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Research for national rabbit event

andypa1

New Kit
Hi there,

This is my first post although I've been a long time lurker for my own bun, Fleur.
I'm an event planner by trade, and I've always been surprised that there's no rabbit version of crufts held anywhere in the country so I want to find out if there would be demand for one and if so, what the ideal bunny show would look like!

This is really early days for this idea, but i'd be grateful for your thoughts on if this would be a good idea, if you would be interested in attending such an event, and what you'd like to see at a rabbit event.

I've got my own ideas, but don't want to influence yours so I'll stay quiet for now :D

Many thanks!
Andy and Fleur
 
Rabbits tend to enjoy staying quietly at home, so.... maybe no rabbits at the event?

There are lots of rabbit shows run by breeders and their organisations.
 
I don't agree with it. As prey animals they are easily scared and I wouldn't want to stress my rabbit out for my own enjoyment, I strongly believe they should stay in their own environment but it is a nice idea, I just don't think it would be fair
 
I have been to the Burgess Small Animal Pet Show at Harrogate. It was awful. One breeder told me she puts the babies she doesn't think are show suitable in the freezer. I left promptly after that.
 
I have been to the Burgess Small Animal Pet Show at Harrogate. It was awful. One breeder told me she puts the babies she doesn't think are show suitable in the freezer. I left promptly after that.

:cry::cry::cry::evil:
 
Hi there,

This is my first post although I've been a long time lurker for my own bun, Fleur.
I'm an event planner by trade, and I've always been surprised that there's no rabbit version of crufts held anywhere in the country so I want to find out if there would be demand for one and if so, what the ideal bunny show would look like!

This is really early days for this idea, but i'd be grateful for your thoughts on if this would be a good idea, if you would be interested in attending such an event, and what you'd like to see at a rabbit event.

I've got my own ideas, but don't want to influence yours so I'll stay quiet for now :D

Many thanks!
Andy and Fleur

There is a large rabbit show that i guess is similar to crufts, http://www.thesmallanimalshow.co.uk/ . Last time I went there was a huge hall with tiny pens full of purebred show rabbits, and in the next hall there were lots of trade stands selling hutches, accessories and things. Also a little petting area with friendly rabbits. There's a similar show in London too.

Those types of shows will draw in attention mostly from breeders. This forum is pro-rescue so the majority of people in it would not want to go to a show packed full of rabbits in 1ftx1ft cages. As jay mentioned, there are some incredibly unethical people who breed rabbits for exhibition too which is offputting. I used to occasionally take my rabbits to shows, but I soon realised they're no good for the rabbit, and is it worth it just for the owner to get a little rosette? What saddened me too is that when I got talking to some of the breeders that were winning most of the prizes, they admitted to killing non-show-worthy rabbits and keeping them in tiny cages (2x2 seemed very standard for mini lops, one man told me he kept his GIANTs in 3ft cages :evil: ). Not all of them are like that, and I did used to like seeing the beautiful variety of rabbit breeds, but I'm sure you can see why many people do not support these kind of shows.

My ideal rabbit event would have
- Lots of trade stands with people selling large hutches/sheds/runs, and lots of fun toys and treats for rabbits, particularly handmade/homegrown things that you can't get in the average pet shop
- Rescue organisations promoting their work, rabbits for adoption, volunteering opportunities etc
- Talks by specialist vets/animal behaviourists perhaps with demonstrations e.g. how to check your rabbits teeth at home
- No exhibition animals in tiny cages

I wouldn't mind there being rabbits at the show as long as they were comfortable, in a nice big enclosure and with plenty of hiding places, like runaround do at places like the London Pet Show. I know rabbits are prey animals but some of them are really not phased by travelling or being in loud places, plus I think seeing rabbits running around and playing through a system like runaround would encourage people to buy them more than an empty enclosure would
 
^^What others have already said. There are already lots of rabbit shows and they're pretty hideous, and I'm not sure it's possible to do it in a way that mitigates that.

A fundamental difference between rabbits and dogs is that in general, dogs like getting out and about and being around people, whereas for rabbits, that would be an extremely stressful situation. It would never benefit the rabbits and could only cause them stress, so my personal view is that it would only really attract people who care more about their own egos than they do about the welfare of their rabbits. I'm sure some people would be interested in a show which had lots of trade stands, info etc but I'd be amazed if you could get enough interest to make it a viable event without it being part of a larger more generic event like the london pet show. Sorry...I don't think it's a workable idea.
 
A few years ago I arranged and conducted a 'Rabbitless Rabbit Show'. We had loads of welfare categories, and people entered photographs of their rabbits (categories like bestaccommodation, biggest binky, funniest photo, inspirational bunny) and they were judged, and prizes given, and all the entries were displayed at the RSPCA and people came and looked and actually learnt a huge amount from the experience.

It was a really positive way to do it. They were also all available online (and, if there was interest, I could whack them back up, because they are still on my website, just hidden).

That's the kind of rabbit show that takes into account the needs of bunnies, and improves lives and awareness.
 
A few years ago I arranged and conducted a 'Rabbitless Rabbit Show'. We had loads of welfare categories, and people entered photographs of their rabbits (categories like bestaccommodation, biggest binky, funniest photo, inspirational bunny) and they were judged, and prizes given, and all the entries were displayed at the RSPCA and people came and looked and actually learnt a huge amount from the experience.

It was a really positive way to do it. They were also all available online (and, if there was interest, I could whack them back up, because they are still on my website, just hidden).

That's the kind of rabbit show that takes into account the needs of bunnies, and improves lives and awareness.

It was great to,, raised awareness and lovely to see all the photos
 
The BRC (British Rabbit Council) hold shows all around the country. These shows are for breeders only and the rabbits are judged in their breed categories, like Crufts do for dogs. I personally would not enter my buns into any show. Rabbits prefer to be in their own homes and are easily stressed by noise and travelling. Anyway, the majority of buns on here are cross breeds and neutered rescues.
 
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