French Lop Care, Temperament and Lifespan

Temperament

Placid and docile, and unbothered by household noise that would send a Netherland Dwarf under the sofa. They move slowly, they tolerate handling well, and a settled French Lop will sit against you for long stretches. This is the breed people mean when they talk about a dog-like rabbit.

The size cuts both ways. A calm fifteen pound rabbit is a pleasure. An unhandled, frightened fifteen pound rabbit is genuinely difficult to manage, which is why ours are handled daily from a few days old.

Lifespan

Five to eight years, shorter than the small breeds. Larger rabbits generally live less long, the same pattern as in dogs. Indoors, neutered and fed mostly hay is what gets a French Lop to the upper end. A Netherland Dwarf at ten to twelve years will usually outlive one considerably.

Weight-related problems are what tend to shorten it: sore hocks, arthritis, and difficulty grooming the back end, which raises the risk of flystrike. All three are manageable if you are watching for them.

Housing

At least 6 ft by 3 ft, indoors, solid washable flooring. Buy the largest litter tray you can find, with one low side so an older or arthritic rabbit can still get in. Everything you buy should be sized for a small dog rather than for a rabbit.

Handling a rabbit this size

Never lift without full support under the back end, and never carry one at chest height. A fifteen pound rabbit that kicks can break its own spine and injure you on the way down. Sit on the floor. Most French Lops are happy to be approached where they are, which removes the problem entirely.

Grooming and the back end

Weekly brushing, more during a moult. The particular thing to watch in a large lop is whether it can still reach to clean itself. A rabbit that cannot, because of weight or arthritis, will get a soiled back end, and in warm weather that leads to flystrike quickly. Check the back end daily in summer. This is not optional in a large breed.

Call a vet the same day if

• No food or droppings for twelve hours
• Hunched posture with the belly pressed down
• Sores or hair loss on the hocks
• A soiled back end, or any sign of flies or maggots
• Reluctance to move that was not there yesterday

Ask your vet how often they anaesthetise large rabbits specifically. Dosing by weight in a breed this size is not the same routine as a two pound dwarf.

Feeding

Unlimited hay, and a larger pellet portion than the small breeds, around half a cup a day for an adult, plus greens. A French Lop eats considerably more hay than people budget for, and running out is not an option because hay is what keeps the gut moving. The ratio and the foods to avoid apply to every breed here.