Where To Buy Pet Rabbits

The Best Source For Healthy Pet Rabbits

Serious hobbyists and rabbit fanciers are your best source for healthy pet rabbits.  Read more to find out why.

No Pet Shops, Please

I bought my first rabbits from pet stores.  I do not know what breed they were, though I suspect now that one was either a Holland lop or a mini lop and I'm not certain about their gender.  You see, the young lady who was working at the pet shop that day really didn't know much about them.  And I knew even less.

That situation is not uncommon I have found.  Many people have purchased pets from pet stores and then write to ask me questions about their rabbits.  They do not feel that the pets shop could or would answer their questions.

I've also heard from people who bought rabbits that were supposed to stay small and ended up being huge bunnies - not what was desired or expected.

I sold bunnies to pet shops twice.  I found the experience very undesirable.  The shop did not want to know the genders or birthdates of the rabbits.  They didn't seem to understand why I was bringing transitional feed to them.  I was so dissatisfied with the experience that I decided never to sell to pet shops again.  I have talked with many other serious hobbyist/breeders who had similar experiences.  There are always exceptions, of course.

Flea Markets Are Too Chancy

Flea markets can be great places for bargains, but pet rabbits bred to sell at a flea market are likely to be mixed breed rabbits who are raised in a minimal or even substandard environment.  Certainly you can get lucky and get a great rabbit that way, but who can you go back to with a question?  And what do you do when the rabbit gets sick or dies within a few days?  Recently, an outbreak of a deadly rabbit disease was traced back to sales at a flea market.  How would you trace your rabbit's origins if you heard about such an outbreak in your area?  If I am going to commit to a rabbit for 7 to 12 years, I want to make sure that he or she is from excellent stock and received the best of care.

Backyard Breeders, Close But No Cigar

Backyard breeders may indeed love their rabbits and give them the best care that they know how.  But if they are raising rabbits to sell for profit and charge low prices, they must cut corners somewhere.  The first corner is probably the stock they purchased to begin with.  Feed, housing and health care are other corners than can be cut.  Avoid breeders who are cranking out rabbits in order to have pets to sell.  The quality can be very disappointing.

Serious Hobbyists And Rabbit Fanciers - That's The Ticket!

Hobbyists may also have their bunnies in their backyards or basements or in sheds.  To the uninitiated observer, they may look like backyard breeders, but there are several very important differences.  First, hobbyists are breeding to produce the very best rabbits they can.  Specialty club membership requires a pledge to work for the betterment of the breed.  Hobbyists compete in rabbit shows throughout the year and each breeding is done in the hopes of producing better show rabbit - rabbits that can become grand champions.  Sometimes the resulting rabbits do not quite meet show rabbit standards.  These rabbits are sold as pet rabbits.  They are far superior to the average pet store rabbit.

Pet rabbits from hobbyists come from superior, pedigreed parent rabbits.  They are cared for in the same manner as future grand champions.  The hobbyist will spend a great deal of time learning about and caring for their herd of rabbits.  They have a great deal of time, energy and money invested in their rabbits.  Pet rabbit sales will never cover their expenses.  But it is a hobby and not a business, so they will sell you an excellent pet rabbit at a reasonable price.

Hobbyists can accurately sex your pet rabbit for you.  They can give you an accurate estimate of the pet rabbit's adult weight.  They should be able to provide you with your new bunny rabbit's birthday.  Also, the hobbyist can answer your questions and point you to appropriate resources for even more information.  If a problem should arise, an excellent hobbyist will stand behind their rabbit and most have replacement policies in case of health problems that should occur shortly after your purchase.

There is absolutely no doubt that taking a few minutes to locate the rabbit breeder hobbyists near you is well worth the time.

How To Find a Serious Rabbit Fancier

Visit the American Rabbit Breeders Association website.  Click on the "breed photos" at the top of the page.  Look over the breeds and select one you are interested in.  When you click the picture of the rabbit, you will go to the national specialty club website for that breed, if there is one (most have them).  Some clubs have member lists.  Other times, you'll need to email the club secretary for information about breeders in your area.