Showing Your Rabbit

So you think you may want to show your rabbits. But you have a lot of questions.  How do I know if I have a rabbit good enough to show?  How do I know where the shows are?  What do I need to do before I start showing?

The first thing you want to do I join the American Rabbit Breeders Association, known as ARBA. Upon joining you get a very informative book and raising and breeding rabbits, showing and diseases. This book will explain everything you want to know about showing a rabbit, pedigrees,  how to get legs, registrations and Grand Champion certificates. You also get a quarterly magazine called Domestic Rabbits with lots of informative rabbit articles and show dates and what city the show is being held in. There is a link to ARBA on our home page.

The "Standard of Perfection" is a book put out by the ARBA, which gives specific information on each breed of rabbit. This book is a must for anyone who shows rabbits. It tells you everything you need to know about each breed of rabbits both good things and faults. With out this book, you wouldn't be able to tell if you had a rabbit the meets the standard of showing.

You don't have to be a member of ARBA to show your rabbit. But you would not qualify for any legs or awards. Your rabbit must be a pure bred to be shown.

When you begin your search for the perfect show rabbit it is best to go with a reputable breeder. A good breeder will point out a rabbits good points as well as bad. If you can afford it, purchase the best quality from the start. If you are not comfortable with your own judgment, ask other breeders to evaluate the rabbit for you. You want to buy bucks and does that compliment each other. If one has a fault, the other should be good in that area in hopes of producing kits that show well.

Don't be too quick to pick out that cute little baby. A rabbit doesn't show its full potential (or faults) until it is a full-grown. You can't properly judge a rabbit at a young age.

Unless you have decided to go with a specific variety, don't pay too much attention to color. Type is more important. Make sure the Jersey Wooly had a good head, shoulders, back and hindquarters.

You will need to get a catalog about the show ahead of time. You can get this by writing to she shows secretary. Show locations, dates and secretaries address is listed in each addition of ARBA's Domestic Rabbits magazine or their web site.

You simply write:

Please send me a catalog to the March 5^th show in (name of town). Make sure you put your name and address on the paper.

The show will either be a day of entry or pre-entry. For a pre-entry show you will fill out the form that comes with the catalog and send it along with your entry fees back to the secretary by the certain date. Day of entry shows are just that. You show up with your rabbits and enter them that day. These shows are an advantage to the breeder as you can bring your rabbits that are in the best condition that day. There is nothing worse then pre-entering a rabbit only to have it go in to molt just before a show.

Tell the show people you are new to showing. Everyone is more then willing to help you with any question or something you don't quite understand. Rabbit breeders are a good group of people. They take care of each other.

Showing is one of our favorite parts of raising rabbits. We have met truly wonderful people and have made many friends in the rabbit world.

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