American Fuzzy Lop
A compact, wool-coated lop rabbit developed in the United States in the 1980s.
Origin
The American Fuzzy Lop grew out of Holland Lop breeding in the United States. Breeders who wanted broken (white-and-color) Holland Lops crossed them with English Spots, but the offspring lost the Holland’s rollback coat, so French Angoras were brought in to restore it, and with them came a recessive wool gene. Wool-coated "fuzzy" Hollands began turning up in litters. Patty Greene-Karl recognized that the trait was recessive and set out to develop these rabbits as a breed of their own, first presenting them at the 1985 ARBA Convention. Sources differ slightly on the year of final recognition: the breed club’s history gives 1988, while ARBA’s own breed page says 1989.
Typical Adult Size
A small breed. The ARBA standard sets a maximum of 4 pounds (about 1.8 kg) for adults, with around 3½ pounds (about 1.6 kg) generally regarded as ideal. The body is short, deep and well rounded, with a large head set close to the shoulders.
Coat Type
Wool rather than ordinary fur. Adult wool is dense, ideally about 2 inches (5 cm) long, and carries a good share of coarser guard hairs, which makes it easier to keep than a true Angora coat. The ears are covered in normal short fur. Young rabbits have a softer, more Angora-like coat that tangles easily until the adult wool comes in at around six months.
Colors
American Fuzzy Lops come in a wide range of colors and are shown in two broad groups: solid colors, and "broken" rabbits, in which an accepted color is combined with white. The list of showable colors has grown over the years, so the breed club is the best place to check the current standard.
Temperament
Often described as sweet-natured, curious and lively. ARBA calls the breed sweet tempered and energetic, and it is popular with first-time exhibitors and experienced breeders alike. As with any rabbit, gentle, regular handling from a young age makes a real difference.
Grooming and Care
The wool is the main commitment. A thorough brushing or combing at least once a week, and more often during a molt or while the junior coat is changing, helps prevent mats, especially around the hindquarters and under the chin. Many owners keep the wool trimmed around the rear for cleanliness. Because rabbits swallow loose fiber when they groom themselves, plenty of hay and fresh water matter especially for a wooled breed.
Distinctive Features
The look of a Holland Lop in a woolly coat: a round, bold head with a flat face and almost no visible neck, short, thick ears that hang close to the cheeks, and a compact, rounded body wrapped in wool.
What Makes It Notable
The American Fuzzy Lop offers a taste of the Angora world in a much smaller, more manageable rabbit. Its story is also a fine example of patient breeding: a surprise that appeared in Holland Lop litters was shaped, over years of careful work, into a recognized breed of its own.