SOME TIPS ON BUYING A QUALITY HOLLAND LOP (for newbies)
Hollands are a tricky and challenging breed to work with. When you're starting out it can be just as challenging to find a good breeder and quality stock as well. Your best bet is to first of all learn the standard for the breed so you know what to look for. Not all breeders are honest unfortunately, nor are all breeders knowledgeable enough to be able to tell a buyer what they're selling them. Learn the standard for your breed and it will be a far better outcome as you will know what you're looking at:)
Just because a rabbit is higher priced does not always mean it's better quality. There are breeders who just breed and sell with little to no knowledge themselves and charge a high price tag which fools new breeders into thinking they're buying quality. If you know the standard you can save yourself the heartache since you will be able to tell yourself. Also, just because a rabbit is priced on the lower end doesn't mean the quality is less either. For the most part tho, a quality animal is going to cost you. Doing research and learning the holland lop standard is highly recommended.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- Can the breeder tell me the faults and attributes (type wise) of the rabbit with correct terminology? Just telling you a holland is "cute" or "nice" should not be the only buying/selling factor.
If they don't know how to assess the holland lop they are trying to sell you then they likely don't know
the standard themselves.
- Can the breeder show me posed pictures of the rabbit? As current as possible.
- Can the breeder tell me how their lines develop? (If they have their own line)
If possible, buy adults. You can NOT tell what a baby will mature like! Again, because it's so important, you can NOT tell what a baby with look like as an adult. That's why breeders grow them out to a certain age. If the breeder you're buying from is selling babies, claiming quality show or even breeding stock, they're either not educated on the breed or don't care to know any better and you're taking a very large risk. Most all baby holland lops look amazing. That amazing baby you just spent your hard earned money on before it was even weaned can, and most likely will, turn into a pet quality rabbit if you buy from a breeder who only sells, and markets their babies. * The exception to this rule is the breeder who has had their own line for years(or worked with other lines long enough) and knows the line(s) like the back of their hand. These breeders have been at it a great many years so can ,with accuracy, tell what their own barn will do for the most part when growing.*
It's best to buy from the same breeder and linebreed if at all possible. Rabbits that have been linebred don't always meld well with other lines, so if you buy some here, some there, and still more from way over there, it will take you longer to get anything consistent when you start breeding them yourself. Each breeder's line is unique in it's own way of developing and with it's own "look". Do your research on breeders stock. What "look" gets your attention most and that you feel drawn to?
Choose a color variety you would like to start with before you buy your first holland. Ending up with unshowable hollands because of color when first starting can be frustrating. It's better to know ahead of time the variety you want to work with than end up with a genetic mess before you even get your feet wet. Hollands are challenging enough as it is.
A pedigree is a paper showing the rabbit's lineage. Generations, color, weight etc. It does not mean that a particular rabbit is of any quality. (Unless you're buying from a longtime breeder with their own lines you most likely will be). There is certainly quality in particular lines. There are plenty of pet breeders who sell babies with pedigrees tho, thinking it will bring in extra money, so again, do your own research on breeders.
GO TO A SHOW!
If at all possible go to a show where you can see quality animals up close. Perhaps even ask a breeder if they would mind showing you their rabbit that just placed well. Placing your hands on a quality holland that is posed can help immensely in what to work towards. Talk to breeders, rabbit people are wonderful, and most enjoy talking about their own hollands, and may give you some tips on what qualities to look for when buying.
Finding a mentor before you buy can also help. You won't learn everything overnight and the best breeders keep an open mind to learning and never stop. That's part of what makes this hobby so interesting!
There is no perfect holland lop tho. so keep that in mind. One of your goals should be to improve your stock with each generation. When a small goal it met consider it large when breeding holland lops, they ARE difficult and challenging. When you have bought your first holland(s). Enjoy them! Learn more about them, and allow them to teach you also.
Hollands are a tricky and challenging breed to work with. When you're starting out it can be just as challenging to find a good breeder and quality stock as well. Your best bet is to first of all learn the standard for the breed so you know what to look for. Not all breeders are honest unfortunately, nor are all breeders knowledgeable enough to be able to tell a buyer what they're selling them. Learn the standard for your breed and it will be a far better outcome as you will know what you're looking at:)
Just because a rabbit is higher priced does not always mean it's better quality. There are breeders who just breed and sell with little to no knowledge themselves and charge a high price tag which fools new breeders into thinking they're buying quality. If you know the standard you can save yourself the heartache since you will be able to tell yourself. Also, just because a rabbit is priced on the lower end doesn't mean the quality is less either. For the most part tho, a quality animal is going to cost you. Doing research and learning the holland lop standard is highly recommended.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- Can the breeder tell me the faults and attributes (type wise) of the rabbit with correct terminology? Just telling you a holland is "cute" or "nice" should not be the only buying/selling factor.
If they don't know how to assess the holland lop they are trying to sell you then they likely don't know
the standard themselves.
- Can the breeder show me posed pictures of the rabbit? As current as possible.
- Can the breeder tell me how their lines develop? (If they have their own line)
If possible, buy adults. You can NOT tell what a baby will mature like! Again, because it's so important, you can NOT tell what a baby with look like as an adult. That's why breeders grow them out to a certain age. If the breeder you're buying from is selling babies, claiming quality show or even breeding stock, they're either not educated on the breed or don't care to know any better and you're taking a very large risk. Most all baby holland lops look amazing. That amazing baby you just spent your hard earned money on before it was even weaned can, and most likely will, turn into a pet quality rabbit if you buy from a breeder who only sells, and markets their babies. * The exception to this rule is the breeder who has had their own line for years(or worked with other lines long enough) and knows the line(s) like the back of their hand. These breeders have been at it a great many years so can ,with accuracy, tell what their own barn will do for the most part when growing.*
It's best to buy from the same breeder and linebreed if at all possible. Rabbits that have been linebred don't always meld well with other lines, so if you buy some here, some there, and still more from way over there, it will take you longer to get anything consistent when you start breeding them yourself. Each breeder's line is unique in it's own way of developing and with it's own "look". Do your research on breeders stock. What "look" gets your attention most and that you feel drawn to?
Choose a color variety you would like to start with before you buy your first holland. Ending up with unshowable hollands because of color when first starting can be frustrating. It's better to know ahead of time the variety you want to work with than end up with a genetic mess before you even get your feet wet. Hollands are challenging enough as it is.
A pedigree is a paper showing the rabbit's lineage. Generations, color, weight etc. It does not mean that a particular rabbit is of any quality. (Unless you're buying from a longtime breeder with their own lines you most likely will be). There is certainly quality in particular lines. There are plenty of pet breeders who sell babies with pedigrees tho, thinking it will bring in extra money, so again, do your own research on breeders.
GO TO A SHOW!
If at all possible go to a show where you can see quality animals up close. Perhaps even ask a breeder if they would mind showing you their rabbit that just placed well. Placing your hands on a quality holland that is posed can help immensely in what to work towards. Talk to breeders, rabbit people are wonderful, and most enjoy talking about their own hollands, and may give you some tips on what qualities to look for when buying.
Finding a mentor before you buy can also help. You won't learn everything overnight and the best breeders keep an open mind to learning and never stop. That's part of what makes this hobby so interesting!
There is no perfect holland lop tho. so keep that in mind. One of your goals should be to improve your stock with each generation. When a small goal it met consider it large when breeding holland lops, they ARE difficult and challenging. When you have bought your first holland(s). Enjoy them! Learn more about them, and allow them to teach you also.
