I am mildly considering getting a rabbit for my show...what kind are the best...size and nature wise..I know there are severeal breeds but I know NOTHING about them...

Think small!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

I recommend the Dwarf breed. Perfect for dove pans or other small props where they'll surely hide and await their appearance. Pretty common too. You can find them at many feed stores or pet shops.

The smallest breed, the Dwarfs, vary in size from 1-3/4 to 3-1/2 lbs. They include:

1) Britannia Petite (White, black, black otter, or chestnut agouti) 1-1/2 - 2-1/2 lbs

2) Dwarf Hotot (White with black around its eyes) 2 - 3 lbs

3) Jersey Wooley (Many colors - Angora wool) 2 - 3-1/2 lbs

4) Netherland Dwarf (Many colors) 1-3/4 - 2-1/2 lbs (My personal favorite. Very mild natured and great for magic.)

5) Polish (Black, blue, chocolate, blue eyed white, and ruby eyed white) 2 - 3-1/2 lbs

These rabbits, as a group, are less than 3-1/2 pounds mature. These are the rabbits you will want to raise if you want small pets that don't consume much feed (about 1/3 to 1/2 cup per day) and take up the least amount of cage space (about 2-1/2 sq ft). They are the perfect "magic" rabbit!


Lyndel

Thanks guys, now I have some information I can use to search around...anyone know a sources that sells and ship live rabbits... I am in a very samll town population 1200 maybe..so no use looking here.

That I can't help ya with... Don't know of any place that would do that... Rabbits R Us maybe...

It might be time for a day trip to a larger city...

:bunny2:
Lyndel

http://www.rabbitandcavydirectory.com/AR......ders.htm

Just ask the magic Genii.

There ya go!

Isn't the Café AWESOME!?


Lyndel

Yes it is awesome...as is Kidabra!

I use and love Netherland Dwarfs. I would recommend getting a buck over a doe.

I found a great breeder that is too far for me to travel to, but he goes to rabbit shows and travels pretty close to me sometimes. I call him and describe what I want and he will bring one or two along with him and we meet somewhere on the road.

I am afraid we are going to get arrested someday for suspicious activity. I don't know how difficult it will be to explain that we are dealing rabbits, not drugs.

Regan

I also prefer Nederland Dwarfs. I have a buck and a doe. Although I use them both, I prefer the Buck. Whenever I have a show requiring just one, its the buck and me.

I get mine from a great breeder on the west coast, about 1300 miles from me. Obviously I don't go up there too often

Max

Careful Regan. if you put a buck over a doe you'll end up with a lot more rabbits!

Seriously, be careful of Polish. They are noted for biting and attacking. Don't ask me why. some are worse than others.

But in general, Nethland Dwarfs don't bite and are calm and Polish do bite and are less calm.

I Recomend a holland lop.

good disposition
easy to train
easy to take care of

Speaking of training, what is a good reference for training rabbits? And what exactly is a well trained rabbit? Do you just teach them to sit still or is there more to a trained rabbit than that?

I used to use a rabbit years ago, but all he had to do was be there.

Is there a county fair close to you? Our fair has 4-H exhibits which includes rabbits. Just a thought.

Habu, Eric Sharp's book (Specialised children's entertainment, I think) has some info on training rabbits and also other items that you can include to make it appear as though your rabbit is trained. Café members Andy Walker and Richard Lynn both make good use of them.

George

The trick with any animal training is to develop the animal's confidence and keep it calm. Handling small animals helps.

At the start, put one on your knee and stroke it as you watch tv. That will sort out the settlers and the non settlers.

Some will never settle and it's useless continuing. Get rid.

Others will sometimes settle and be fine and other times not. Unpredictability is useless. Again, get rid.

A few will take to the work like a duck to water. They can be almost bombproof. Keep them!

Some animals will do something quite easily. Like lying on its back or lying back in your handw hile you tickle it's tummy or under its chin - something others can't stand. Make use of it.

I had one which sat happily in a hat with a black cloth over. Take the cloth away and - nothing happened for a few seconds. Then it would pop its head over and always looked straight at the audience. Never had another one do that.

Watch circus performers. Some of their animals are used for just one trick whilst others will do team work well but have no speciality.

They#re all individual and must be treated as such.

I go much deeper than Eric Sharp.
Over the years, I've taught or trained all of my bunnies to stand up on the upside down top hat at the end of the performance. This always get a standing ovation from the audience.
Lucy (bunny) also sticks up her butt at the children. I have a funny looking toy duck that the bunny keeps pushing off the table when I look away.
A bunny can't be trained until it gets used to having people around. It has to be very tame and friendly.
Training them takes lots of patience and understanding what each bunny capabilities are.Every bunny is different from the other. Some will catch on faster than others.
Note that my has the bunny standing up on its hind leg.
Richard (Tricky Ricky)

I've finally decided to take the plunge and get a rabbit. The decision now is what kind! There's an upcoming show that I'm going to that I'm hoping will have all the various breeds. I've given up asking pet stores for advice...they tend to push whatever it is they happen to be carrying at the time. I'm leaning towards a Dwarf Hotot, but I also like the look of the lops. Need something small, though.

Just remember with lops that they need keeping clean. Their long ears can trail in the bedding. Take no notice of those who tell you that if you keep the thing spotless it won't happen. It will. The night before the show and they'll go hunting for something to dirty their ears!!!

And also remember what you're buying are breed confirmation defects. Those who are not good enough for showing or breeding. With a plain colour it will be colour depth or physical size or ratios that are wrong. With a dwarf, too big perhaps.

With coloured (marked) rabbits it will more likely be the pattern positions or sizes that are wrong so at least you'll know the eventual overall size should be OK.

Just be aware that pure bred Netherland Dwarfs are usually gentle quiet buns. They have been used over generations to help dwarf many other breeds. But, so has the slimmer, more pointy faced (and attractive) Polish and that is generally not a very reliable customer. They are noted in Europe for being bad tempered and will bite. Vicious is the term usually accorded the Polish. Don't ever put your hand near them without knowing what you're doing. They will jump to bite and they bite deep.

Problem is their inconsistency - they will handle well one day and bite the next. No good where children are involved. So be careful. Breeders introduce Polish stock to slim off a too chubby breed line so you might not be able to detect its presence easily.

Netherland Dwarfs are required to be chubby so it's very unlikely you'll find Polish blood lines in Netherland Dwarfs.

If you visit the breeder - always the best bet - play dumb. Ask and look and if there are Polish there keep quiet and play carefully. Of course breeders handle them and show judges too. Ask one of them about Polish and they will usually show you a hand with scars to tell the tale!

Gordon - There are a few "Rabbit Rescue" places around Ann Arbor that can help you out - they have a bunch of rabbits that need a home - also try the Huron Valley Humane Society.