How do I know if a rabbit is right for me?
When trying to figure out if a rabbit is the right pet for you, you need to think about a few factors.
- Do you have the space for a rabbit? (Rabbits require at least 12 sq feet of cage space and even more space to have supervised playtime.)
- Do you have the time for a rabbit? (Rabbits require at least 3-6 hours of playtime outside the cage each day.)
- Are you getting a rabbit for a small child? (Rabbits are not ideal pets for children under the age of 12. Rabbits are delicate creatures that deteriorate quickly and easily and need to be carefully cared for. They require a lot of attention and have spefiic feeding needs.)
- Are you prepared for a longterm commitment? (Rabbits live 10-12 years and should see a vet at least once a year and also should be spayed/neutered. If you're planning to move during the time your rabbit is around, make sure you have someone you can give the rabbit to as they don't travel well at all.)
- Do you have the financial ability to keep a rabbit? (According to the ASPCA, rabbits cost more money annually than a medium sized dog with totals coming into about $730 a year not including vet costs.)
What breed should I get?
This is probably the most commonly asked question when people are looking into getting their first rabbit. People want to know which breed is the sweetest or which one is the most agressive or which one likes to cuddle the most. In all honesty, rabbits aren't like dogs and can't be generalized so much based on breed. Rabbits are funny in a way that they are able to be very individual. If you decide to get two rabbits, you will notice the many differences in their personalities probably right away. What I can do is talk about common beliefs based on experiences of myself and others with certain breeds.
I know that a good beginner rabbit would be a Mini Lop or a Holland Lop. They both have pretty even temperaments, and if socialized early enough, are pretty good about being pet and held (of course, there's a limit! 99% of rabbits hate to be held!) Mini Lops are a good, medium-sized rabbit that weigh 6-8lbs full grown. Holland Lops are a litte bit smaller and typically grow to only about 5 lbs. I find from my personal experience that Mini Lops are more bold and playful than Holland Lops but Hollands seem more interested in people.
For a lot of people, some of their first choices are dwarf breeds because they're "oh so small and oh so cute". Dwarf breeds are notorious for being quite the snippy ones. Netherlands dwarfs are feisty little bunnies and are not afraid to give you a nip if you're doing something wrong. Most breeds that carry the dwarf gene are known to be a little nippy, so keep that in mind when choosing a rabbit.
Giant breeds such as the Flemish Giant (on average get about 15lbs and are known to get over 20lbs) and the Checkered Giant (get up to about 11lbs) are known to be the sweetest of the rabbit types, sort of "gentle giants". Giant breeds are difficult for first-timers though because they have very specific housing needs due to their large sizes.
I know that a good beginner rabbit would be a Mini Lop or a Holland Lop. They both have pretty even temperaments, and if socialized early enough, are pretty good about being pet and held (of course, there's a limit! 99% of rabbits hate to be held!) Mini Lops are a good, medium-sized rabbit that weigh 6-8lbs full grown. Holland Lops are a litte bit smaller and typically grow to only about 5 lbs. I find from my personal experience that Mini Lops are more bold and playful than Holland Lops but Hollands seem more interested in people.
For a lot of people, some of their first choices are dwarf breeds because they're "oh so small and oh so cute". Dwarf breeds are notorious for being quite the snippy ones. Netherlands dwarfs are feisty little bunnies and are not afraid to give you a nip if you're doing something wrong. Most breeds that carry the dwarf gene are known to be a little nippy, so keep that in mind when choosing a rabbit.
Giant breeds such as the Flemish Giant (on average get about 15lbs and are known to get over 20lbs) and the Checkered Giant (get up to about 11lbs) are known to be the sweetest of the rabbit types, sort of "gentle giants". Giant breeds are difficult for first-timers though because they have very specific housing needs due to their large sizes.
Where can I find a rabbit near me?
The first place people tend to look for rabbits is at pet stores. Please do not get a rabbit from a pet store. Rabbits sold in places like PetSmart, PetCo, etc. are typically unhealthy and not properly bred. The best place to find a rabbit near you is to first look in shelters. You may be thinking, "What? They don't have rabbits in shelters!" To the surprise of many people, rabbits are the 3rd most common pets that are surrendered into shelters. People would be surprised how many rabbits are adandoned, abused, or not properly cared for and have to be surrendered or taken from people and put up for adoption. People typically know little about what rabbits are up for adoption near them because rabbits are usually put into foster homes. A good place to find a rabbit who needs a home near you is PetFinder.com. Just type in your area code or city and state, select the rabbit option and if you have a breed preference and age, you can add those as well and it will filter out the choices for you that are within a certain area of where you live.
What's so great about adopting?
Adopting is wonderful because typically rabbits in shelters are already litter trained, health checked, are already spayed or neutered, and are much more used to people. When rabbits arrive in shelters, they are also sexed so you're sure what gender your rabbit is when you get it. Getting a baby rabbit from a breeder or petstore, you don't know what gender they are, they aren't yet checked by an exotics vet, aren't spayed or neutered (although this procedure can't be done until the rabbit is 6 months old), and if you're dealing with a BYD (back yard breeder) who breeds way more rabbits than they can handle, you'll be heading home with a little rabbit who isn't used to people at all.
I want a baby bunny. What if there aren't any babies available for adoption?
Baby bunnies aren't all they're cracked up to be. Babies can be sold at 8 weeks old (this is when they stop needing to drink milk from their mothers) and can live 10-12 years if cared for properly. Getting a baby rabbit, you are essentially dedicating the next decade of your life to caring for this rabbit. Getting older rabbits has its benefits. (I'm going to consider "older rabbits" as over a year- because rabbits over one year old are more common in shelters and people typically see baby rabbits as under 6 months old). When you adopt an "older rabbit", you're in luck because when rabbits are fostered, you can be assured of their temperament, gender, health issues, and one of the largest costs you'll ever have to pay for your rabbit will already be covered: spay or neuter (the cost of spaying and neutering varies depending on where you live and who does the procedure). Older rabbits are easier to litter train, are calmer, and are better with smaller children (unless otherwise specified by the shelter). If you have children, an older rabbit will be better for your family because they are much more calm. (I don't suggest getting a rabbit for your child if they are uder 12 years old as rabbits are an expensive, huge responsibility and are very delicate creatures. They can die from the simplest things that a young child would not notice.)