Mini Lop Standard
This information is taken from the American Mini Lop Rabbit Club Guide Book and Color Guide. The Guide Book and Color Guide is complimentary with any American Mini Lop Rabbit Club paid membership, or it can be purchased by contacting the AMLRC Secretary. The Guide Book and Color Guide is a great tool for any breeder. It includes exceptional detail, and color pictures, on Mini Lop colors. It also includes articles written by experienced Mini Lop breeders sharing their knowledge and expertise on the breed.
Senior Bucks and Senior Does are 6 months of age and older. The maximum show weight for a senior Mini Lop is 6 1/2 pounds.
Junior Bucks and Junior Does are under 6 months of age. The minimum show weight for a junior Mini Lop is 3 pounds; the maximum show weight for a junior is 6 pounds.
Mini Lops may not be shown in a higher or lower age classification than the rabbit's true age; animals under 6 months must be shown in junior classes and animals 6 months and older must be shown in senior classes.
The most important element when showing Mini Lops is that they are properly posed when being evaluated. A proper pose includes the following: toes of the front feet are just under the cheeks and even with the eyes; toes of the rear feet will be even with the haunch or thigh joints. A proper pose ensures the means for accurate evaluation of the rabbit.
General Type
Based on the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) Standard for Mini Lops, points are assigned to various body elements of the rabbit. These point designations assist rabbit judges, and breeders, in determining which rabbits best meet the standard. The ultimate point total is 100 = 43 (body) + 20 (head) + 12 (ears and crown) + 5 (feet, legs, bone) + 10 (fur) + 5 (color, markings) + 5 (condition).
Body: 43 points
Mini Lops should have a massive, thick-set body. Shoulders should be broad, with good depth. The overall body should be well-filled, rising to a slightly heavier hindquarter that is broad, deep, smooth, and rounded, with the lower hips being well-filled. There should be a gradual widening from the shoulder to the hindquarters. The body should be heavily muscled, firm, compact, and balanced. A dew lap is permitted in does and should balance with the rabbit.
Body Faults:
Long. Narrow/parallel. Flat over the shoulder or hips. Chopped off at the hindquarter. Undercut at the hindquarter. Large dew lap on does.
Head: 20 points
The head should be strong and sturdy. It should not be too narrow. The head should be closely set on the shoulders, with the neck as short as possible. The crown should be boldly arched. There should be a slight curvature of the skull from the base of the crown toward the nose. The bold head should balance with the body.
Head Faults:
Long. Narrow. Pointed nose.
Ears and Crown: 12 points
Ears should be well placed on top of the head, rising from a strong basal ridge. Ears should lop vertically on both sides of the head. Ears should hang close to the cheeks with ear openings turned toward the head. There should be no creases in the ears. The ears and crown should resemble a horseshoe shape. Length and width of the ears should be proportionate and balance with the head and body. Ears should be well furred and well rounded at the bottom of the ear.
Ear and Crown Faults:
Poor ear carriage. . .crown slipped back toward the shoulder so the ears hang back and away from the face. Narrow ears. Thin ears. Folds in the ears. Ear openings turned away from the head. Thinly furred ears.
Feet, Legs, and Bone: 5 points
Legs should be thick, short, and straight, with heavy bone. Toenails in the Broken Pattern group may be either light or dark; a difference in pigmentation between the front and back feet is permitted however all front toenails should match and all rear toenails should match.
Feet, Legs, and Bone Faults:
Mismatched toenails in the Broken Pattern group. Fine bone.
Feet, Legs, and bone Disqualifications:
General toenail color disqualifications apply to all Solid Pattern animals.
Fur: 10 points
Mini Lops are to have rollback fur. The coat should be glossy, lustrous, uniform, medium in length, very thick and dense with good rollback.
Fur Faults:
Silky fur. Long and harsh fur. Long and thin fur. Extremely short fur.
Color and Markings: 5 points
Color is to be considered only when all other points on the rabbits are equal.
Eye color should conform to the description specified in the color guide.
Solid pattern is to include all recognized colors within the recognized groups.
The Broken Pattern is to include any recognized color with white. A full nose "butterfly" pattern of color outlined in white on the muzzle of the rabbit. Solid color circles around each eye. Solid color ears are preferred. Feet should be white. Elbow patches are desirable. Reaar feet may be white, colored, or partially colored. Distribution of color and marking points for the Broken Pattern are 2 1/2 points for color and 2 1/2 points for markings.
Color and Markings Faults:
Excessive white hairs in the Solid Pattern group. Partial nose butterfly or partial eye circles in the Broken Pattern group. Brokens with so much color on the face that it makes the body markings indistinct will be slightly faulted.
Color and Markings Disqualifications from Competition:
Unmatched eyes. Foreign colored spots in the eyes. Total absence of head markings in the Broken Pattern group animals. Brokens with less than 10% coloration.
Condition: 5 points
Appearance of health and vigor. Bold, bright eyes. Animals should have a good, healthy coat. Animals should have firm flesh, not too soft or too flabby, and not too thin and bony. Flesh should be deep and even over the entire body.