What’s the best breed for me?

[silverwolf]

 Hey there! 

Well, how should I start…. I think I’ll introduce myself first!

I love rabbits and most animals (Yeah, I’m afraid of poisonous snakes, spiders and such) so I can’t exactly call myself a 100% animal lover, I guess. [MOD EDIT] I’ve always wanted a dog but recently, I’ve decided against that. A dog will live while I go into high school and University, and I can’t get my parents to take care of it for that long. But then, I’ve bumped into the perfect pet! I’m taking care of my friend’s rabbit while she’s away for vacation. Rabbits, they’re like mini-dogs. While they live as long as most dogs, they require less care (ie. training, walking, bathing). And so, I’m getting a rabbit. Not yet, though; I’m still scavenging for the perfect breed! Which is why I’ve come across this site, of course.

What kind of rabbit do I want? Well, I know behaviour ranges from rabbit to rabbit, but I’m asking generally, so I guess you can call that stereotyping? Anyway, I’m looking for well, a breed that’s fit for a lap bunny… No, let me refrase that; a breed that’s rather lazy, will watch TV with you, etc.  My friend’s rabbit, while she is cute and all, never stays still. She is a lionhead and dwarf mix; I heard they are very energetic.  When I put her on the sofa she hops here and there, then jump down. She squeezes in all cracks, and chews wires. I suppose that’s because she isn’t spayed, though. 

Oh, and speaking about chewing, how should I minimize the behavior? Do certain breeds chew more than others? Varies by gender?

Plans?

I’m planning to keep my rabbit free-range inside my house. I’m a bit worried about wires–things like TV wires just can’t be removed. However, many free range rabbits seem to ignore the wires. My other friend has a holland lop, neutered, and free-range. She said he doesn’t chew those wires.

I would also like to adopt rather than buy.

Thanks for any suggestions! 

[Deleted User]

I think the most important thing to point out is that rabbits can live 10 years plus. They have a long life span if properly cared for. Rabbits are, also, just as much (if not more in my opinion) work a dog. They need minimum 4 hours of play time a day. I find myself cleaning and doing more work caring for my buns then I did when I lived with my bf and his parents and took care of his dog.

While there are particular “traits” that seem to inherit a certain rabbit breed not all rabbits of that breed adhere to the stereotype. Instead of trying to find a particular breed. I suggest going to a rescue and spending time with the rabbits while inquiring about his/her personality and see if he/she will be a good match for you and your lifestyle.

[hannaroo]

Hi silverwolf,
As skippersmama said, it’s important to think about the lifespan of your rabbit. They do live for a long time and need alot of commitment, if not more so than a dog in they way that it’s hard to spot illness and groom them. They need alot of care and attention which may not be ideal if your planning on going to college or university or even travelling when your older. Are your parents willing to take on your pet an care for it properly while your away?

I must stress that rabbit s are not lap pets and most will only tolerate being brushed. Most rabbits hate being picked up and alot end up in shelters as they are perceived as cuddly pets and the reality is they need alot of care, a good diet, vet insurance, exercise and interaction, spaying/neutering which can cost up to $300 in some areas (although that is not always the case but be prepared.. They are also very expensive so please check out our cost section too!
Your friends rabbit is not an exception, she is the norm. Natural behaviour should be encouraged with chew toys and places to dig but it’s important you understand that they probably will chew wires that aren’t bunny proofed and there’s a real chance they will at some point dig at your carpet. It’s not ‘bad behaviour’ it’s just natural instinct. Wires should be out of reach as they can electricute your rabbit when chewed or become a fire hazard.

There are some great links for helping you get more information on house rabbits : https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/Default.aspx

Hope this helps

[Stickerbunny]

Rabbits are not generally lap animals. The hopping around doing their own thing is pretty normal. As for wires, some rabbits ignore wires and some chew them. There is no way to tell until the rabbit is an adult and there. And even then, the best behaved bunny sometimes will nibble a wire now and then. I have two rabbits, Powder doesn’t chew wires in general (though he has nipped a few, he usually ignores them, mainly the really thin ones get his attention) and Stickers will eat every wire in the house if I let her. All wires must be covered / blocked off if a rabbit is to be roaming around, for their safety and yours.

As for less care… a rabbit needs a LOT of care. They need to be out of their cage several hours a day, the whole house if you intend free roam needs to be bunny proofed, not all rabbits are eligible for free roam (Stickers would destroy all baseboards, furniture, carpet and pee/poop everywhere) because not all are as behaved as others, no matter the training. They need groomed, fed, fresh salads prepared, litter boxes changed (some can get picky and need them changed several times a day or won’t use them), droppings and eating monitored. The cost of their vet care is higher than a dog (on average). And the chewing and squeezing into tight spaces is not just due to not being spayed, though spaying helps to lower that behavior, that is just being a rabbit. They also like to dig. My carpets have huge holes in them from my spayed / neutered rabbits, because I went away and my boyfriend didn’t watch them close enough when I was on vacation and … they will eat the carpet if I am not there to stop them that second. If there is a dark area to squeeze into, they get into it and dig. And as bunnies age, they will often develop tooth issues which can require weekly/bi-weekly trims (at a vet) and special diets.

If you’re worried about an animal being around while you are at university, perhaps adopt an older animal so your parents are not stuck with the care of a pet? Elder animals are the least adopted as well, so you would be saving a life.  

[Beka27]

I edited your post. Minors are not permitted to share their age on the forum.

You’ve received good info, so far. I agree with the others that rabbits are more work than people initially realize. We don’t recommend them for children under 13 at all, but some teenagers can care for them properly depending on maturity level, and with a lot of parental support. Their long lifespan is an issue if you are planning on going away to college. Dorm rooms do not allow pets, and underclassmen are usually restricted from living off campus. Your parents would need to be responsible for your rabbit during that time.

As far as breed, a rabbit is a rabbit. The stereotype is that small buns are hyper, big buns are mellow… But this is really only true half the time. Big buns are also more expensive to feed tho.

If you have all of your ducks in a row, the best option is to not look for a particular breed, but to meet with different rabbits and see how they are firsthand. Rescues are a great option b/c a fixed, adult rabbit will be easier to tell the personality than a young, hormonal bunny.

[silverwolf]

-I’m not that worried about money–Food, cage, accessories are easily taken care of
-maturity: I’m not a first time pet owner; I’ve had a dog before. Also, I rescued/adopted a family of guinea pigs about 2 years ago… They were being kept a whole intact family(males and females) together in a small chinchilla cage. The bedding… Yuck. Apparently because of the whole family together thing one female got pregnant and I ended up taking care of, like 9 guinea pigs at once. I’ve experienced changing 3 cages a day, feeding all the guinea pigs (Loads of food needed), filling all their water bottles, etc. Right now I’m keeping two. The others went on to new owners.
-as for an older rabbit… Well, if it dies I’m going to get very depressed… Not a good thing to happen while in university o.O my parents won’t be able to offer the amount of exercise a dog would need. However they have rabbit experience so a rabbit would be a better choice.

So since Beka 27 answered my question (what breed), do females dig/chew more than males? Are males more gentle/lapbunny-ish than females? Out of the 9 guinea pigs I’ve had, 1/5 females were affectionate. 3/4 males were affectionate. Are rabbits the same? Any other tips of chewing and digging would be appreciated too.

[Sarita]

It is very hard to even generalize about any of the questions (dig/chew usually age related and not gender related). No rabbit is a lap rabbit and that is not something that is gender specific either.

As for age and adoption, there are rabbits in shelters who are usually young (one year or younger so that should not be a factor really). And to be honest there is no guarantee that any rabbit will live to be 10 years or more (but that is with most pets) even with the best care and even if you get them as a baby….it’s unfortunate but that is just how it is.

[Valkyrie]

I strongly encourage volunteering at a local rabbit shelter to get first hand experience. A free range rabbit cannot be compared to caged guinea pigs although I am glad to hear that you are experienced with the amount of working cleaning their cages. Volunteering in a shelter will also help you get to know the rabbits currently needing homes and you can see which one you bond with best.

And everyone is right that an older bunny is most likely to be low energy, but it still needs at least 4 hours of dedicated play time. Gender, spaying, neutering, and breed have nothing to do with personalities.

I have had rabbits for over 20 years and got my first one when I was three. Out of all my rabbits (some I had from babies while others were rescues), only 1 was ever a lap bunny, but he chewed everything! If you cannot move chords, you will need to try to block them off as much as possible and buy chord protectors from your pet store. These do not stop chewing, but it takes them a little longer to chew through so you can stop them before that happens. To help with chewing, I also use Bitter Apple. You should be able to find it or a similar brand at your local pet store. It is an anti chew spray that you put on chords, shoes etc and is meant to teach puppies not to chew. Again, this isn’t guaranteed to work because some puppies and rabbits actually like the taste of it (I have been lucky and haven’t had this problem though).

My parents were always very supportive of my zoo growing up so we are fortunate. Most parents wouldn’t volunteer to watch a pet while their child is away. But you have to think to yourself if you are able to live with the guilt if it passes away while you are away at school. I knew I couldn’t so when I moved out all of my pets came with me. And you said they have rabbit experience, but what kind? I come from generations of rabbit keepers, but my father and grandfather’s rabbits were kept outdoors with no house training. They were more like livestock, not house pets. My mother rescued a paper trained flemish giant, but her preference was for outdoor hutches and so that’s how she kept all of her other rabbits. You need to talk with your parents and find out how they will look after your rabbit when you go to college. Will they keep it as a housepet or confine it to a cage?

[Stickerbunny]

Posted By silverwolf on 07/15/2013 08:22 AM

So since Beka 27 answered my question (what breed), do females dig/chew more than males? Are males more gentle/lapbunny-ish than females? Out of the 9 guinea pigs I’ve had, 1/5 females were affectionate. 3/4 males were affectionate. Are rabbits the same? Any other tips of chewing and digging would be appreciated too.

 

There are no lap bunnies, in general. You can sometimes get the rare cuddly rabbit, but most rabbits prefer to be on the floor on their own and you can lay down and pet them but do not pick up and do not cuddle. Gender doesn’t matter, breed doesn’t matter, just personality. An adult you can judge the personality of if you adopt, a baby you will have no way of telling as babies tend to be cuddly until they grow up and aren’t destructive til they get older, so it will be a total roll of the dice what you will end up getting. If you are going for personality, go to shelters / rescues and find the right match that is already 1-2 years old and past puberty, so you can accurately gauge their behavior. They would be already spayed/neutered that way as well.

For cords, this is what I use http://www.amazon.com/American-Terminal-SL500-100-2-Inch-Tubing/dp/B0017686ZC/ref=sr_1_56?ie=UTF8&qid=1373907214&sr=8-56&keywords=cord+cover … just black vacuum tubing over them all. For digging, if the rabbit is a digger there isn’t much you can do. You can make a dig box to redirect, but Stickers prefers to dig the carpets and if I turn my back for one minute, she is at the carpet chewing/digging.. it’s just her personality. Again, adopting an adult bunny from the shelter will let you judge personality and if they have been in foster care, even better since the foster will know how destructive they are. Powder came to me at four years of age, he doesn’t chew, he doesn’t dig and he is as affectionate as a rabbit can get without being one of the really rare ones. He will sleep in the bed with me, he will let me pet him, etc. He will not allow picking up or cuddling though, since that is too much against his instincts.

If you want a longer lived rabbit, I personally would avoid the giant breeds. They tend to have a shorter life span than the smaller ones.

[kcomstoc]

I can’t tell you if bunnies are more work then dogs because I haven’t owned my first dog yet (hoping to get a puppy *a lot of work* in October) but I can tell you they are not as easy as they seem. Trust me, I didn’t do as much research as I should’ve before I got my bunny and was shocked how much care they actually require. I’ve only had my bunny for 6 months but it is a lot of work. You have to let them out of their cage and they poop and sometimes pee wherever they please (even litter trained bunnies) because they want the area to smell like them. It’s not really a big deal because their poops are so small and pee isn’t a lot and can be cleaned up easily with 50/50 white vinegar and water.

They chew on EVERYTHING they can get ahold of and that is NORMAL. Wire chewing is normal and trust me I’ve had to tape up some wires my bunny chewed (he’s been caught 3 times) luckily he hasn’t been shocked, to prevent this from happening get wire covers like stickerbunny says. Then if you have a digger bunny (which I have lol) then you are in for CONSTANT messes to be cleaned up. He digs the carpet (no holes yet because I stop him), I have to make him a dig box but haven’t gotten around to it because his cage isn’t big enough to fit one that I want him to have. That leads me to cages, you have to be very careful that the bottoms of the cage are solid, they also need a cage at least 3 x 2 feet and that’s minimum (which is what my bunny has to deal with until I can build him a bigger one which will happen soon).

On top of this you are going to have your parents take care of this bunny while you are away at college (which isn’t fair to them since it will be your bunny). I would STRONGLY advise you to wait until you are done with college or have an apartment of your own to get a bunny. They can be trained like dogs though so you are wrong about that, my bunny loves training time and looks forward to learning and the small treats we give him for doing the trick correctly. I love my bunny very much and will never get rid of him because I took on the responsibility of him when I payed for him, but I wish I had done more research.

Also I would like to say that our bunny is kind of cuddly but not really….he likes to explore on his own and zoomie around, SOMETIMES he will come up to my boyfriend and I and ask for petting and if my boyfriend and I lie on the floor he will come up and “groom” us but that’s about it. He will get on the couch with us sometimes but it’s not always a good thing lol last time Caleb (our bunny) hopped up onto the couch with us he peed on my boyfriend’s leg (he was known for peeing on the couch and I told my boyfriend not to let him on the couch but he didn’t listen and up the tail went and down the bunny went on the floor *not pushed off but he jumped off* and I told my boyfriend you can’t be mad at him when you told him it was ok to do it).

[justwildbeat]

To be frank, a rabbit may not be the best pet for you. Especially if you are emphasizing that it be a “lap bunny.” I wouldn’t want you to go through all the trouble and be disappointed. However if you are set on getting one either make multiple shelter visits or as another member suggested, volunteer at a shelter first. You’ll have an idea how comfortable each rabbit is with human interaction.To curb chewing you can either allow free range in wire free rooms or get cable covers.

[silverwolf]

The thing is, the two shelters near me are more then a 30 min drive, so I can’t volunteer. I suppose it’s not that far, but I can’t drive and my parents are too lazy to drive me. That, and recently these cats at the shelter were transferred to petsmart. They went crazy and attacked dad’s friend’s daughter, who was volunteering at the shop. She was badly hurt, and went to the hospital.
Anyhow, there is another shelter near me which spays and neuters their rabbits, so I’m hoping to go there one day. I’m most likely going to adopt, but there are a lot of downfalls… A rabbit that is hand raised by you from a very young age is most likely going to be more friendly and attached to you. My friend’s rabbit, Oreo, was raised by her from when she was 4 weeks old. She is very friendly and loves to be nose-rubbed, pet, licks people, and is fine with being picked up.

Rabbits from shelters are probably scared of people. I mean, who would throw such a precious, loving bunny into the shelter? Rabbits go to shelters because the owners weren’t ready for the rabbit. The parent’s child wants a rabbit and they agree, but only to find themselves taking care of it rather than the children. The rabbits would be isolated and left without much human socialization.

(sorry for the rant) Luckily the rabbits from the shelter that spays their rabbits sends them to foster homes to re socialize, so I guess that won’t be too much of a problem. I’m pretty sure they’re vet checked too. Plus they get litter trained! So, I’m most likely going to adopt.

If you have any more tips for adopting/buying please post below

[Sarita]

Well, you have many misconceptions about rabbits at shelters and rabbits that are hand raised from a young age. You only have one “hand raised” rabbit to go by as far as behavior – I can tell you that many people on the forum will not have the same experience about “hand raising” their young rabbit.

Not all rabbits in shelters are scared of people, that’s not true – they may be scared in the shelter and let’s face it, being in a shelter is not an ideal situation no matter how much shelters try to make it comfortable for the animals there.

I think that you are considering giving a shelter rabbit a second chance speaks highly of you and I hope that is what you end up doing is adopting from a shelter. I can tell you that you will find many wonderful rabbits at shelters that were given up for many reasons – the same as with cats and dogs.

[kcomstoc]

No offense to you but I really think you should wait, like I said you are going to do to the bunny what you described those other children as doing. You are going to get a bunny take care of it for like 3 years and then go to college leaving the bunny with your parents. It’s not fair to them. I am glad you are going to go to a shelter and the bunnies in the shelter could be there for any reason (could be the people moved and the place they moved to don’t accept rabbits, so the bunny could be very socialized with people and was just really unfortunate). I’m not saying it’s not hard to wait because it is (I’ve been waiting to get a dog for 9 years, I’ve had to wait because I am not going to get one now and then have a chance and not get an apartment that accepts dogs, I purposely searched for apartments that accept large breeds dogs *very hard to find* and they also don’t charge for bunnies). Just please really consider this….if you are going to disregard this advice it’s your choice but I would really look beyond what you WANT and think about what is BEST for the bunny.

[Valkyrie]

I agree with Sarita and kcomstoc. Your ideas of shelter and rescue bunnies are waaaaay off. I have had both kinds and can personally say that there is very little difference in the chance of getting a people-centered bunny or an aloof bunny.

One of the best rabbits I had was a rescue named Pippin. Some parents got their kids a rabbit, they completely ignored him and he just ran loose around the basement chewing everything in site and getting very little human interaction. He would have killed to get the amount of attention volunteers give rabbits in shelters and rescues. The father got tired of it and decided to dump Pippin at the SkyTrain station. My grandfather stopped him and brought him home to me. He was the most affectionate, loving bunny ever and loved to cuddle on my lap and watch TV.

Pal, on the other hand, I had had since he was a baby and he wouldn’t tolerate being held or cuddled at all! He would hiss and nip if you tried.

You are also missing something key as well: many rabbits are born into shelters so you could still get a baby from a rescue. These bunnies would be properly socialized by volunteers from the time they are born. Many breeders do not interact with the baby bunnies and just leave the mother to care for them and the new owners to train them.

If you are only looking to have a rabbit for 3 or so years, don’t even bother or adopt a senior. Many seniors are more calm anyways and more likely to enjoy sitting together to watch TV.

[MoveDiagonally]

I have 5 rabbits and the EASIEST ones to handle are my shelter bunnies (and I have two that I raised since they were babies).

As everyone else has said, you seem to have many misconceptions of rabbits from shelters. It is unlikely that your friends rabbit’s behavior has anything to do with how it was raised. It’s more likely that it’s just that rabbits individual personality. Your best bet at finding one that matches what you want is to go to a shelter and pick one out with a personality that suits you. Hand raising a rabbit is NO guarantee that it will behave a certain way. Getting baby rabbits is much more of a gamble personality wise than adopting from a shelter.

Rabbits NEED exercise time and a lot of space. Honestly, if your parents don’t have the time/space to take care of a dog while you’re at Uni then they’re not going to have time for a rabbit either. I have rabbits, dogs, and cats and the rabbits are the most time consuming and expensive. Have you considered fostering instead of adopting? It would be shorter term commitment along with giving you a chance to experience all kinds of rabbits and learn a lot more about them.

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