The Velveteen Lop was started by Virginia Menden of California during the 1980’s. It has been a difficult process over the years to get the long English Lop type ears and mandolin type to combine with the Rex fur gene. There are still struggles today within the breed to get this and to stay within the weight limit. But with proper culling and selection it can be achieved. This part of the American Velveteen Lop Rabbit Club Guide is to help new and old breeders and judges know what to look for.

            No matter who you talk to there will always be a debate on what weather and area of the country is best for the breed. From living in Indiana my whole life and raising rabbits since 1997, raising over 14 different breeds, being a ARBA Registrar, I have learned a lot talking to a lot of the older breeders. One thing I can say that I have learned from all the lop breeders and even raising Holland Lops, Mini Lops, English Lops and the Velveteen Lops is that the babies born and raised in cooler weather months have shorter and thicker ears than the babies born in warm weather. One way I have combated this, I give credit to the Mini Lop couple Hobart and Judy Todd here in Indiana for this, is by putting a heat lamp with a timer over the litters in winter. I also o not breed during the extreme heat due to chance of losing does and ears being too thin in texture.

            Culling which is the most difficult topic. Everyone has their own way of culling, but everyone needs to be aware of what they are buying and if it conforms to the standard. It never hurts to ask for a second opinion on any animal. For myself, I will always list the good and the bad on any animal of mine, I will also not buy an animal I cannot physically put my hands on prior to sending money. I know with this day and age of the internet, facebook and other sites people are more inclined to buy animals this way especially if there is not a breeder around them. But I have drove 8 or more hours to pick up rabbits. Again, I know not everyone can do that or would want to, but that is how dedicated I am not only to my rabbits but breeds I love which are the Velveteen Lop and the Dutch. If anyone has any questions they are always welcome to contact me about anything, I have nothing to hide.

 

 

No matter what standards you look at, the point standings are the same.

General Type……………………………………………………………………71

            Body…………………………………………………………………….35

            Head…………………………………………………………………….10

            Feet, Legs & Bone…………………………………………………5

            Ears……………………………………………………………………….21

                        Length, width, position……………………………..7

                        Substance and Shape………………………………..7

                        Texture and Condition………………………………7

Fur……………………………………………………………………………………20

Color & Markings……………………………………………………………..4

Condition………………………………………………………………………….5

            Total Points…………………………………………………………..100

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General Type

 

General Type is 71 points. This makes it top priority over anything else. Lets break it down.

Body………………………………………….35

 

This is where posing is critical. The front feet should be lined up with the eyes and the hind feet lined up with the hip. It should show the rise at the back of the shoulders, the mandolin type, and not at the back of the neck, what the compact and commercial breeds show. If the back of the feet are set too far back the animal will look like it slopes off and too long in type. If the hind feet are set too far forward it will look like it is under cut, not full to the table and hollow in the midsection. If the front feet are too far forward it will make it look too long in the shoulder. If the front feet are set too far back then the animal will look like it has no shoulder. The combination of the front and hind feet can also make the animal look like it peaks too far forward or too far back which will make the hindquarters look flat.

 

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Head…………………………………………………….10

The head should be well shaped, moderately full cheeks and tapering into a wide muzzle and should have a curvature when viewed from the side profile. What that means is it should look like an English Lop head, or what is called a roman nose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feet, Legs and Bone………………………………..5

The legs are to be medium bone, this will help support the animals weight. If the animal is fine in bone then they will have a higher risk of getting sore hocks and if the animal has a heavy bone then they run the risk of going over weight with age. This is where knowing your lines will also help with these issues.

 

Ears………………………………………………………….21

            Length, width position…………………...7

            Substance and Shape……………………7

            Texture and Condition…………………...7

 

Depending on who’s standards you look at depends on the ear length. Mary Crawford of Texas had it at 14 inches tip to tip for juniors and seniors. Lorrie Stillo had it 15 inches tip to tip for juniors and seniors. Mine, I call for 14 inches tip to tip for seniors, by suggestion of the standards committee a minimum of 11 inches tip to tip for juniors. The reason behind that being to not only one be able to show juniors at a younger age but also a junior with really long ears at three months old does not look balanced at all.

The position should be carried low on the head with no noticeable crown and hang loose and close to the body. The width of the ears should be approximately ¼ of the total length of the ear. The length should be balanced with the body.

The substance and shape of the ears should be uniformly thick and yet thin enough to maintain a longitudinal crease in the ears. The tips should be well rounded.

The texture and condition of the ears are to be very soft, smooth and pliable. All parts of the ears should be free from tears, pimples and blemishes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So on the over general type, body is the most important and then the ears. Again the points are: Body is 35 point (49%), Head is 10 points (14%), Feet, Legs & Bone is 5 points (7%), and Ears is 21 points (30%).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fur……………………………………………………..20

The fur should be dense, straight and upright with the ideal length being 5/8 inch. It should look and feel extremely smooth and even. When pressed down on you should not see a hand print in the coat. If your fur has a silky texture it will destroy the density or the springiness to the fur.

 

Color & Markings………………………………4

Color should conform to the Lop Color Guide found in the ARBA Standards of Perfection. A hint to everyone, Caster is another name for Chestnut. I also look at the rex and mini rex color guides to help decide what color is what at times because the fur is so short. But the Velveteen Lop does follow the Lop Color Guide and whatever color is in there we are allowed to show.

 

Condition…………………………………………5

Per ARBA definition.