Breed History
The Dwarf Lop has a different and somewhat shorter history than its larger brother (French Lop). In fact it is a much more recently created breed and is the result of crossing French Lops with Dwarf rabbits. The breed was evolved about 1950 by Dutch breeders and Holland is renowned for its miniaturisation of different breeds. The Netherland Dwarf rabbit has won acclaim the world over and the old Dutch bantam, a miniature fowl, is popular in many countries.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the idea of producing a small replica of the massive and popular continental breed, the French Lop, was conceived and carried out in Holland.
British fanciers first saw the new breed at the Utrecht Show in 1968 it weighed about four pounds and aroused much interest, George Scott was one of the first to import some of them in 1970.
Shortly after this the Ministry ban prevented further importation to Britain. The first rabbits proved a little disappointing, many grew too large, whilst others had ears which refused to 'Lop' and were carried in a variety of incorrect positions. It says much for the breeding skills and patience of British breeders that slowly the Dwarf Lops resembling the standard laid down for them began to emerge. This improvement was at first slow.
By 1972 no new stock could be imported and breeders had to rely on existing stock. The progress was not as rapid as that of the French Lop. When the National Breed Club was formed in 1977, many breeders sought to change the size of the ring. Despite many requests to the BRC they were informed that the answer lay with the breeder to produce stock to fit the standard. This seemingly hard line eventually paid dividends and, as the breed became more popular, fewer overweight and oversized rabbits were seen on the exhibition table. The breed had great charm and appealed to British fanciers. It is a lively breed unlike the rather lethargic French Lop. Many fanciers without the facilities and room to keep a large lopped breed fell for the obvious charms and more accommodating size of the Dwarf Lop. Numbers at shows began to increase.
Despite its popularity, the Dwarf Lop was not to achieve the same success at shows as the French. There were a number of reasons for this, probably the most important one being that the breed had not yet achieved the excellence, and did not match up to the breed standard, in the same way as the French Lop. Too many of the Dwarf Lops in the mid 70s did not have the massive skull or required body shape, whilst ears and ear carriage left much to be desired. Meanwhile, the Dutch breeders were still improving the breed. Exhibits were seen in Holland weighing as little as two and a half pounds, and yet showing the type required. In I978 Angio Chiesa, imported 8 of these improved rabbits. They had to spend six months in quarantine. During this period some were lost, but credit must go to Mr. Chiesa, for the work he put in, both in breeding and distributing these new importations all over the country. At first there was much controversy over these imports, many cried that they were of the wrong type resembling Netherland Dwarfs. Their weight, too, was criticized as being less than the minimum three and a half pounds set out in the standard. Mr. Chiesa put this to the test when he exhibited several at the adult stock show in Coventry in 1979 and won overall Best in Show Award with a Sooty Fawn which weighed three and three quarter pounds. This was the forerunner of more successes for the breed. The introduction of new blood had certainly paid off. In 1980 a Dwarf
Lop did well against other Fancy Breeds at the Bradford Championship Show. The year 1981 saw quite a few Best in Show Awards achieved by the Dwarf Lops and in some parts of the country, more are now exhibited than the French Lop. The charm and character of the breed has endeared it to many who baulk at the sheer size of the giant French.
CREDIT: The above extract is from the book:
Read about Rabbits No4 French and Dwarf Lops By Peter Ralphes
Therefore, it is not surprising that the idea of producing a small replica of the massive and popular continental breed, the French Lop, was conceived and carried out in Holland.
British fanciers first saw the new breed at the Utrecht Show in 1968 it weighed about four pounds and aroused much interest, George Scott was one of the first to import some of them in 1970.
Shortly after this the Ministry ban prevented further importation to Britain. The first rabbits proved a little disappointing, many grew too large, whilst others had ears which refused to 'Lop' and were carried in a variety of incorrect positions. It says much for the breeding skills and patience of British breeders that slowly the Dwarf Lops resembling the standard laid down for them began to emerge. This improvement was at first slow.
By 1972 no new stock could be imported and breeders had to rely on existing stock. The progress was not as rapid as that of the French Lop. When the National Breed Club was formed in 1977, many breeders sought to change the size of the ring. Despite many requests to the BRC they were informed that the answer lay with the breeder to produce stock to fit the standard. This seemingly hard line eventually paid dividends and, as the breed became more popular, fewer overweight and oversized rabbits were seen on the exhibition table. The breed had great charm and appealed to British fanciers. It is a lively breed unlike the rather lethargic French Lop. Many fanciers without the facilities and room to keep a large lopped breed fell for the obvious charms and more accommodating size of the Dwarf Lop. Numbers at shows began to increase.
Despite its popularity, the Dwarf Lop was not to achieve the same success at shows as the French. There were a number of reasons for this, probably the most important one being that the breed had not yet achieved the excellence, and did not match up to the breed standard, in the same way as the French Lop. Too many of the Dwarf Lops in the mid 70s did not have the massive skull or required body shape, whilst ears and ear carriage left much to be desired. Meanwhile, the Dutch breeders were still improving the breed. Exhibits were seen in Holland weighing as little as two and a half pounds, and yet showing the type required. In I978 Angio Chiesa, imported 8 of these improved rabbits. They had to spend six months in quarantine. During this period some were lost, but credit must go to Mr. Chiesa, for the work he put in, both in breeding and distributing these new importations all over the country. At first there was much controversy over these imports, many cried that they were of the wrong type resembling Netherland Dwarfs. Their weight, too, was criticized as being less than the minimum three and a half pounds set out in the standard. Mr. Chiesa put this to the test when he exhibited several at the adult stock show in Coventry in 1979 and won overall Best in Show Award with a Sooty Fawn which weighed three and three quarter pounds. This was the forerunner of more successes for the breed. The introduction of new blood had certainly paid off. In 1980 a Dwarf
Lop did well against other Fancy Breeds at the Bradford Championship Show. The year 1981 saw quite a few Best in Show Awards achieved by the Dwarf Lops and in some parts of the country, more are now exhibited than the French Lop. The charm and character of the breed has endeared it to many who baulk at the sheer size of the giant French.
CREDIT: The above extract is from the book:
Read about Rabbits No4 French and Dwarf Lops By Peter Ralphes