TinysMom
Well-Known Member
OakRidgeRabbits wrote:
Lionhead breeders can be nice - but a large number of the ones who are "out there" showing, etc. - can also be very mean. They may smile to your face - but behind your back they are making fun of your stock and sometimes they will not hesitate to tell others, "You don't want to buy from so and so because she doesn't know what she's doing".
I'm not saying that ALL lionhead breeders are like that - many are nice and helpful - but a lot of them can be cruel. All it takes is showing one "not so great" rabbit - and having the wrong person noticing it - and gossip can/will spread like wildfire.
I don't know about other breeds as I haven't experienced that with other breeds - but many of the breeders I've heard talk - can be that way.
I know that lionheads aren't yet an accepted breed - but it is still important to breed to the standard. And the standard calls for a SHORT-BODIED rabbit.
Let me give you an example. Look at a picture of a holland lop - and then look at a flemish or Californian. Notice how the holland lop sits upright - with a curve to its back (not a curve...but it isn't straight either). Now look at the flemish or Californian...see how it is LONG and it lays out on the table? It doesn't really sit upright - but instead lays down?
The lionheads I think I've seen you have (it seemed like you had others) - are long in body. They tend to lay out more like the flemish. A short-bodied rabbit will naturally sit in the posed position because it feels most comfortable to them.
Here's one way I've explained it before...but its been a while.
Hold your hand out in front of you. Look at your thumb, your middle finger and your pinkie finger.
See how your pinkie finger is shorter than your middle finger? That's great - but your pinkie finger is probably narrower than your middle finger.
Now look at your thumb. It too is shorter than your middle finger - but it is wider than your pinkie.
You want to find the short-bodied rabbits that have bigger/wider bones (too often I see lionheads with fine very fine bone - which you can tell by looking at the size and shape of the feet).
My concern is - you will take your rabbits to a show somewhere to be judged..and your name will get spread around as someone who doesn't know what they're doing. I don't want to see you get hurt.
My best suggestion is to visit lionhead breeders' websites - study their rabbits and notice how their bodies are shaped. One of my favorite breeders with good prices is legendaryminis.com - they show on their pages what awards their rabbits have won. Look at the ones that have won awards and study their body type.
Then visit other lionhead breeders' pages and study their body types.
I did this between my first and second shows because someone took me under their wing and taught me this by having me go to webpages and talking to me about what I was seeing. From then on - every rabbit but one - always got the comment "good type", "very good type" or "excellent type".
Type is very important because you can bring the mane into your breeding if you have good typed rabbits but you HAVE to get that type (short wide body) down first.
Once again - I don't mean to hurt you. But I would rather share this with you (and let others read it and learn) than to see you get hurt.
As much as I love lionheads - I don't know that I will ever get into them again. If I do - I will probably start with a trio from Legendary Minis or Castle Gate Lionheads. I'm sharing these two not to sell for them - but to suggest you study their stock.
Misty - I'm going to say some things here that I know will probably sound wrong or mean of me (not about you). But I bred lionheads for 3 years and I've "been around" and have met a large number of the breeders and I've heard them talk and I know what they can be like. So I'm saying what I'm about to say - because I care about you. Ok?
Lionhead breeders can be nice - but a large number of the ones who are "out there" showing, etc. - can also be very mean. They may smile to your face - but behind your back they are making fun of your stock and sometimes they will not hesitate to tell others, "You don't want to buy from so and so because she doesn't know what she's doing".
I'm not saying that ALL lionhead breeders are like that - many are nice and helpful - but a lot of them can be cruel. All it takes is showing one "not so great" rabbit - and having the wrong person noticing it - and gossip can/will spread like wildfire.
I don't know about other breeds as I haven't experienced that with other breeds - but many of the breeders I've heard talk - can be that way.
I know that lionheads aren't yet an accepted breed - but it is still important to breed to the standard. And the standard calls for a SHORT-BODIED rabbit.
Let me give you an example. Look at a picture of a holland lop - and then look at a flemish or Californian. Notice how the holland lop sits upright - with a curve to its back (not a curve...but it isn't straight either). Now look at the flemish or Californian...see how it is LONG and it lays out on the table? It doesn't really sit upright - but instead lays down?
The lionheads I think I've seen you have (it seemed like you had others) - are long in body. They tend to lay out more like the flemish. A short-bodied rabbit will naturally sit in the posed position because it feels most comfortable to them.
Here's one way I've explained it before...but its been a while.
Hold your hand out in front of you. Look at your thumb, your middle finger and your pinkie finger.
See how your pinkie finger is shorter than your middle finger? That's great - but your pinkie finger is probably narrower than your middle finger.
Now look at your thumb. It too is shorter than your middle finger - but it is wider than your pinkie.
You want to find the short-bodied rabbits that have bigger/wider bones (too often I see lionheads with fine very fine bone - which you can tell by looking at the size and shape of the feet).
My concern is - you will take your rabbits to a show somewhere to be judged..and your name will get spread around as someone who doesn't know what they're doing. I don't want to see you get hurt.
My best suggestion is to visit lionhead breeders' websites - study their rabbits and notice how their bodies are shaped. One of my favorite breeders with good prices is legendaryminis.com - they show on their pages what awards their rabbits have won. Look at the ones that have won awards and study their body type.
Then visit other lionhead breeders' pages and study their body types.
I did this between my first and second shows because someone took me under their wing and taught me this by having me go to webpages and talking to me about what I was seeing. From then on - every rabbit but one - always got the comment "good type", "very good type" or "excellent type".
Type is very important because you can bring the mane into your breeding if you have good typed rabbits but you HAVE to get that type (short wide body) down first.
Once again - I don't mean to hurt you. But I would rather share this with you (and let others read it and learn) than to see you get hurt.
As much as I love lionheads - I don't know that I will ever get into them again. If I do - I will probably start with a trio from Legendary Minis or Castle Gate Lionheads. I'm sharing these two not to sell for them - but to suggest you study their stock.
So try to do some more research about them before you get anymore. You can try to start over. Sometimes you just have to, as much as it sucks. lol So sell what won't work to improve your herd (keep a few sweet pets, I'm guilty of it too. lol Just don't keep to many!!!) Then seriously, if you need help, we have to get to another show together! Me and Christine will help you find the good stuff! Or she might even have something for sale to get you on the right track.
