RABBIT CARE AND TRAINING SECRETS

Sunday 30 May 2010

Rabbit As Indoor Pets - Rabbit Care Tips

Having a rabbit as an indoor pet can seem great for kids. This, however, isn't always what it seems. Kids can be too young and immature to handle rabbits right. Sure, bunnies are cute...but they are totally different than the way they're portrayed on cartoons.

For most rabbits, being held is not something enjoyable. When rabbits are held, some will jump and try to claw their way to the floor. This can leave your kids with many scratches. Also, your kids may not know how to properly handle rabbits and strangle or even break their very delicate bones.

Rabbits aren't like other household animals. They are very shy and cautious. Loud noise and fast movements will scare them easily. This can be disappointing for a kid that wants to play with the bunny all day. A bunny is more likely to play with someone if they're just sitting down relaxed. Also, unlike other animals, rabbits like plenty of peace and quiet time.

Choosing to own a rabbit is a big decision. They can live up to and over 10 years. During this time, kids will grow older and may not be interested in caring for it anymore. Rabbits do require constant care. Their cages need to be cleaned and they need fresh food and water constantly. Also, other caring such as grooming is also needed.

In addition to this, rabbits should also be exercised every day. Having a rabbit is a big responsibility. It is fun though. As long as you take proper care of your bunny.

Frank Hazen has a FREE Rabbit Training Report. He also has a complete guide to rabbit care and training.

HOW TO TRAIN YOU RABBIT TO USE A LITTER BOX

Care For Rabbits in the Summer

Rabbits are very playful, fun, and intelligent creatures, and they're adorable as well. If you're a parent that was tempted (perhaps at Easter) to purchase a rabbit as a pet for your children, be aware that they require a great deal of care, and they are very sensitive creatures.

With summer heating up, be aware that rabbits are extremely sensitive to the heat, and if they don't have a way to cool off, they can die. There are many ways, however, to help them cool down, if you have an outdoor bunny. One great way is to fill a 2 liter soda bottle with water, freeze it, and place it next to your bunny's favorite resting spot. (Depending on how hot it is outside, you may need to change it every couple of hours.) Also, make sure to always have plenty of water available to your bunny, preferably in a dish. (Ceramic crocks work well since they're tough for bunnies to knock over.) This way, they can put their feet or ears in the water, which is another way to help them cool off.

Bunnies are creatures of habit, so if you're traveling with your bunny, make sure to have all of his or her favorite toys, treats, and food. Changing food can upset a bunny's stomach, oftentimes causing diarrhea, which can quickly dehydrate a bunny (and can lead to death). Make sure to keep the routine as close to normal as possible, and this will help your bunny travel.

Another thing to keep in mind: never EVER leave your bunny in a car. On an 80 degree day, within just a few minutes, the car can heat up to over 120 degrees. Keep your bunny safe - if you go to a restaurant, make sure it's pet friendly. It doesn't take long for animals to overheat with temperatures like that.

Use common sense when taking care of your pet, and remember that with a thick fur coat, bunnies don't do well in heat at all. If you have an outdoor bunny, take the necessary precautions to keep your bunny healthy and happy. Take care of your pet, and you'll be able to enjoy his or her companionship for 12 years or more.

Sophie loves animals, especially bunnies, and has spent years caring for them. She enjoys spending her time reading about animals, and learning new bunny care tips.

TRIMMING YOUR RABBITS NAILS

Amazing Facts About Rabbits

By discovering just a few basic facts about rabbits you can amaze your friends with that knowledge, which will help you get to know your rabbit friends better. A female rabbit is a doe and a male is given the title of buck. The length of pregnancy for a doe is only about a month, and when she gives birth it is called kindling. Kittens, or Kits, is the term given to the newborns, and the average litter is about 4 to 8 kits in size. The kits are born deaf, blind and without fur, so they are completely dependent on their mother for survival.




Caring for rabbits is not really too difficult, especially when you consider that the mothers will do most of the work for you when it comes to raising their infants. She will pull fur from her body to make their nest nice and warm. The doe will feed her litter once or twice per day, for about five minutes each time. Rabbit milk is one of the richest milks found in mammals.



Rabbits groom themselves as a general rule. This keeps them neat and tidy, but self-grooming also comes with a negative consequence. All types of rabbits, similar to cats, can produce hairballs from swallowing their own hair. This is why it is important to feed them hay regularly. Hay helps prevent the formation of hairballs by cleaning out their digestive tract of the hair they may have swallowed. Another fact about rabbits is that their teeth continue to grow no matter what age they attain. For this reason, it is very important to feed them hard foods, to help them wear down their teeth. Allowing their teeth to grow too long can take away their ability to eat normally.



The American Rabbit Breeders Association recognizes more than 45 breeds and they have over 30,000 members who work hard promoting these various types of rabbits. Some rabbit breeds can grow to be as large as 20 pounds, while smaller breeds can tip the scale at a mere two pounds.



Caring for rabbits is becoming quite the popular hobby these days. Believe it or not, in the United States alone, there are more than 5,000,000 rabbits being kept as pets in over 2,000,000 homes. These joyful little creatures love to run and jump and twist in the air. They adapt well to living indoors or out. But when living indoors it is important to be on the alert, as they will chew on furniture or electrical cords. They see these items as food to be eaten. Chewing on furniture will not be very pleasing to their owner, but chewing on electrical cords will not be very pleasing or fun for their owner or for them.



Here are more amazing facts about our little furry friends. They produce two different kinds of droppings. The most common type is what is usually seen, the dry circular "bunny beans" that are thrown into the garden as fertilizer. But rabbits also have a soft dropping with a bad smell called a cecotrope. The amazing aspect to this is that they usually eat the cecotropes as a way to get all the possible nutrients from their food. It may not seem like a tasty treat to you, but bunnies have no qualms about it.



These active animals do most of their running around at sunup and sundown, which classifies them as crepuscular. They do best when they are out of the hot weather and can suffer from heatstroke if they cannot cool off in the sanctity of shade. They prefer to stay safe in a corner of their cage if they sense that predators are near. If you have ever heard the term "scared as a bunny rabbit," it is because they can literally be frightened to death.



Some more interesting facts about rabbits: Domestic rabbit meat is all-white and very nutritious. It has less fat than chicken, pork or beef and is easily digested, even by people on special diets. A single doe weighing only 10 pounds can produce 320 pounds of meat in a single year. Plus, it can produce it in a very small area. As a comparison, a single cow will require two acres of land to produce the same amount of meat.



There are many other amazing facts about rabbits. They can jump very high, up to 36 inches or more. Some people train their pet rabbits to jump on a leash and then compete in a sport called Rabbit Hopping. They are quite an amazing animal. I am sure you can now see why people all over the world are enjoying the hobby of raising rabbits.



Joshua Harding has an extensive history with rabbits. If you would like to discover more amazing facts about rabbits, or find insightful reviews of products regarding caring for rabbits, you can visit Joshua's fun and informative web site at facts-about-rabbits.com.

Saturday 8 May 2010

KEEPING RABBITS HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR RABBIT

Caring For Rabbits - Important Consideration When it Comes to Keeping Rabbits

Caring for rabbits isn't as easy as it looks. These adorable, fluffy creatures require tons of attention and affection. They also have specific care requirements which the owner must seek to fulfill for their beloved pet to grow healthy and live a long life. After all, they do have a rather long life span which can be more than 10 years depending on the care that they are receiving. As pets, rabbits are very lovable and sociable. However, cute as they are, plenty of research should be done before you even get one from your pet shop. Here are a few things to consider when it comes to caring for rabbits:




Indoors or Outdoors? This is an important consideration when it comes to caring for rabbits. The safest place for a rabbit to live in would be indoors because domestic rabbits are very different from their wild relatives. They cannot tolerate extreme temperatures as well as their wild relatives and even in a safe enclosure such as in your garden, your pet rabbit would always be vulnerable to various predators. Besides, the noise outside can cause your pet so much stress that they might literally die from fear or a heart attack.



Another thing to consider would be the choice between caging your pet or letting them roam about the house. If you decide to let them roam around the house, you have to make sure that your home is rabbit safe. Because these little creatures like to chew, electric cords should be raised beyond their reach or have some sort of protective covering on them. Otherwise, your pet might get electrocuted. Other things you should watch out for include objects that might poison them. These include mothballs and even various plants such as aloe or azalea because they can make your pet very sick.



If you decide to keep your rabbit in a cage, the cage should be big enough so that they have space to move around in. In fact, it should be at least 5 times the size of your rabbit allowing them to stretch completely and stand on their hind legs without hitting their on the roof of the cage. There should also be small housing in the cage where your rabbit may hide in or rest whenever they feel like it. Make sure that everything is comfortable for them and that nothing's poking out that might hurt them. Caring for rabbits doesn't just include feeding them. Basically, it would be a lot like caring for a child and as such, if you don't feel like you can handle the responsibility then perhaps caring for rabbits isn't the best thing for you.



Learn step by step the right way of caring for rabbits and avoid having to make painful mistakes that beginner rabbit owner's are prone too. Separate yourself from the average rabbit owner who will end up harming their rabbits without knowing it and you could learn more tips on caring for rabbits from the guide here: http://www.howtoraiserabbits.com

Friday 7 May 2010

Tips on Caring For Your Pet Rabbit

Rabbits make great pets thanks to their friendly and inquisitive nature. They are really happy to be petted or stroked and over time a human can develop a great, interactive relationship with a rabbit. By looking after your rabbit you are doing your bit to ensure it leads a long and happy life. Looking after a rabbit is fairly simple, but before buying a pet rabbit please read these quick tips and guides to see if you are making the right choice.



Hutch

Every rabbit needs a hutch, a place of its own to snuggle down to sleep and run around and play. You don't need to spend a vast amount of money on your hutch, but you do need to buy one big enough for a full size rabbit to be able to stand up in (on its back legs). It should also be wide enough to allow the rabbit to hop at least four full hops in any direction. Just like us, a rabbit likes to have a distinct area for certain activities, so make sure you allocate a space for sleep, a space for the toilet and a space in which to play. If you have more than one rabbit in the same hutch you will need to increase this space.


Rabbits love to snuggle down at night and in the UK climate good bedding is very important. Line the hutch with newspaper and cover with dust free chippings and straw. All the bedding should be changed regularly (a great job for the kid's pocket money!). Think carefully about where you position your hutch. Do not allow it to stand in direct sunlight for long periods of time and make sure it is in a well ventilated spot. Cover the hutch at night with a breathable fabric so the rabbit is not confronted with any night time predators such as foxes and cats. In addition to your hutch consider buying a run. Rabbits enjoy being allowed to hop around and a run provides them with a protective area in which to do this.


Feeding

Rabbits have a simple but quite nutritionally specific diet. They need two types of fibre - digestible and indigestible. This is because the food they consume actually goes through their digestive system twice. Do try and avoid the mass market muesli type foods available as these can be high in sugar and starch which can lead to increased weight gain, obesity and even diabetes. Search out a specialist rabbit food which contains the two essential fibres and you are giving your rabbit the best chance of a long and happy life. These specialist products are affordable and generally available from a specialist pet centre, vet or online specialist retail outlet. In addition to specialist food try and give your rabbit treats such as apple, banana, broccoli, celery, tomato, turnip and cabbage.


Vaccination

As with all pets you really need to consider the cost of annual vaccination and routine health treatment before you commit to buying. Rabbits require annual vaccinations and occasionally may need treating for illness, fleas etc. Pet insurance is becoming popular with many pet owners because the high cost of treating a sick or injured animal can be substantial. At the same time as the vaccinations your vet will probably have a look at your rabbit's teeth. Rabbits can be frequent sufferers of overgrown teeth if they don't eat a sufficient amount of hay (which helps to grind the teeth down). Bear the cost of vaccinations / check ups / dental checks and insurance BEFORE you buy any pet.

Caring for a rabbit really isn't difficult, but caring responsibly is sure to lead to a healthier and happier life for your pet, so by providing it with a good sized hutch, quality pet food and a health care plan you are doing your very best to be a responsible pet owner.

Author Mark Woodcock is a Webmaster of a wide variety of online specialty shops including a very popular site on Rabbit Care and Rabbit Food. Visit http://www.burgesspetcare.co.uk today.

Keeping Healthy Rabbits Doesn't Need to Be Expensive

Feeding rabbits is not as simple as many people think and yet it shouldn't be an expensive exercise either. In this article I offer some tips that will give you information that will not only save you money but will ensure that your pet will live a long and healthy life.


I has to research the feed we were using and selling in my pet store after a rabbit breeder lost over 50 animals from poisoning. She was feeding her rabbits a horse grain which was considerably cheaper than any commercial rabbit feed on the market. We were using the same brand of feed and selling it to our customers. When I heard this news, I took it out of the shop immediately.

The manufacturers added a type of grain to the feed. This made no difference to the horses but it caused brain damage and eventual death to rabbits. They also added a disclaimer to the packaging that said the product wasn't to be used to feed any other type of animal and that they would not be held responsible if it harmed another animal.

As well, some rabbit products have molasses which can be harmful as rabbits can't digest sugars. This can cause them to die if put under anesthetic. I only mention these two instances to highlight the need for good quality feed. The product I changed to had Lucerne in it which is a type of green hay. It is full of vitamin C. To always ensure that they have access to it, I use Lucerne hay as bedding for my rabbits.

Oats, bran and wheat are also valuable components of rabbit feed. And guess what - it's not expensive. Don't waste your money with feeds that contain dried fruits or fancy packaging. Most of these things are gimmicks. I used to breed a lot of rabbits and guinea pigs and I can't afford any food wastage. Shop around and find a feed that is inexpensive and highly nutritious.

Rabbits thrive on fresh vegetables and fruits. Too much, however, can give the diarrhea and can weaken their immune system. Don't think that you are saving money by getting scraps from your local green grocer particularly if the vegetables and fruits are decaying. It can end up costing you more in vet bills or heart ache when your animal becomes ill and eventually dies.

Give them moderate amounts of vegetables and fruits. Do not include lettuce or cabbage as they are too high in water and severe cause diarrhea and cabbage has toxins in it that will eventually poison your rabbit.

Rabbits have front teeth that are continual growing. Every plant that is green contains silicon which is a natural agent for wearing down the teeth and keeping them nice and sharp. I pick milk thistles for my pets because they add special nutrients to their diet and they grow freely just about every where.

Green grass therefore is a cheap and inexpensive thing to add to your pet's diet that is beneficial for its health. Before you pick grass, however, make sure that it hasn't been sprayed with insecticide. Make note that rabbits cannot live on grass alone as there are not enough nutrients. They simply can't eat enough to keep them alive and they will starve to death.

Rabbits also love to gnaw on wood. There are prepared treats you can buy from your local pet store for a few dollars. However, if you have access to fruit trees these can be just as good. The wood of the tree will contain the taste of the fruit: apple tree branches will have an apple taste. Cut some off and give them to your rabbits to gnaw on. This will give provide them with valuable stimulation and also relive the need to chew on their cage!

Salt licks are an important source of essential minerals and nutrients that your rabbit will need in hot weather. They are like a sports drink for your pet, replacing vital minerals when your pet has become dehydrated from over heating. They can be purchased for a few dollars from your local pet shop and are well worth putting in their cage in the long summer months.

Like us, rabbits need a balanced diet. Their food not only gives them nutritious minerals and vitamins but provides both physical and mental stimulation too. Your rabbit will love chasing an apple around its cage or reaching high to get to carrots stuck in the roof of its cage. Use your imagination when putting food in your rabbit's cage and try and make it a little bit difficult for him or her to get to. Not too difficult that it can't eat it, but hard enough to stimulate it and challenge it physically and mentally.

Sue Day has worked in the pet industry for many years. Now a full time dog trainer, Sue has put together a website of over 50 pages to share her knowledge and experiences of pet care.

If you would like more great tips and you would like to save some money on your pet bills for all your pets including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice or rats, please go to: [http://www.save-money-on-pet-bills.com]

Thursday 6 May 2010

Keeping Rabbits - What to Consider Before You Start Raising Rabbits

Keeping rabbits as pets is a daunting but fun task. Not only are they cuddly and cute, they can also be good sources of income if they are sold for their meat. Having them as pets, however, needs dedication from the part of the owner. Some of the things that should be considered in keeping rabbits are housing, food, handling techniques, and cleaning. When it comes to housing, rabbits are animals which are very sensitive to temperature so they must be kept in a warm and sheltered spot. Rabbits should also be given a cage which has a lot of space because they get anxious if they are confined and cannot properly move. Also, female rabbits are territorial so owners should also be careful when it comes to reproduction. In breeding, the female rabbit should be the one to be placed on the cage of the male because doing otherwise may just lead to fighting.




Females are also more sensitive if they are pregnant. In keeping rabbits which are nearing delivery, one must prepare a nest lined with materials to keep the mother warm. The nest can be made of a simple cardboard or litter box which should be lined with hay or wood shavings. In creating a nest, it is not recommended to use newspapers or tissue because these materials do not sufficiently hold warmth in them. Moderating the temperature is important in keeping rabbits because the more body heat these animals use, the higher their tendency of eating too much. This concept is important for those who are raising rabbits for meat because overeating can just make them fat instead of having lean meats.



Unlike common notion, rabbits don't only survive on carrots only. These animals also need to be given a balanced diet too if they are to have longer lives and finer muscle and bone structures. Pellets and hay are good foods to give. When it comes to handling, rabbits should be lifted through their loose skin on the back of their necks with their lower body supported. Keeping rabbits also involve giving them space to move around and hop. They should be regularly given activities because being dormant will just make them overweight and weaken their muscles. The last element which should be considered is grooming and cleaning. Even though rabbits are naturally neat animals, it will be better if they are groomed every now and then. Keeping their cages clean is also very important to make them less prone to bacteria and diseases.



Learn more about keeping rabbit the first time and avoid having to make painful mistakes that beginner rabbit owner's are prone too. Separate yourself from the average rabbit owner who will end up harming their rabbits without knowing it and you could learn more tips on keeping and raising rabbit from the guide here: http://www.howtoraiserabbits.com