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If you've reviewed the DECIDING page and the MYTHS page and
still feel that a rabbit is the right pet for you, congratulations!
Now comes the fun of finding where to acquire your new rabbit(s).
still feel that a rabbit is the right pet for you, congratulations!
Now comes the fun of finding where to acquire your new rabbit(s).
Choosing Your First Bunny
This is perhaps one of the top myths concerning rabbits. It is based on comparisons with other species (like dogs), but it just isn't true for rabbits. The innate personality of each individual rabbit is not going to be influenced in any significant way by human interaction*. (I am not referring to abuse.) A naturally shy rabbit will remain shy regardless of the amount of handling when a baby. In fact, too much handling might even make the behavior worse. Likewise, a naturally outgoing rabbit will remain outgoing - not because of interaction as a baby, but simply due to innate temperament.
Many are drawn to the idea of getting a rabbit as a baby based solely on this myth that early handling makes for a sweet rabbit. Experience tells us otherwise.
Everyone hopes their rabbit will have certain personality traits. But the personality of a rabbit isn't going to become evident until it approaches adulthood. Hormones also can play a role in that temperament. Since fixed rabbits are past the baby and the hormonal stage, their innate personality will be evident. This is why the best way to find those certain personality traits is to meet rabbits that are already fixed.
Many are drawn to the idea of getting a rabbit as a baby based solely on this myth that early handling makes for a sweet rabbit. Experience tells us otherwise.
Everyone hopes their rabbit will have certain personality traits. But the personality of a rabbit isn't going to become evident until it approaches adulthood. Hormones also can play a role in that temperament. Since fixed rabbits are past the baby and the hormonal stage, their innate personality will be evident. This is why the best way to find those certain personality traits is to meet rabbits that are already fixed.
How and where to find the right rabbit
I highly recommend that potential owners go to meet the specific rabbit they are considering. Altered rabbits will have evident personalities. Thankfully, rabbit rescues typically fix all of their rabbits. (Rabbit rescues are different than your generic pet shelter.) Visit a rescue or attend one of their adoption days and interact with some of the rabbits. This is the best way to see what type of rabbit you are drawn to. Each rabbit will also have its own opinion about you too. See which ones seem more comfortable with you. Don't limit yourself by looking at rabbit breed photos. Rescues often have mixed breeds that are unique in appearance and as adorable as any other rabbit.
The benefits of adoption are listed in the red poster. The chart below also has a checklist of the advantages to getting a rescue rabbit. If you are considering getting a pair of rabbits, rescues typically have already fixed and already bonded pairs -- this saves you the worry of having to bond a pair yourself. |
What's wrong with rescue rabbits?
Many people falsely assume that if a rabbit is at a rescue, there must be something wrong with him. But this is not reality. Far from it. Many rabbits end up in shelters because they were originally purchased as an impulse buy... and usually as very young kits. Then one of the following occurs. New owners may mistake the onset of hormones as a behavior flaw in their rabbit. As the rabbit reaches puberty, he is suddenly not the docile and cuddly creature he was before. The owners often are unaware that neutering would solve the issue. (Or if they do discover that neutering is an option, they are not inclined to pay the cost.) That is one common reason a rabbit is given up.
Another reason is that the rabbit was purchased for a child who quickly loses interest in the rabbit. Such is the fate of many rabbits purchased as Easter gifts. Once the novelty wears off and the parent becomes stuck with cleaning the cage and caring for the rabbit, the decision is made to give it up. These are the primary reasons rabbits end up in shelters. In actuality...
Another reason is that the rabbit was purchased for a child who quickly loses interest in the rabbit. Such is the fate of many rabbits purchased as Easter gifts. Once the novelty wears off and the parent becomes stuck with cleaning the cage and caring for the rabbit, the decision is made to give it up. These are the primary reasons rabbits end up in shelters. In actuality...
There was nothing wrong with the rabbit but rather lack of education on the part of the buyer before bringing a rabbit home.
"What breed should I get?"This must be the number one question asked whenever someone is considering getting a pet rabbit. What breed is most affectionate? What breed likes to be held? But, as explained in myths, breed type is more for determining appearance than personality. Some stereotypes about certain breeds are based on limited knowledge -- someone who had an unusually affectionate mini-lop may assume that all mini-lops are that way. The truth is that each individual rabbit has its own unique temperament and it is not determined by breed.
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In addition to the info below concerning baby rabbits, its good to be aware of another fact. Those young rabbits being sold in pet stores and backyards will undoubtedly seem like the sweetest, cuddliest, and most compliant little fluff balls. Understand that this is far from typical adult rabbit behavior (adult being 7 months of age). The babies will seem willing to be held and handled but this is temporary. Pay close attention to the list below of hormonal signs that occur roughly between 4 & 7 months of age and try to imagine your bunny behaving that way. Understandably, people cannot imagine such a sweet little fluff ball turning aggressive and mean. Countless times I've heard the same story by those who insisted on purchasing a baby, somehow convincing themselves that their baby would be different, that their baby would stay sweet. Save yourself the trouble -- especially if this is your first rabbit -- and find an already spayed or neutered rabbit to adopt. You can always consider a younger one later on, once you've become experienced by caring for a rabbit for several years. But for starters, do yourself and your bunny a favor and go with a fixed, rescued rabbit.
* Founder of Bunny Bunch rescue, Caroline Charland, states, "People often think a rabbit must be held a lot as a baby in order to like being held as an adult. I don't find this true at all. Over the years, the Bunny Bunch rescue I founded has saved many mother and baby rabbits from shelters. All the babies were treated the same. When they became adults their personalities varied-- some liked to be held, some hated to be held and some tolerated being held."
(Rabbits USA 2014 magazine)
Below are a couple photos showing a page from the Pet Rabbit Handbook.
Further down are close-ups of the contents of that page with its flaps.
Further down are close-ups of the contents of that page with its flaps.
If you are looking into purchasing a pet rabbit, you may want to printout the PDF booklet for a complete summary of care. The pages above show the part of the booklet specifically about choosing a rabbit.