Best bunny breed?

[mbsb]

We have two children and are looking for the best breed to fit our family. The children will want to pick them up, hold, and cuddle them. We tried a bonded pair (don’t know the breed, but had short hair) for about a month, but they were very difficult to catch in their pen. They would constantly run away from us, and to pick them up, we basically had to corner them. We, the parents, were the only ones able to get them from our pen. We have heard lops are breeds that like to be held, and are great w/ people.

Any comments/suggestions on specific lop breeds, and which may be best for our family, would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!!

[Laura]

My opinion is that no rabbit will be good with children. Rabbits do not like to be held and cuddled. Have you thought about getting a small dog or cat? They would be easier to care for and don’t mind being held.

[jerseygirl]

This is true. Rabbits do not like to be picked up and held generally. There are some that are ok with this and may sit in the lap but that will have to do with the individual rabbit, not the breed. Here’s an article about rabbit ownership and children http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/children.html

Of the rabbits that are ok with being handled, most are the larger breeds. If you do decide to go ahead and get a rabbit maybe look into adopting one (or two) from a shelter. This way, you can be directed to the ones that are lap bunnies or ok with cuddles. Be aware though, that this is not a common trait to be found in rabbits. Finally, if you do get some rabbits, be sure to come back here and tell us about them!

[KatnipCrzy]

My 3 bunnies do not enjoy being picked up. Any lap cuddles that I get from them are on their terms when they decide to join me on the couch.
Bunnies in general do not enjoy being picked up or held above the ground- they seem to tolerate cuddling better when I am sitting on the couch or on the floor with them. Rabbits are prey animals- so they have sensitive instints about being caught/cornered/picked up and held.

[riibu]

In addition to everything that’s been said, you’re not going to gain the trust of any bunny if all it knows of you is being chased around its pen. For one, the bunny’s cage/pen is their house; how would you feel if an intruder came into your home and chased you around? Unless it’s for a vet appointment or some other necessity, bunnies should really come and go from their homes on their own terms (well, until it’s time to lock up for the night).

It has taken over 4 months of working with and socializing with my bunny to get him to the point where he jumps up on the couch with me to watch TV and to the point where he is sometimes willing to sit in my lap (all of 3 inches off the ground). And it took a lot of work, but he now lets me pick him up – Not a “carry him around with me” pick up, but an “in case of emergency” pick up.

I agree with the others who suggest that a rabbit would not be a good match for your family.

[Beka27]

I agree. It sounds as if rabbits might not be a good fit for your family. Rabbits do not like to be held. Since they are prey animals, “being held” equates to “being caught”. When they are “caught” that is when things can turn violent. Buns can kick and scratch very hard, and they have incredibly sharp teeth which can easily pierce skin. Even if they did not fight back while being held (in other words, if they were frozen in fear), they are so fragile, that dropping them just a foot or two can break bones, break their back, or cause severe head trauma. I’d never recommend that a rabbit be held by anyone without an adult-sized frame (so older teenagers only: 16 years old and on.)

I would absolutely suggest that you explore getting a cat or dog. While they usually are not big fans of being held in the air and carried, they will tolerate pets much better than a bunny would, and much more frequently thru out the day. A dog or cat will be the same amount of work and the same cost for care and vetcare as a rabbit.

We may all seem negative regarding rabbits, but we see bad things happen when they are purchased for children, or purchased without doing any research on their care requirements. I have a bonded pair and I have a 5 year old son. I had a rabbit before he was born, so he has literally grown up with rabbits. He is never, ever allowed to hold the bunnies, and if he wants to pet one of them, he has to ask me and I supervise while he pets for a minute or two. He has been bitten by my female rabbit approx. 6 times in two years. And he cries, and it usually leaves a little mark. This is why he is not allowed any interaction without supervision. She is sweet as pie to me, I think some rabbits are great with adults, but do not tolerate small children. This is not something you would know until the rabbit was put together with a small child.

To answer your question regarding breeds, there is no perfect breed, there is no breed that is inherently good wth children. Some rabbits will be good with children, but again, they cannot pick them up and there is no specific breed. If YOU want a bunny, I say, absolutely get a bunny as long as you are okay with the requirements and you’re prepared for the responsibility of it for 8-12 years. But don’t get it for the kids.

[Ruffles&Daisy]

My kids are not allowed to hold our rabbits. My daughter (she’s 5) can and does pet them at their level but understands when they’ve had enough. We are lucky to have docile rabbits who will not bite. She has to ask permission to open their cage to let them come out. She also knows that she cannot go into their cage to get them. That’s a big no no. We’ve had luck with our bunnies, but they are not so cuddley. Don’t get them for the cuddle factor, they just don’t like it. Sorry for all the negativity, but we want to spare you and your family from having to surrender your pet at some point.

[Annab]

I have had Holland Lops all my life. They are the sweetest and most gentle bunny breed ever. I would suggest getting them young so they will be used to being held. I hold them all the time so they are not afraid of being picked up. I have 3 children and they will sit on their laps and come up to them all the time. I have a dog also and the vet bills for a dog do not compare to the cost of a bunny. I spend way more on our dog. Good luck!

[KatnipCrzy]

If you have a healthy bunny then vet expenses will probably be minimal- spay/neuter, fecal check, etc.  But if you adopt/buy a young rabbit that develops teeth problems, urine issues, gut problems- vet expenses are likely to be high as with any pet with health issues.

Not everyone has the patience for a rabbit- my husband gets mad/annoyed when the bunnies do something “naughty”- nibble a cord that was uncovered, pee and poo to mark territory, etc.  I just fix it and figure out how to prevent it from happening again.

I have a Holland Lop and 2 Mini Lops- and my Holland Lop is the most high-strung of them all.  But there can be variances in the breed, each rabbit will have a different personality- a personality that does not really emerge until they are adults.  Most baby bunnies are willing cuddlers and do not show aggression, territory or hormone behavior- but as they get older and more confident of their surroundings that behavior begins to show and they have a mind of their own.

 

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