Any way of guessing a bunny's future temperament?
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ZRabbits
Well-Known Member
Nope, depends on you. You treat them with kindness, gentleness, concern for their well being, they will return it.
But no two bunnies are alike. We are thrilled that they are all individuals.
Suggestion: When you are looking for bunnies, make sure you hold them and see if they are excitable or calm. The calm ones are usually the ones being handled. I would prefer one that has had human contact from birth. They tend to be more friendly and bond closer to humans than those that have had hardly any contact.
Hope this helps. Wishing you luck on finding your new bunny.
K
But no two bunnies are alike. We are thrilled that they are all individuals.
Suggestion: When you are looking for bunnies, make sure you hold them and see if they are excitable or calm. The calm ones are usually the ones being handled. I would prefer one that has had human contact from birth. They tend to be more friendly and bond closer to humans than those that have had hardly any contact.
Hope this helps. Wishing you luck on finding your new bunny.
K
mrbunny
Well-Known Member
It's difficult to tell. As mentioned, be patient and treat them with kindness and they will return it.
There are wild cards. My Bighead is quite easily excitable; even when I first met him at the shelter. My other three rabbits were quite calm when I first met them and they are not nearly as friendly as my Bighead. Go with your gut.
There are wild cards. My Bighead is quite easily excitable; even when I first met him at the shelter. My other three rabbits were quite calm when I first met them and they are not nearly as friendly as my Bighead. Go with your gut.
LakeCondo
Well-Known Member
If you can meet both of the parents, that MIGHT help.
funnybunnymummy
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Temperment is partially environment and partially genetic. Some rabbits, no matter how they're treated are just not going to be people rabbits. Others will take all sorts of abuse and be just as affectionate.
I've heard of breeders removing aggressive rabbits from their breeding programs because they pass these traits on to their offspring.
Y'know, this might be a better question for the breeders. They'll have more experience with how rabbits temperments change from when they're a kit to when they're an adult. I'm going to move this thread to the Rabbitry for this reason.
Hope that helps!
Rue
I've heard of breeders removing aggressive rabbits from their breeding programs because they pass these traits on to their offspring.
Y'know, this might be a better question for the breeders. They'll have more experience with how rabbits temperments change from when they're a kit to when they're an adult. I'm going to move this thread to the Rabbitry for this reason.
Hope that helps!
Rue
ZRabbits
Well-Known Member
Not a breeder YET, but I do have experience from raising a kit to adult, almost.
Dobby and Kreacher are 10 months old today. I've had both of them from when they were 7-1/2 weeks. I met them for the first time at 5 weeks.
They are very friendly, well adjusted bunnies. I did make a ****oo with Dobby at 7 weeks by handling him wrong due to non-experience, but I did get that trust back and he is such a pleasure to be around.
The reason why we wanted rabbits so young is that we liked to enjoy the complete phase of an animal. Just like with our dogs and hamsters. It's just us.
I found that environment really does have a lot to do with good temperment. You might have a skittish or nervous bunny but can, with the right TLC, turn that bunny into a sweet creature who craves your attention. I do agree with Rue that a really nasty rabbit will come around that no TLC will do. It is best to not breed that sort of rabbit.
We decided that we would start our rabbitry with youngin's. Neville is 7 weeks today. Our doe will be as young as Neville, if the breeder feels she's ready, to come home to us. We want to raise them, thanks to the lessons and love from our other two, and then breed. We want to give them a good, balanced environment and then see what the kits are like. We will be hands on with these kits and see how the good, balanced environment will reflect in their sweet temperment.
Willard, our rescue, as well as Jake our "know for a fact" abused dog, could have been bitter and angry, but we were successful to show they were safe and loved.
99% it's we humans that make these pets mean and aggressive. I don't count does who are very protective mothers as aggressive.
We think very highly of our animals. Know they are animals but they are so much part of the family. You take your time, have patience, go at your bunny's speed, and truly observe and learn their signs, I think anyone would be success raising a bunny.
It's the breeder's responsibility to start their kits out on a sound road with a good environment, than it's the owner to continue it.
Just my opinion.
K
Dobby and Kreacher are 10 months old today. I've had both of them from when they were 7-1/2 weeks. I met them for the first time at 5 weeks.
They are very friendly, well adjusted bunnies. I did make a ****oo with Dobby at 7 weeks by handling him wrong due to non-experience, but I did get that trust back and he is such a pleasure to be around.
The reason why we wanted rabbits so young is that we liked to enjoy the complete phase of an animal. Just like with our dogs and hamsters. It's just us.
I found that environment really does have a lot to do with good temperment. You might have a skittish or nervous bunny but can, with the right TLC, turn that bunny into a sweet creature who craves your attention. I do agree with Rue that a really nasty rabbit will come around that no TLC will do. It is best to not breed that sort of rabbit.
We decided that we would start our rabbitry with youngin's. Neville is 7 weeks today. Our doe will be as young as Neville, if the breeder feels she's ready, to come home to us. We want to raise them, thanks to the lessons and love from our other two, and then breed. We want to give them a good, balanced environment and then see what the kits are like. We will be hands on with these kits and see how the good, balanced environment will reflect in their sweet temperment.
Willard, our rescue, as well as Jake our "know for a fact" abused dog, could have been bitter and angry, but we were successful to show they were safe and loved.
99% it's we humans that make these pets mean and aggressive. I don't count does who are very protective mothers as aggressive.
We think very highly of our animals. Know they are animals but they are so much part of the family. You take your time, have patience, go at your bunny's speed, and truly observe and learn their signs, I think anyone would be success raising a bunny.
It's the breeder's responsibility to start their kits out on a sound road with a good environment, than it's the owner to continue it.
Just my opinion.
K
To understand a rabbit's temperament it would help to know what breed(s) it is. Some breeds make good lap rabbits and some are just plain hyper. There are always exceptions to the rule, but researching the breed of a rabbit you're interested incan help you understand a particular rabbit better. As someone said, how they were handled and socialized when they were young also has a bearing, too.
woahlookitsme
Well-Known Member
I agree with ^ my tans are very active as soon as they are born and are active even past 1 yr of age. Some more crazy than others but you can tell when u handle them. The more calmer babies will usually stay that way and the harder ones to handle will stay unless time is put in to put their craziness in some other activity. Ex: my diesel has always hated to be handled and carried he more esembles the average tan he would never bite or act aggressive when loose but just has more energy than he knows what to do with. So I recommended whoever bought him could use him for rabbit hopping (he would be really good at it)
Bunnykinz
Well-Known Member
Breed does have a lot to do with it. When my Bryn was just a baby he was quite calm when held and actually fell asleep in my arms. (He was about 4 weeks old when I first met him) Now he is not affectionate and definitely not a people rabbit. But he is a Netherland Dwarf so I wasn't expecting him to be mellow!
My sister raised a Holland Lop, the exact same way and he was mellow and almost affectionate!
But he is a Netherland Dwarf so I wasn't expecting him to be mellow! My sister raised a Holland Lop, the exact same way and he was mellow and almost affectionate!
:yeahthat:
