Rabbits

Rabbits are very popular pets and I still have a soft spot for them, I get tempted every time I visit PAH - they have some very pretty young rabbits just by the checkout!

I do wonder how suitable they are for young children though - obviously we know better than to pick them up by their ears (a popular method in bygone days), but practically all the rabbits we've had (except a sweet little Dutch) tried to disembowel me or the children when picked up, nasty scratches down the arms resulting.

The worstest, baddest rabbit was one my son found wandering about the streets and brought home. He had the most superb glossy coat, and was quiet at first and we rigged up a home for him in our utility room. The next couple of days showed his true colours - whenever I put a hand down to change his water or even feed him he would attack with sharp front claws and teeth! Ungrateful little get.

I still get tempted by the pretty little things though.

Yes, they're pretty, as you say, not quite the little angels some people think!

LyndaW wrote:practically all the rabbits we've had (except a sweet little Dutch) tried to disembowel me or the children when picked up, nasty scratches down the arms resulting.

The worstest, baddest rabbit was one my son found wandering about the streets and brought home.  He had the most superb glossy coat, and was quiet at first and we rigged up a home for him in our utility room.  The next couple of days showed his true colours - whenever I put a hand down to change his water or even feed him he would attack with sharp front claws and teeth! Ungrateful little get.  

Oh, I can just picture it!

I love them, but no, I don't think they're ideal pets for young children. The rabbits I worked with on my course were evil little sods! When I was on rabbit duties, I had to sit in there and shift all their bedding to clean up the poop - couldn't turn the rabbits out into their grass enclosures, as it was too cold. Every couple of minutes, I'd hear loud squealing and shrieking when the rabbits started to fight. If there were no other rabbits to fight, they'd fight the closest other moving thing - me!

Love your pic Caryll, how accurate is that! It's such a pity isn't it, they look so pretty and angelic and the fur just behind their ears is the softest ever you just want to snuggle it, but what evil little temperaments hide behind those angelic exteriors.  

I still hanker after two little rabbits I saw recently at PAH though ......

My oh used to have rabbits (before he met me) and they were always fighting & beating up his sister's dog!

I only knew Ralph (a huge white rabbit) when he was very old, but even then he was a force to be reckoned with!

Two of the biggest devils on duties:



They look so cute and fluffy, but they were evil!

Look at those cute, fluffy little angels!  

  

The little albino could be cute sometimes, but she'd suddenly decide she didn't want to be held and would start biting.

Thank you for hardening my heart against those two gorgeous little rabbits at PAH. I know I'd be mad to get them - Kuchar has never seen a rabbit but he would go bonkers if he saw them, I'm sure.

I'm sure pet rabbits can be habituated to handling, the same as most pets I've only had experience with the ones in the pics though, who weren't very well socialised.

LyndaW wrote:Thank you for hardening my heart against those two gorgeous little rabbits at PAH.  I know I'd be mad to get them - Kuchar has never seen a rabbit but he would go bonkers if he saw them, I'm sure.

I'm afraid Dempsey would kill a rabbit, give half a chance!  

OMG how I tried to habituate those rabbits to handling!  But a fighting ball of fury is a fighting ball of fury - just didn't want to be gentled (except the little Dutch, who I sobbed over when he died).

Strangely enough, my Dobies didn't pay any attention to the rabbits, but seeing how very excited Kuchar gets about squirrels I think he would be the same with rabbits.

I'm putting those gorgeous little rabbits at PAH out of my mind - as of now!

Oh dear! feisty little things were they?

LyndaW wrote:OMG how I tried to habituate those rabbits to handling!  But a fighting ball of fury is a fighting ball of fury

   

ECdogs wrote: Oh dear! feisty little things were they?

Most of them, yes - unfortunately.

It's always the quiet, fluffy ones, eh?

ECdogs wrote:It's always the quiet, fluffy ones, eh?

Very possibly Eleanor, although I'm more of sleek-coated fan myself (with any animal) and have never had a fluffy coated animal in my life!

Reminds me a bit of the Gremlins.............  

The fluffy ones? I see your point!