Lionhead is a breed of

domestic rabbit The domestic rabbit (''Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus'') is the domestication, domesticated form of the European rabbit, a member of the lagomorph order. A male rabbit is known as a ''buck,'' a female as a ''doe,'' and a young rabbit as a ''k ...

recognized by the

British Rabbit Council The British Rabbit Council (BRC) is an organisation for rabbit enthusiasts in the United Kingdom. Rabbits are the UK's third most popular pet. History The British Rabbit Council was formed in 1934 when the British Rabbit Society and the National ...

(BRC) and by the

American Rabbit Breeders Association The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) is a national club for domestic rabbits and cavy breeders. The ARBA is headquartered in Knox, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Its membership is composed of rabbit and cavy exhibitors, commer ...

(ARBA). The Lionhead rabbit has a wool mane encircling the head, reminiscent of a male

lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...

as its name implies. Other Lionhead characteristics include a high head mount, compact upright body type, short well-furred 2- to -inch ears, and a weight of 2.5 to 3.75 pounds.

History

The Lionhead rabbit originated in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

; although it is not recognized by the French Federation of Cuniculture. It is reported to have been produced by breeders trying to breed a long-coated

dwarf rabbit Dwarf rabbit refers either (formally) to a rabbit with the dwarfing gene, or (informally) to any small breed of domestic rabbit or specimen thereof, or (colloquially) to any small rabbit. Dwarfism is a genetic condition that may occur in humans a ...

by crossing a miniature Swiss Fox and a

Netherland dwarf The Netherland Dwarf is a breed of domestic rabbit that originated in the Netherlands. Weighing , the Netherland Dwarf is one of the smallest rabbit breeds. Its popularity as a pet or show rabbit may stem from its neotenic appearance. The Nethe ...

. This resulted in a genetic mutation causing wool to appear around the head and on the flanks. This gene has come to be known as the "mane" gene. There are many other reports similar to this, for example, that the lionhead has been bred from a

Netherland Dwarf The Netherland Dwarf is a breed of domestic rabbit that originated in the Netherlands. Weighing , the Netherland Dwarf is one of the smallest rabbit breeds. Its popularity as a pet or show rabbit may stem from its neotenic appearance. The Nethe ...

and a

Jersey Wooly The Jersey Wooly is a breed of domestic rabbit weighing about 3 pounds with a bold head and wool fur on their body. Typically, the mane is thick, woolly and soft with evident "crimping". Depending on the number of genes a Lionhead gets from each parent, it can have a double mane (two mane genes) or a single mane (one mane gene). A double mane Lionhead will have a noticeable V form around their skirt/flanks, while a single mane will look like a common rabbit directly after birth. Past then, many factors contribute to how much mane each individual actually ends up having including chewing on the mane by themselves or others and matts.

Single maned

Single mane Lionhead rabbits only have one copy of the mane gene. These Lionheads typically do not hold a mane for their entire lifetime, if it develops at all. They have a mane that can be around its head, ears, chin and sometimes on the chest and rump. The mane may be wispy and thin and may disappear on some rabbits altogether as they mature. Single maned Lionheads are usually the product of a Purebred Double mane Lionhead being bred to a rabbit of another breed in order to strengthen a particular characteristic, or to introduce a particular color into the Lionhead breed. Kits born without a copy of the mane gene are called "no maned."

Temperament and bonding

In most cases the Lionhead is a friendly and well mannered pet, although they can be quite skittish if they don't feel safe. It is possible to train a Lionhead as they are very smart creatures. They can comprehend certain orders such as, come, play, and eat. Clicker training is now becoming popular. Lionhead rabbits can be litter trained, and make suitable house rabbits. As with all rabbits, Lionheads should be kept in pairs at the very least as they are very sociable creatures. Extra care must be taken when introducing or attempting to bond a Lionhead with another rabbit, especially another Lionhead. These rabbits can be aggressive and prone to attacks when they feel threatened or scared.

References

External links

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The Lionhead Rabbit – Complete Guide & Top Facts
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lionhead Rabbit Rabbit breeds Rabbit breeds originating in the United States Rabbits as pets

History

Single maned

Temperament and bonding

See also

References

External links