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When will my Lionhead rabbit get a full Mane?

22 9:58:05

Question
Hi!

 I have a 9 month old Lionhead bunny and I have noticed that when I look at pictures of other Lionheads, they have big bushy manes around their faces.(Like a lion, obviously) My little thumper only has a little extra hair in between his ears and his cheeks.

 Is this something he will develop later, and I should just be patient or not?

Thanks!

Em

Answer
Dear Emily,

The boutique rabbit du jour seems to be the Lionhead Hybrid.  Turns out that most purebred lionheads have lousy personalities:  unfriendly and grumpy.  So the Wonderful Breeders have decided to "fix" this problem by hybridizing lionheads with friendlier breeds (Netherland Dwarf, Holland Lop, mini-lop, etc.)  and the result is that we in the rescue biz are now being inundated with dozens and dozens of unwanted (but truly adorable) lionhead mixes.

So I can tell you from personal experience that these hybrids express varying degrees of the "typical" lionhead mane.  Some just get a little topknot.  Some get cute little "mutton chops".  Some get both.  Some get a little "cape" of mane down the shoulders. But the expression of the mane trait is unpredictable in these hybrids, which is what I'm pretty sure your bunny must be.

So enjoy your bunny's adorableness as it is.  I doubt that at his age it will change significantly.  

Hope this helps.

Dana