Lionheads are a wonderful (and adorable) new breed of rabbits! They make great pets and lovely show rabbits. Lionheads are very friendly (if handled often) and enjoy attention. Contrary to what you might think, they do not require a massive amount of grooming.

What Does A Lionhead Rabbit Look Like?

Ideally, a Lionhead should have a compact body with short roll back coat and little or no hair or wool on the flanks (by the legs). Their ears should be under 3" long and should not have excess hair. They usually weigh around 3 – 4 pounds.

Their best known feature is their beautiful manes. These little guys have manes of wool encircling their heads – just like a lion (hints the name). There are other breeds that have similar wool, however, Lionheads differ in that they have normal fur on the rest of their bodies. Most have wool all over their bodies at first. They will begin shedding around 6-7 weeks, and by 16 weeks old, most of the wool should be gone. Now, some Lionheads carry a gene that makes them hold onto all of their wool and look like fur balls. These rabbits are not allowed to be shown under the American Standard.

Where Did Lionheads Come From?

Lionheads originated in Belgium. They are reported to have been produced by breeding a miniature Swiss Fox and a Belgian Dwarf. Some people say that the Jersey Woolie was also used in the breeding. Lionheads became so popular that breeders continued this breeding, which led to our wonderful Lionhead rabbits (and I’m so glad they did)!

Do Lionheads Make Good Mothers?