Jynxie wrote:
Will do.
Any other tips to look for?
This will be my first bunny. :3
First of all - you're gonna get way more than you probably want by asking me that question...but here is why.
As a lionhead breeder, I've seen many folks want a rabbit based on the 'cuteness' factor. Let's face it - lionheads ARE cute and its fun to show off a rabbit with a mane (till it loses the mane...which happens a lot and you need to know what to look for if you want a rabbit that will keep its mane).
When I would show people rabbits, I explained to them that I would be happy to help them pick a rabbit - but if I felt they were not a good match, I would not sell a rabbit. This may sound strange - but I have seen some rabbits totally ignore one person and appear to dislike them - and then 30 minutes later (we were at a show)- they were all over another person and licking them, etc. I think rabbits pick up on people and what they like about us and if a rabbit is really disinterested in someone or doesn't like them....it shows.
Also - there is a huge difference between having a rabbit you can look at and watch - or one that you can interact with and hold and play with. You need to ask yourself WHY you are wanting a rabbit.
Let me give you some examples based upon my rabbits.
Zeus is my bedroom bunny - he literally sleeps on the bed with me and is free-roaming. (He's litter box trained). He will lay beside me and let me pet him for hours. I can snuggle with him and put my arms around him and he's fine. Pick him up - and he fights and tries to bite and he'll struggle. But lay on his level and pet him -and he loves it and tooth purrs.
Angel is my polish and she has a cage although she gets lots of playtimes. She is scared around other bunnies - but she'll chase the dogs around the house and nip at their ankles if she gets mad. She LOVES it when I pick her up and hold her and snuggle her under my chin. I'll hold her close and then chin her with my chin for 10 minutes at a time sometimes...and she just lays there and tooth purrs. She's not big on pets or staying still beside me - but let me pick her up and snuggle her close to me and pet her and chin her and she is in heaven.
Cindy is a holland lop - and I love to watch her. She runs and binkies and plays and is just a hoot to watch (as are her two daughters). Let me pick her up...and she fights and scratches. I can sit on the floor and MAYBE pet her if she comes close enough (especially if I have treats)....but she's more of a "stay at a distance and let me entertain you" type of bun.
Yet Zuba and Finnster - my holland lop bucks - love to be held and petted and snuggled with. They do run and play when they get playtime outside...but when I open their door to give them food - I darn well better pet them also.
Finally - Jar Jar Binks - who loves to play outside. If I hold him close to my chest and he feels secure...he'll give me kisses for 20 minutes or more. (He's tried to french kiss me - YUCK). He just adores me and giving kisses. But he also loves to play. I wasn't going to get Jar Jar - I'd already decided to get two other e-lops when I got him - but the way he kept giving me kisses made me realize I wanted him too....and I'm so glad now that I got him.
I know I haven't talked about lionheads as I use these different rabbits - but the fact is -I've had lionheads that were the same as each of these rabbits. Some loved being held - others hated it. Some were kissers...others weren't.
You need to be able to be the "big kahuna" bunny with your rabbit - to get it in and out of its cage - to give it meds if needed, etc. So you need to make sure that you can handle your rabbit - from the start. You need to be able to flip it over so you can cradle it like a baby (sometimes you have to do this to give meds) and it needs to know it can NOT fight you and get away with it.
Too many people agree to buy a bunny based on looks only - without handling the rabbit.
Anyway - those are just my thoughts and observations....feel free to ignore them!
