Need Help with Rabbit Etiquette Question

[mewlingcricket]

My daughter and I have purchased a few bunnies (7-8 weeks old) recently from breeders who had not named their buns. Now my daughter has fallen in love with a bunny but hates the name the breeder has given it. He is only 8 weeks old. Is there an etiquette about naming/renaming rabbits. She wants to change the name, but I would still give the "credit" of the rabbit to the rabbitry i am purchasing the bunny from. I am new to this and don't want to offend anyone......thanks for your help.

 

[polly]

I shouldnt think there would be a problem. It may be worth a email or a quick call to the breeder to say what you just said in your post that way the breeder will feel informed and you dont have to worry

I had a rabbit I wanted to declare as a champ that we showed and he had bred I just emailed him to ask if it was ok and as he adds Rankin to all his rabbits I registered him yoda of rankin so breeders looing would know where he came from

 

[Starlight Rabbitry]

Does the rabbit's name have a prefix? You can change the name but out of proper etiquette, should keep the prefix. For Example, my prefix is Star's. All my rabbits that are born in my rabbitry have this prefix. Then I add a name like Dakota. This name is the name you can change without causing any problems In reality, you own the animal and can change the ENTIRE name including the prefix, but most breeders don't out of respect.

Sharon

 

[mewlingcricket]

Thanks everyone

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

On the other hand, I know a lot of breeders who really don't appreciate a name change and find it really disrespectful. My prefix is Oak Ridge's. So if I name one Oak Ridge's Rabbit, its formal name and registration name (if it's ever registered) better be Oak Ridge's Rabbit.

Now, if you wanted to use Paul for his call name, go for it. He probably doesn't care what his name is. But when a breeder names their rabbit, it should be an indication (for most breeders) that they want the name to stay.

On the other hand, some breeders will leave the pedigree blank. Oak Ridge's ________, for you to fill in. Or some may put the tattoo number. Oak Ridge's X445. This indicates that the breeder expects you to name the rabbit.

So in my experience, if you're looking to change a name that is already prefixed on the pedigree, you'll definitely want to contact the breeder about it. Some may not care and let you change it if the rabbit hasn't been bred. But the point of that name is record keeping. So that on my babies from that rabbit, it is Oak Ridge's Rabbit and on your babies from the same rabbit, it is Oak Ridge's Rabbit in the pedigree. And it clearly differentiates exactly which rabbit was bred.

 

[pamnock]

The breeder's records will have the name they assigned to the rabbit. Unless you contact the breeder about changing it on their records - I wouldn't. You can call the rabbit whatever you want, but paperwork shouldn't be altered.

This is also important in the event that you lose your pedigree and need it replaced.

 

[Erins Rabbits]

What Pam Said.

You can call the rabbit whatever you want. Do NOT under any circumstances, alter a pedigree, though. It reflects poorly on you. Many of my rabbits have a call name, AND a pedigree name. On websites, they're listed by their pedigree name. In my barn, their called by their call name.

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

I agree with what everyone else has said.

You should keep the pedigreed name (if there is one) as well as the prefix, but you can "call" the rabbit whatever you like. Should you breed her, her pedigreed name goes on the kits' pedigrees...you could put her call name in quotations next to it, if there's room. That's what I do, and I also do that on my website.

For instance, I just rehomed a doe; she left here BSA's L.B. (stands for Long Beach) and the boy gave her a call name, "Snow". That's not her pedigreed name, but just her call name.

Emily

 

[Shaded Night Rabbitry]

I agree with everyone above, but will add my own 2 cents.

Any animal I call something different doesn't get their name changed on their pedigree, but on my website will say: Lots-A-Hop's Seduction (Sadie) or
Country Field's 9M6 (Beatrix)

 

[The Turtle]

We have no problem with other people naming our wabbits, and generally, unless we're keeping them, we refer to them by the temporary ear numbers we used to keep track of them while they grew up (hence, my favorite wabbit, "four," who has a new name now. When we've sold wabbits to other breeders, if they pick a name, it may end up on the pedigree, but if not, then the pedigree gets written without a name.

When we get a wabbit that is already named, we have always left it as is, even if the pedigree that comes with it doesn't mention that name.

My general feeling is, the buyer is paying for that ear number and pedigree, and they can call it whatever they like. I would like to think we pick great wabbit names, but we are not wizards.

 

[jubidyjub]

I wouldn't change the name on the pedigree. You can call it whatever you want, but the breeder probably has records on it. If you're desperate to change it even on the papers, try calling the breeding and politely asking if it would be okay.

But you can call the bunny whatever you want.