Holland Lop Question – New Bunny!

[Daisy Rey]

Hi All,

My amazingly sweet and lovable Violet passed a few weeks ago and miss her company terribly. She was sort of like a lap dog bunny. She loved affection and was at my heels all the time. I am going to get another bunny because I truly miss the company; I am pretty sure these amazing little creatures could be considered “therapy animals”! 

I found a breeder who is very (and I mean very) committed to her buns! I’ve selected a bunny who is currently 7 weeks old. She is a Holland Lop (we have two other Holland Lops who are a bonded pair – pretty much inseparable, but that’s another story). In any case, at one point I heard the fuzzy Hollands were more affectionate. My anecdotal evidence is that is the case. However, I’ve only ever met two fuzzies, both of whom were extremely affectionate. The breeder says that it’s more related to how you interact with the bunny when they are babies (i.e., if the breeder handles them and they are used to being pet, etc.) and how the new bunny parent(s) handle them. I’m not convinced…

So, first – is there a temperamental difference between a “regular” Holland and a “fuzzy” Holland? Second, while I know no bunny can replace my Violet, I really do want a bunny who will be affectionate – so, are there any tricks to that or is the behavior so innate it can’t shaped? 

TIA! 

[Asriel and Bombur]

There really is no breed standard personality despite what the internet says. I have a Holland who is very affection and always wants attention and is very much the typical “docile” Holland you read about online. The other Holland I have is very independent and shy and doesn’t really enjoy much affection except for laying next to each other. I’ve had both for well over a year, from the same breeder, handled the same amount both by me+hubs and breeder. They just have different personalities. Likewise, there are several members on this forum that have Nethies that are extremely sassy, when you look at the breed standard online they’re supposedly timid and shy. I think that’s the risk you take with any bunny. It could be your standard non-cuddle bun or it could be extremely affectionate. Every bunny is different, whether or not it’s been consistently handled or not. You can’t handle or train a personality out of a bunny, it’s just honestly who they are.

[kurottabun]

I agree with A&B. I think those standards may have been the initial standards in breeding a particular bunny breed, but after all these years it has probably changed. It’s the same as how certain dogs were bred to hunt but a lot of them has lost that instinct and are very much docile now.

[Daisy Rey]

Posted By Asriel and Bombur on 8/30/2018 7:10 AM

There really is no breed standard personality despite what the internet says. I have a Holland who is very affection and always wants attention and is very much the typical “docile” Holland you read about online. The other Holland I have is very independent and shy and doesn’t really enjoy much affection except for laying next to each other. I’ve had both for well over a year, from the same breeder, handled the same amount both by me+hubs and breeder. They just have different personalities. Likewise, there are several members on this forum that have Nethies that are extremely sassy, when you look at the breed standard online they’re supposedly timid and shy. I think that’s the risk you take with any bunny. It could be your standard non-cuddle bun or it could be extremely affectionate. Every bunny is different, whether or not it’s been consistently handled or not. You can’t handle or train a personality out of a bunny, it’s just honestly who they are.

Thank you so much – I that’s been my experience, I just wanted to make sure that by getting a Holland who isn’t <g class="gr_ gr_203 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="203" data-gr-id="203">a fuzzy</g>, I wasn't risking getting a potentially less affectionate bunny. I hope that makes sense. Hoping she's going to be able to tolerate my <g class="gr_ gr_270 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Style multiReplace" id="270" data-gr-id="270">attention&nbsp;</g><img src="/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/BB_Theme/emoticons/biggrin.gif"><g class="gr_ gr_270 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Style multiReplace" id="270" data-gr-id="270">!</g>&nbsp;</p>

[Daisy Rey]

Thank you so much – I that’s been my experience, I just wanted to make sure that by getting a Holland who isn’t <g class="gr_ gr_5 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="5" data-gr-id="5">a fuzzy</g>, I wasn't risking getting a potentially less affectionate bunny. I hope that makes sense. Hoping she's going to be able to tolerate my&nbsp;<g class="gr_ gr_6 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Style multiReplace" id="6" data-gr-id="6">attention&nbsp;</g><img src="https://www.binkybunny.com/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/BB_Theme/emoticons/biggrin.gif"><g class="gr_ gr_6 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Style multiReplace" id="6" data-gr-id="6">!</g>&nbsp;<br>

[Daisy Rey]

Sorry for the strange replies – not sure why it included code! 

Thanks for your answers – it’s pretty much what I expected. The breeder says she’s very sweet – hopefully, that’s the case! She’s super cute – just have to hope she wants to cuddle! 

Thanks again; I appreciate your expertise! 

[joea64]

My own two, Panda (mom) and Fernando (son), have distinctly contrasting personalities. Fernando is a lively, playful, often mischievous bun who loves to binky, chew, and even nip, and who is the more outgoing and pet-accepting of the two. Panda is a generally quiet, shy, reserved rabbit who loves best snuggling up in one of the hidey boxes and generally (though not always – she accepted pets this morning at breakfast time) shies away from being petted or caressed by a human, though she and Fernando are very loving with one another.

[Asriel and Bombur]

I think if you do end up with a non-cuddler, it’s good to just be mindful and respect their space. A lot of non-cuddlers tend to be on the shy and more timid side. So just walking gently when you’re near her and just ignoring her when you’re on the floor with her and not trying to pet her will do wonders. Basically instead of you being the one to make all the moves, just let her do her own thing and eventually she’ll feel comfortable enough to come up to you. I know it’s going to be so difficult.

When I first had my boys I just wanted to love on them all the time. Bombur was all about that, and Asriel just wasn’t. After a few months of him being terrified by the sight of my hand, I just started ignoring him. I sat on the floor while hubs and I watched netflix and I wouldn’t even acknowledge him. Eventually he started climbing on me, but still wasn’t interested in pets. I had him about 8 months when he finally wanted pets, and even now that it’s been a year and a half, he’s still very much a no go with petting. You’ll go to touch him and he hops away immediately. He’s very gentle and requires being slowly approached and sniffing your fingers before allowing some head rubs (and head rubs only xD). The best way we “cuddle” or bond is just laying nose to nose, obviously not right nose to nose, but at least 6 inches apart just enjoying each others company. Sometimes he’ll lay on my chest and want to be rubbed, but that’s very rare.

Just my experience if that’ll help. But basically just respect their space and their wishes or obviously she’ll feel scared and it’ll take a lot longer than if you just do it in the first place

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