FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
is there a difference between boy and girl bunnies? which one makes the better pet?
Typically males/bucks make the better pet. Females CAN get territorial once their hormones kick in at around 6 months of age. This isn't so prominent in my Holland Lops - definitely more of an issue with Netherland Dwarfs, in my personal experience. Females can also exhibit nesting behaviors and tend to be more standoffish.
Can rabbits be litter trained?
Yes! Rabbits generally pick a corner to eliminate in. You want to put your litter box (I use Dish Pans from The Dollar Tree with a semi-circle cut out to make getting in the box easier) in the corner that you notice your bunny using. You also want to put hay in the box or hanging from a hay rack in the same area as the litter box. Rabbits eliminate while they are munching. You also want to praise your bunny when they do a good job, just as you would a puppy that you are housebreaking. Most of my customers say their rabbit is fully trained in about 3 days.
is it safe to house my rabbit outdoors?
I am not a fan of outdoor housing at all. Your rabbit wants to be a part of your family. A rabbit isolated in a hutch is generally not a happy rabbit. Also, temps above 85 degrees are dangerous for rabbits. They are also at risk for being attacked by predators - which can be anything from a neighborhood dog to an opposum or raccoon. Also, you risk exposing them to pests such as fleas or conditions such as flystrike. You can read about flystrike at this link http://www.rabbit.org/journal/2-12/fly-strike.html
does my rabbit need a friend?
Rabbits are social animals and generally do better in pairs, however, two rabbits mean twice the cleanup as just one bunny. I typically tell people to not feel pressured to get two rabbits. I believe that a responsible pet owner would know if their rabbit needs a buddy. If they get to be out of their cage alot and spend lots of time interacting with family members, chances are your bunny would be quite happy. I will say though that two buns really are twice the fun! I always enjoy watching two bunnies interact with each other, playing or just snuggling up and licking each other. Most people want two females since they don't want any babies and two boys will most likely fight with each other, however, there have been plenty of instances where the two females have had to be separated because one was dominating and beating the other one up. The ideal pair is a male and female - fixed, of course! Because dwarf rabbits can be sexually mature as early as 8 weeks of age, I would recommend buying the male first, then getting him fixed and then acquiring your female. If not, he will most likely spend most of his time "sexually harassing" the female and that is no fun for her!!
can i bring my other bunny or my dog or cat when i come to pick out my bunny?
No. Please do not bring any other animals with you when you come to pick out or pick up your rabbit. Two bunnies will most likely have to go through a special bonding process. This needs to be done at your place and on your time. I cannot risk injury to your current pet or to my bunnies.
what size cage do you recommend?
The biggest one you possibly can! The absolute minimum size recommended is 24"x24" but this really is inadequate. Bunnies should be able to make 3-4 hops comfortably in their cage. Some people even build their own. Some like to use a Play Yard instead of a cage. I have a cage that I like to recommend and it can be found at this link http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=6067+28200+23958&pcatid=23958 . I would suggest you buy the Extra Large size.
Many other questions can be answered by reading the Basic Bunny Care information found at this link /basic-bunny-care.html