Who has rabbits?

HayleyMarie

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#22
My brother has a lionhead mini lop cross. She is a very hormonals, territorial girl. She does not bite and is friendly, but does not seek your attention. She will follow you around the house though.

She hates Teagan and will grunt, growl and body slam Teagan. Loves Casey though. They are best buds.
 

~Dixie's_Mom~

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#23
SaraHound: I know! :( Oh well, I'm not fully ready for one yet. I'd like to have a job so I can afford any vet care.

HayleyMarie: I've heard that mini lops can be kind of grumpy. I never experienced this with mine, but he was a male, so maybe there's a difference? I know females in any animal tend to be a bit more 'bitchy' but not sure if it hold true with bunnies or not.
 

SarahHound

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#24
The general rule is Netherlands and Polish are the most aggressive, but just like in dog breeds, it depends on the individual and how its brought up. I personally have found mini lops to be the most affectionate, but it depends on their upbringing!
 

~Dixie's_Mom~

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#25
The general rule is Netherlands and Polish are the most aggressive, but just like in dog breeds, it depends on the individual and how its brought up. I personally have found mini lops to be the most affectionate, but it depends on their upbringing!
I never knew that! I always heard that Netherlands tended to be one of the more docile breeds. When I had them growing up, most of ours were really sweet except one. But like you said, I guess it depends on their upbringing. It's good to know that they're generally more aggressive though. I think I'll probably go with a mini lop when I get one.

I've had the same experience as you with mini lops though. Mine was sooo sweet, just like a little dog almost, he'd follow me everywhere and jump in my lap if I sat on the floor.
 
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#26
The general rule is Netherlands and Polish are the most aggressive, but just like in dog breeds, it depends on the individual and how its brought up. I personally have found mini lops to be the most affectionate, but it depends on their upbringing!
Just so there isn't any confusion, your Polish is our (American) Britannia Petite. http://www.britanniapetites.com/

I do have some American Polish and mine are quite docile.
 

HayleyMarie

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#27
I think if Bun's was spayed it would make her alot more docile, but its too much of a risk for us to put her under.

Plus she has so much attitude and spunk. We like her cranky self :) She fits right in with the terriers.
 

Shai

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#28
I had many Californians, one New Zealand, and a couple Mini Rex over the years. The Mini Rex tended to make fabulous pets -- and their fur is so soft that it makes even other rabbits look harsh. Plus they are a nice size (for pets) and come in a wide array of colors...very fun :)
 

SarahHound

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#29
Just so there isn't any confusion, your Polish is our (American) Britannia Petite. http://www.britanniapetites.com/

I do have some American Polish and mine are quite docile.
And our Mini Lops are your Holland Lops, while your Mini Lops are our Dwarf Lops. Our Silver Foxes are also your Silver Martens!

Why can't they all just be the same? :lol-sign:
 

Southpaw

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#30
Okay, I really don't like rabbits, but SarahHound yours are GORGEOUS! And their hutch is really cute!
 

~Dixie's_Mom~

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#33
Okay, thanks! I'd like to get mine spayed/neutered regardless, but it's good to know you haven't had any issues with not spaying.
 

Xandra

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#35
I've had quite a few rabbits, just got a NZW doe yesterday. Unlimited hay & water, a bowl of pellets (.Timothy based is supposedly better), lots of vegetables & grazing (I never purposefully limited either). Vets are expensive, and I've found rabbits very delicate. Often when they're sick they're finished no matter how much $$ you throw into them or at what vet's. Be sure and ask your vet what their rabbit anesthesia survival rate is.

I have found males less aggressive. I don't think I ever had a male that bit/growled/lunged. That said, sweetest rabbit i ever owned/met was a doe and the meanest I've encountered was a buck. Males tend to spray urine unless neutered.
 

Emily

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#36
As a current non-rabbit person, but someone would like own one someday, I have a really, REALLY hard time swallowing the mantra that all behavioral and health problems in pet rabbits come from having their gonads. This is only compounded by things like this:

Spayed or neutered rabbits that live in the house on the proper diet have a life span of ten to thirteen years.
Unspayed/unneutered rabbits that live outside have an average life span of three years.
*facepalm*

I hope the issue with that "fact" is obvious.
 

Xandra

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#37
Yeah, ive had rabbits constantly for over a decade, intact and altered and haven't noticed a difference healthwise. Havent noticed a difference "human-aggressive" wise. I've had rabbits altered that were altered ASAP that were nippy and growly, had rabbits altered at several months to a year that retained prior personality. I'll have to think about whether rabbit-aggression changed much. My sweet rabbit was always sweet and my most aggressive remained aggressive but I'll have to think about the in-betweens.

However, I do think altering helped spraying behavior in males ( I'll have to contemplate my evidence as it's been 5 years or so since I've had an intact male)

As far as 80% of does getting uterine cancer by 4, I suspect that's BS at least in part (though I'm not blaming SarahHound as I know HRS and every other modern pet rabbit keeping organization claims this)

I should ask the breeder I bought the NZW from if it's rare for a doe to make it past four.
 

Shai

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#38
Erm I had about 9 intact females over the years. None were spayed and the 7 I had their whole lives lived 6-8 years. Also had about 3 bucks, but I only had two their whole lives, they had a similar lifespan. All were handled regularly at home, and annually while showing were handled by strangers, and all but one were people-friendly. All but one (same one) were pretty friendly with other rabbits as well.

I've seen the dead-by-4 claim before and wondered, but my info is anecdotal at best so take it for what it is.
 

Shai

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#40
No but they had their own dedicated building and I wasn't looking for it. I was pretty young at the time.
 

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