English Lop Standard According to ARBA
Ears: They are to have at least 21" of length from ear tip to ear tip to show. The width of the ear is to be 1/4 the total length. That's about 5" - 6". The ears are to be in proportion to the bodyand when set back along the spine the ears should reach to the top of the rise on there back. Ears are to be carried low and loose on the head so that there is no crown. They should fall down and flow in front of the animal when posed. The ears should be well rounded and not pointed in any way and free from blemishes. A lot of people shy away from owning this wonderful breed because of the ears. They just need a little more attentive care than others. Regular inspection of the ears, internal and external, is one of the requirements of this breed. They have deep ear canals and are more prone to earwax buildup which must be cleaned out or it might lead to an ear infection. Extra care must be given to keep their tonails trimmed so that they don't cause harm when stepping on or scratching those big ol' ears.
Head: They are to have a big full head with wide set eyes. They are to have a short neck. Posed with there chin flat on the table.
Body: The shoulders should be full, wide, and well developed with a slight slope up to where the rise starts. They should be shaped like a mandoline. This "Mandolin Type" is another rare trait the English Lops have. There tail is usually very long, and should be handled with care as not to cause any breaks.
Feet: There feet are to be medium in length and with medium heavy bone. All feet should set parallel to each other and to the hips. Legs are to be wide set. Plenty of fur and thickness to the pads helps keep these big rabbits strong.
Fur: The fur is to "fly back" into placed when brushed in the opposite direction as the hair grows. To be medium in length. Fine and shiny, almost silky to the touch. Should not be harsh or wooly in any way.
Size: English Lops are a 6 class show rabbit. There are: Junior, 6/8 (or intermediate) , and Senior classes for both buck and doe, broken and solid. They must be at least 4 pounds before they can be shown in a Junior class. Junior's can be up to 9 pounds. The 6/8 animal is to be under 8 months of age and over 6 months of age. Not over 11 pounds for doe, and under 10 pounds for a buck before they must be shown as senior. The senior rabbits must be over 8 months of age or 9 pounds for a buck and over 10 pounds for a doe.
Personality: This is one of the reasone why I love these guys so much. Their personalities are like that of big droopy dogs. They are very friendly and receptive to human handling. Very docile and loving, they love to sit with you and just be petted. Wonderful animals.
