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) might not recognize them. One of ARBA's rules says a new rabbit type can't be recognized if it only has a different type of fur from an existing breed. So, if a Mini Plush Lop is too similar to a Holland Lop, just with Rex fur, it might not be accepted.
Canadian Plush Lop
There's also a Canadian Plush Lop. These rabbits have unique "curly" Rex fur. They were created using Astrex rabbits, along with Holland Lop and Mini Rex breeds. The Canadian Plush Lop is a curly-haired rabbit.
They have a more arched body shape than other Lop rabbits. They are also very brave and friendly. They are great at rabbit agility courses! These rabbits do not have the dwarf gene, so they usually weigh between four and six pounds as adults.
Canadian Plush Lops were mostly developed in Alberta, Canada, starting in the mid-1990s. Dr. Helga Vierich and Brenda Wheeler, two breeders from Edmonton, began the work. A group of six rabbit breeders continues this work today.
The Canadian Plush Lop (sometimes called CPLop) is like the rare Astrex rabbit. Their baby bunnies are curly until their first fur change. Then, their fur becomes less curly for a while. But between eight and eighteen months, the curls return with their first adult fur change.
Canadian Plush Lops are the only Lop breed with a fully arched body. They are also one of only three curly-Rex breeds in the world. People who know this breed often say their most amazing quality is how much they love people.
Colors of Plush Lops
Plush Lops come in many beautiful colors. These colors are usually grouped into Solid, Shaded, Pointed White, and Broken patterns.
- Solid Colors: These rabbits have one color all over their body. Examples include Black, Blue, Chocolate, and Lilac.
- Shaded Colors: These rabbits have a color that gradually changes from dark to light. The darker color is usually on their back, head, and ears, fading to a lighter color on their sides and belly. Examples are Seal, Sable, and Tortoise.
- Pointed White: These rabbits have a white body with color only on their "points" like their nose, ears, feet, and tail.
- Broken Patterns: These rabbits have patches of any recognized color mixed with white. They must have a colored nose, eye circles, and ears.
