Buying Rabbits To Show

So you just started in the rabbit hobby and want to show but don't have any show rabbits yet.  Where do you find show rabbits and how do you pick out good show rabbits?  We've got some advice below to help you get off to a good start!

FIRST - Plan To Start Slowly

Start slowly and keep it simple - try to choose only one or two breeds per person in your family.  Owning too many breeds can make it difficult to do well with any one of them-you'll become a 'jack of all trades, master of none'.  There is plenty of time to add breeds to your herd later on......

Where to Find Show Rabbits

The best place to find show rabbits is at a rabbit show!  Jump over to our page on How To Find Rabbit Shows, to find future rabbit shows in your area. 

Rabbit shows don't charge 'general admission' so just show up and come on in!  Don't be intimidated by all the people - you'll find most to be of a friendly, helpful sort.

Most selling rabbits will display for sale signs, and if you don't see what you'd like, just start asking around - most will point you to breeders who can help you.

The Standard of Perfection: An Invaluable Tool for the Rabbit Exhibitor

Every rabbit breeder and exhibitor should own a copy of the American Rabbit Breeder's Association publication The Standard of Perfection.  This book lists all the recognized rabbit and cavy breeds, their showroom classes and weights, accepted colors, faults and disqualifications.  Rabbit judges base their judging placements by the information in this book. 

This book is extremely useful to anyone buying rabbits - you'll have everything you need to choose the right rabbit, at your fingertips!  This book is readily available for less than $20 through the ARBA website, or you can usually purchase it directly from any rabbit supply company.  Click this line to jump to the ARBA website page to purchase your copy of The Standard of Perfection!

Picking Out a Show Rabbit-Some Basic Tips

• Tell the seller you are looking for a rabbit that you can show - otherwise you may end up with breeding stock!
• Inspect the Rabbit!  thoroughly inspect every rabbit you are interested in - ask an experienced breeder for help if you are not sure how to do this.  This is where having The Standard of Perfection really comes in handy......
• Disqualifications -  If a judge finds a disqualification on your rabbit, the rabbit is 'DQ'd" and removed from competition. Check carefully for and refuse any rabbit that has disqualifications.  Ask the seller if the rabbit has any disqualifications.  Some DQs are; malocclusion, split penis, neutered rabbits, wrong colored eyes or toenails, missing toenails, broken tail and more (complete list is in the Standard of Perfection). 
• Faults - most rabbits have some faults which are usually simple cosmetic or structural defects that don't disqualify the rabbit from competition, but can affect placement in the class.  Most breeders are not going to sell you any 'fault-less' rabbits they themselves own, so you will need to choose rabbits that have the fewest faults as possible, or faults that are considered minor for the breed. Again, ask the seller to point out the faults on the rabbit you are interested in.
• For your first show rabbit - choose an adult - this way you will not be surprised by a youngster who grows into an unshowable rabbit!
• Weigh the rabbit - make sure the rabbit is within the breed standard weight as listed in The Standard of Perfection - oversized or overweight does are commonly called 'brood does' and are used for breeding, not showing.  Shy away from oversized bucks being sold as 'brood bucks' - oversized bucks are not normally used in breeding programs, especially by inexperienced breeders!

What Kind of Sale Policies Do Breeders Use?

Unfortunately there are no standards for rabbit sales - each breeder has his or her own policies and you, as an interested buyer, should ask the seller about their policies before you decide to buy.

Here are a few commonly-used policies and practices:

1)  Unless you personally know the seller, most will require full payment in CASH.

2)  If you are buying a pedigreed rabbit, ask for, and expect the pedigree (written 3 or 4 generation ancestry of the rabbit) at the time of sale.

3)  Ask for a baggie of the rabbit's current feed so you can transition the rabbit slowly over to your feed.

4)  Most breeders will not guarantee your success showing or breeding any rabbit you buy.  There are too many factors that can affect showing and breeding, out of the seller's control.

5)  Refund and return policies seem to vary widely among breeders - some will never give a refund or allow a return and some will, depending upon the reason.  You really need to ask about this and clearly understand what the seller will allow so there are no disappointments.

6)  If you decide to buy a young rabbit, keep in mind that most US States don't allow sales of rabbits under 8 weeks of age.  Know the law in your state!

How Much Do Show Rabbits Cost?

Pricing varies widely: expect to pay over-inflated prices at any national convention or breed show, oftentimes double what the same rabbit would cost if purchased locally.  Very popular and competitive breeds can be locally expensive for good ones - usually between $100-$200 range.  Less popular breeds generally run between $20 and $50 a rabbit. 

Choose your rabbits carefully - a high price doesn't always mean the rabbit is top show quality!  Sometimes breeders just expect more money for their rabbits than they are worth.....

Good communication and honesty are the keys to any successful sales transaction - ask questions and expect answers!  If you do not feel comfortable with the seller or any policies, back out and look elsewhere.