Oh, the joy of Holland Lops

The winsome Holland Lop makes a welcome addition to man’s home.

WITH their muscular body, broad shoulders, deep chest and short thick legs, the Holland Lops do not look like your regular rabbits. They are hugely popular among pet owners and breeders, given their sweet temperament and gentle nature. They are easily trained and have been known to give bunny kisses!

These pedigree rabbits come in over 20 colours, the most common being tortoise shell (brown), broken tortoise shell, broken black and black, broken orange, and white.

It is easy to understand how IT technical instructor Timothy Chan, 29, fell in love with the adorable Holland Lop when he first set eyes on them on the Internet.

“I stumbled across The Nature Trail Rabbitry owned by Laurie Stroupe. The cute faces of two Holland Lop bucks captivated me,” says Chan.

He knew he had to own some. That was in 2006. Today, Chan owns a small home-based rabbitry called Tru-Luv with 23 Holland Lops.

“These rabbits look like cute, miniature bulldogs!” Chan gushes. It is obvious that he has a soft spot for rabbits, having kept his first rabbits when he was seven.

“I started with a pair of rabbits and they just multiplied. Due to lack of expertise, it was a challenge keeping the kits (young rabbits) alive,” he says.

Prior to the Internet, Chan was a regular at pet expos and pet shops. He came across different species of rabbits but none fascinated him like the lop ear rabbits.

When breeders in the United States started blogging and writing about their hobby on websites, Chan found a pair of cute-looking Holland Lop from two different sources.

He recalls: “They have the colour but lack good body structure. Their muzzles were much longer compared to those that I have seen on some websites.”

In December 2007, Chan imported his first Holland Lop from the United States. Since then, his herd of rabbits all hail from imported bloodlines. Chan is happy that his furry collection does not come with the hassle of noisy barking (such as from dogs), expensive vaccination bills, costly upkeep and the need for lots of space.

“Holland Lops are pretty responsive, always begging for a head rub or a treat whenever I approach them,” shares Chan.

Amusing antics

One of the cute rabbit behaviours that Chan takes delight in is called binky. A blogger who raises rabbits says it is the way a rabbit expresses its exuberance.

Chan describes the antics: “It is when a little rabbit runs around an area, launches itself in mid-air while twisting its body.”

A rabbit sometimes acts like a puppy, says Chan.

“I have a friend who got a Holland Lop from me. Her husband did not show much interest in their pet named Tridus, but even he was amused by its antics,” relates Chan. “Tridus sneaked into the bedroom, jumped up the bed and snuggled under the blanket!”

“If you think Holland Lops are cute when they are babies, they get cuter as they grow!” says Chan.

The saying “Breed like rabbits” does not apply to the Holland Lop.

“It is the hardest breed to work with,” Chan insists. “I have not had much success with them. When they have babies, I will only get two or three babies (compared to other breeds which can produce between six and eight babies a litter),” he says.

Chan’s rabbits occupy a room in his home in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, which he shares with his wife, Mary Anne Chan, 31, and their three-year-old daughter, Bethany. Mary Anne, a kindergarten teacher, shares her husband’s fondness for rabbits, and enjoys tending to their brood.

Each rabbit has its own cage complete with toys, a food bowl, drinking bowl and a litter tray. The litter tray helps in keeping their living quarters clean. “I’m very particular about cleanliness when it comes to my rabbits because they’re part of my family,” says Chan.

Timothy Hay is the staple food for domestic pet rabbits. A perennial grass native to Europe, it makes excellent fodder for horses and rabbits. It is probably named after Timothy Hanson, an American farmer who is said to have introduced the hay to the southern states in the early 18th century.

“It is a must to feed rabbits hay due to the complexity of the animal’s digestive system. The last thing we want is a blockage in the digestive tract. Timothy Hay helps in gut motility,” Chan explains.

He also feeds his bunnies rabbit pellets which are Timothy Hay-based (for fibre) or alfalfa-based. The pellets act as fillers so that the rabbits will not have empty stomachs. The high quality pellets provide all the necessary nutrients needed.

“I give them a pinch of rolled oats occasionally as treats,” adds Chan.

If you’re wondering about carrots for rabbits, Chan says: “It’s a common misconception to think that rabbits only eat carrots. Carrots have high sugar content and too much of that could lead to obesity. Carrots should be given as a treat; they are not meant to be a staple.”

Lettuce and other vegetables such as kangkung which contain too much water must not be given to young rabbits below six months as that may cause diarrhoea, Chan cautions.

For older rabbits, everything should be in moderation. Green leafy vegetables are the best.

Rabbits must have clean water at all times, Chan advises.

“I prefer to give water in a bowl instead of in water bottles. They tend to drink less through water bottles because they need to work harder to lick the ball bearing to get the water out.”

Lifespan

Some rabbits live up to 12 years but on average, a Holland Lop can live up to between four and seven years.

Rabbits can be easily trained to use the litter tray. Chan says some of his friends fix their own litter box and the rabbits are left to roam the whole house.

Bathing is a big no-no for rabbits.

“It’s done as a last resort if the rabbits are very dirty. However, they can have a powdered bath. But generally, rabbits get stressed out when they are being bathed. They are very clean animals by nature. I do not bathe my rabbits and I do not encourage others to do so.”

The dawn of the Year of the Rabbit may see a rise in folks buying rabbits as pets for themselves or to give to their loved ones.

Chan, an advocate of responsible pet ownership, expresses concern over this anticipated fad.

“Parents should be aware of the responsibilities of taking a new pet rabbit home. Children may get bored after a while and parents have to encourage and re-ignite the child’s interest,” says Chan, adding that parents should consider if they really want a rabbit to be part of the family.

He hopes that there will not be a situation where pet rabbits are being released to fend for themselves in urban areas or in parks when owners get bored with them.

“Parents play a big role in nurturing a child’s interest. They also make the best support group a child needs to sustain this hobby. Rabbits need our time and care, too.

“Some of my customers tell me that their rabbits keep them company by lying down next to them while they work on their computer,” says Chan. “They also run towards their owners when they hear them opening the fridge before begging for a treat!”

So how does Chan bond with his rabbits?

“I spend quality time with them. I play with them, take photos of them, and let them roam in the house. They have been trained to respond when called.”

Does Chan know of any superstitions surrounding rabbits?

“Er ... keeping a rabbit’s tail for good luck?” he quips. “I hope no one starts chopping off rabbit tails after this!”

On June 4, the Malaysian Rabbit Owners’ Club, headed by Timothy Chan, will be holding a rabbit show (pedigree and non-pedigree) in conjunction with Pet World Malaysia 2011. A judge from the United States will be flown in for the show. For updates, log on to mroc.wordpress.com