The French Lop is an impressive rabbit breed that immediately stands out due to its long, drooping ears and powerful build. This breed originated in France, where it was developed in the 19th century by breeding larger lop-eared varieties. Originally, the French Lop was bred for its size, but today it is mainly loved as a calm companion rabbit. With its broad head, sturdy body and soft, dense coat, it has a very friendly appearance. The temperament of the French Lop is generally gentle, social and relaxed. Despite its large size, this breed is often very calm, making it a great choice for people looking for an affectionate and well-balanced rabbit. The coat is short to medium-long and comes in a wide variety of colours and patterns. Because of its size, the French Lop needs plenty of space, good nutrition and regular care.
The French Lop originally comes from France, as its name suggests. In the second half of the 19th century, it was further developed by crossing larger lop-eared varieties with robust rabbit breeds. The goal was to create a strongly built rabbit with the characteristic drooping ears. This targeted breeding resulted in a large, powerful rabbit with long, hanging ears and a calm look. In the early days, the breed was mainly kept as a meat rabbit, thanks to its size and good growth rate. Later, the breed gained increasing recognition within rabbit breeding and at shows, where it was valued for its impressive appearance. Today, the French Lop is best known as a calm and social companion rabbit that—when given the right care and enough space—can be a wonderful little buddy.
The French Lop is known for its calm, gentle and well-balanced temperament. This breed is generally friendly and easy-going, which suits its imposing yet soft appearance. French Lops are often social and, when properly socialised, can live happily with other rabbits. They are true companion rabbits and regularly seek contact with their caretaker. When they feel safe, they may show very affectionate behaviour. Compared to more active or playful breeds, the French Lop is usually a bit less energetic. They like to take their time observing their surroundings and move thoughtfully through their living space. This doesn’t mean they don’t need exercise, but they generally benefit more from calm, free movement than from intense play. Thanks to their stable nature, they tend to handle stress reasonably well, although a steady environment and a gentle approach are always important. Because of their soft temperament, they are especially suitable for people looking for a patient and reliable companion rabbit and who can offer enough space. With sufficient attention and a safe living environment, they develop into relaxed and social housemates.
A French Lop lives an average of 5 to 8 years. Some rabbits reach an older age, especially when they are well cared for, get enough exercise and receive regular preventive check-ups from a rabbit-savvy vet. Due to their heavy body weight, French Lops are more prone to joint problems, which can affect their lifespan. Unfortunately, it also happens quite often that a French Lop does not live beyond around 5 years.
A French Lop’s diet is essentially the same as that of other rabbits. It should mainly consist of unlimited hay, supplemented with fresh vegetables, a limited amount of high-quality pellets and a daily portion of dried herbs. Because of their size, it’s extra important to prevent overweight and to be careful with pellets and treats.
Since nutrition is a key part of health, for a complete and clear overview we refer you to our extensive blog: “What can rabbits eat?“
Although the French Lop has a calm and friendly nature, there are a few important points to consider:
Because of their size and weight, medical handling, such as giving medication, can sometimes be a bit more challenging. The extra weight can make rabbits more resistant. That’s why it’s important to calmly get a French Lop used to handling from a young age and to practise touches and actions that may be useful later on.
All of these disadvantages are manageable, but they do require preparation and involvement from you as an owner.
Yes, a French Lop can certainly be kept indoors, provided you can offer enough space. Think of a spacious indoor enclosure combined with a large run, or a safe room where the rabbit can roam freely. Sufficient free-roam time is essential so the rabbit can truly run and show natural behaviour, such as doing binkies. Due to its size, a small run of, for example, two metres simply isn’t enough. Non-slip surfaces are important to prevent slipping and injuries. Indoors too, a French Lop should never be kept alone, but always with another rabbit.
The French Lop is a large rabbit breed. Adult rabbits usually weigh between 4.5 and 7 kg, and some individuals can become even heavier. They are also clearly larger than medium-sized and dwarf rabbits in both length and height—think of a body length of about 35 to 45 cm. This means you’ll need extra spacious housing, larger furnishings and plenty of room to move.
The average price of a French Lop is between €50 and €120. This depends on factors such as origin, age, and whether the rabbit has been vaccinated and checked.
Please note: a lower price isn’t always better value. A responsible breeder pays attention to early socialisation and the health of the parent animals, which reduces the risk of hereditary issues. In addition, French Lops are regularly available through rabbit rescues, which can be a lovely and responsible choice.
No. No rabbit should be kept alone.
Rabbits are highly social animals and need contact with their own kind. A rabbit living alone can feel lonely and unhappy, which may show in stress or behaviour problems. More tips on keeping rabbits happy can be found here.
The question “being alone” can also be interpreted differently: can a rabbit stay home alone? That’s a different story. A French Lop can be fine on its own for a few hours or a day, as long as it lives with a companion and has enough hay, water and space. Living alone permanently is never suitable.
Yes, absolutely. A French Lop can live well with a dwarf rabbit, as long as they are introduced carefully and a suitable match is made. Character, sex and age are more important than size. In general, the best and most stable combination is a neutered male with a spayed female, as this significantly reduces the risk of territorial behaviour, dominance and hormonal tension.
Many rabbit rescues offer professional bonding and help create the right pairing. They take behaviour and compatibility into account, which increases the chance of a stable, harmonious relationship and helps prevent problems later on.
The French Lop is a large and heavy rabbit breed, significantly bigger than smaller rabbit breeds. Housing and care must therefore always take its size and related exercise needs into account. In addition, the French Lo, like all rabbits, is a true social animal. It should never be kept alone, but always together with one or more rabbit companions.
A standard rabbit hutch is almost always too small for a French Lop. Openings are often too narrow and don’t provide enough comfort for easy movement in and out of the hutch. In a suitable enclosure, the rabbit should be able to sit upright and lie stretched out. Enough space to move is essential: a run of at least 2 to 3 m² is truly necessary for this breed. Because of its size, the French Lop reaches the end of a small run in just a few steps, making running and natural behaviour hardly possible. More space and regular free-roam time are therefore important.
The setup of the enclosure also needs extra attention. The entrances of the hutch, hiding places, tunnels and the toilet area should all be sized appropriately. In practice, this often means you’ll need XL accessories or even items intended for large cats. When a French Lop is kept indoors, it’s important to provide a spacious indoor enclosure combined with a large run or a room where it can move around safely. Pay close attention to non-slip flooring to help prevent slipping and joint problems.
Always make sure (indoors and outdoors) that you provide:
Because of its large body mass, the French Lop is more sensitive to overheating. In summer, it’s therefore important to always provide enough shade and fresh air. In winter, the rabbit should be able to sit off the ground, and a draught-free, well-insulated shelter is essential.
Grooming a French Lop requires extra attention due to its size and specific physical features. Because of its weight, it’s important to maintain a healthy body condition and provide enough exercise so the joints aren’t unnecessarily strained. A balanced diet is the foundation.
The long lop ears of the French Lop also deserve special attention. They often touch the ground, especially while eating, resting or exploring the enclosure. This means they can get dirty or wet more quickly, increasing the risk of ear infections. Make sure the ground is clean and dry, and check the ears regularly for dirt, small wounds or signs of irritation. If there is persistent redness, a bad smell or a lot of ear wax, it’s wise to consult a vet.
It’s also important to vaccinate rabbits on time against common and serious diseases such as RHD (VHD) and myxomatosis. Which vaccinations are needed and how often they should be repeated is explained in our detailed blog: Vaccinating your rabbit against myxomatosis and VHD.
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A healthy and happy rabbit starts with the right nutrition. Did you know that an improper diet can lead to dental issues, digestive problems, and even illness? By providing the correct diet for your rabbits, you can prevent many of these issues. But what can they eat and what should be avoided? In this article, you’ll discover everything about a well-balanced diet for rabbits, from tasty hay and fresh vegetables to herbs and responsible treats.
Like dogs and cats, you can house train your rabbit. Many rabbits naturally pick one certain spot to do their business. You can make it easier for yourself by placing a rabbit toilet in this place. There are also rabbits that do their business in the entire enclosure. These rabbits might be harder to house train.
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