Should I get a rabbit from a breeder or a rescue? This is a question that rabbit buyers often struggled over. They want the beautiful purebred, but they also can't resist the rescue rabbit who needs a 'furever' home.
I recommend getting a purebred rabbit from a breeder if you are a first-time rabbit owner. A purebred comes with more than just a breed name. It comes with generations and generations of healthy, pedigreed animals that have been selected for specific health-related traits. For example, proper hindquarter structure makes for ease of breeding and giving birth. The legs should be straight and parallel to provide good support and distribution of the rabbit's weight. The coat is dense and glossy, a sign of good health. Animals that are too fat or too thin or have otherwise poor body condition are disqualified. A few features such as short ears and unique color patterns are purely cosmetic, but give the breed its unique, defining appearance.
All reputable breeders breed to the ARBA Standard of Perfection. This is a book that describes the ideal "perfect" rabbit in every breed and every color with incredible detail. A responsible breeder will select for rabbits that are as close to that ideal rabbit as described in the Standard as possible. Most responsible breeders will also take their rabbits to shows to compete against other breeders who are striving toward the Standard. Judges at shows will disqualify any rabbit with even the most minor injury, disease, ailment, or genetic defect. They will examine each and every individual rabbit that is brought to the judging table for these defects. Therefore it is in each breeder's best interest to have the healthiest stock possible to maintain their reputation as a responsible breeder and exhibitor.
Notably, mixed breeds, or, 'hybrids,' are not always an advantage. You're rolling a dice and hoping that the random assortment of genetic traits that comes from mixing incompatible bloodlines turns out the way you want. You might get lucky and out of a selection of poor genes, you might get the few good ones. But equally, you may end up with a genetically weak animal with more issues than you can count. The truth is, most rescue animals are from extremely poor bloodlines. Their ancestors were not selected carefully by a responsible breeder for correct structure, temperament and health. They were out of breedings caused by irresponsible people who don't know what they're doing. Either they were from a breeder who was only in it for the money and didn't care about the quality of their stock, or they are from an 'accidental' litter, or a person who had two bunnies they wanted to breed 'for the experience', or they were previously set loose in the wild or born in someone's backyard. In all of these cases, the rabbit's best interests were not in mind.
I have had a good number of rescue rabbits in my life, and all have had some degree of health issues. The sad part is that 99% of their issues were due to irresponsible breeding. Meanwhile my responsibly bred show rabbits often live two or three times as long, are genetically hardy and strong, have healthy structure, and are bred for excellent temperaments. Good breeding really makes a world of difference.
A responsible breeder will know a LOT about rabbits. Not just their own personal rabbits, but rabbits in general. A responsible breeder is a goldmine of information that they will share with you. They will also be particular about who gets to buy their rabbits, and will not sell to a person they feel cannot handle the responsibility of having a rabbit. Most rabbits in rescues and shelters were dumped by a person who doesn't think of the rabbit as a legitimate concern. This is often because they bought it from a backyard breeder, Craigslist, Facebook post by a friend, Internet ad, or pet store. None of these sellers are going to be picky about the homes their rabbits go to, as long as they are sold.
Some breeders, particularly of the dwarf breeds, charge a fairly high amount for a pet quality rabbit. This seemingly high price ensures that the buyer isn't getting a rabbit on a whim, but is serious enough to understand the cost and commitment of owning a rabbit. So in general, only people who are serious about being good rabbit owners will buy from a good breeder. Because of this, the unwanted rabbits that end up in rescues are not being produced by reputable breeders.
On the positive side, rescues and shelters are a great chance to give a rabbit a second chance at a loving home. It feels great to be able to give that new life to a previously neglected animal and let them blossom in a new home. On the negative side, rescue and shelter staff can be rude, pushy, and finicky. Having volunteered in rescue for years, I have personally had far too many experiences with rude and aggressive volunteers.
If you are set on purchasing from a shelter or rescue, do your homework and find an ethical shelter/rescue. Retail rescue is a thing, and it's something to avoid! Look through several shelters, take your time, and pick the rabbit that has the most suitable temperament for your needs.
Now hopefully you've got some new information to think about. Whatever rabbit you choose, you will love it with all your heart and it WILL be the right decision. Now it's up to you. :)
I recommend getting a purebred rabbit from a breeder if you are a first-time rabbit owner. A purebred comes with more than just a breed name. It comes with generations and generations of healthy, pedigreed animals that have been selected for specific health-related traits. For example, proper hindquarter structure makes for ease of breeding and giving birth. The legs should be straight and parallel to provide good support and distribution of the rabbit's weight. The coat is dense and glossy, a sign of good health. Animals that are too fat or too thin or have otherwise poor body condition are disqualified. A few features such as short ears and unique color patterns are purely cosmetic, but give the breed its unique, defining appearance.
All reputable breeders breed to the ARBA Standard of Perfection. This is a book that describes the ideal "perfect" rabbit in every breed and every color with incredible detail. A responsible breeder will select for rabbits that are as close to that ideal rabbit as described in the Standard as possible. Most responsible breeders will also take their rabbits to shows to compete against other breeders who are striving toward the Standard. Judges at shows will disqualify any rabbit with even the most minor injury, disease, ailment, or genetic defect. They will examine each and every individual rabbit that is brought to the judging table for these defects. Therefore it is in each breeder's best interest to have the healthiest stock possible to maintain their reputation as a responsible breeder and exhibitor.
Notably, mixed breeds, or, 'hybrids,' are not always an advantage. You're rolling a dice and hoping that the random assortment of genetic traits that comes from mixing incompatible bloodlines turns out the way you want. You might get lucky and out of a selection of poor genes, you might get the few good ones. But equally, you may end up with a genetically weak animal with more issues than you can count. The truth is, most rescue animals are from extremely poor bloodlines. Their ancestors were not selected carefully by a responsible breeder for correct structure, temperament and health. They were out of breedings caused by irresponsible people who don't know what they're doing. Either they were from a breeder who was only in it for the money and didn't care about the quality of their stock, or they are from an 'accidental' litter, or a person who had two bunnies they wanted to breed 'for the experience', or they were previously set loose in the wild or born in someone's backyard. In all of these cases, the rabbit's best interests were not in mind.
I have had a good number of rescue rabbits in my life, and all have had some degree of health issues. The sad part is that 99% of their issues were due to irresponsible breeding. Meanwhile my responsibly bred show rabbits often live two or three times as long, are genetically hardy and strong, have healthy structure, and are bred for excellent temperaments. Good breeding really makes a world of difference.
A responsible breeder will know a LOT about rabbits. Not just their own personal rabbits, but rabbits in general. A responsible breeder is a goldmine of information that they will share with you. They will also be particular about who gets to buy their rabbits, and will not sell to a person they feel cannot handle the responsibility of having a rabbit. Most rabbits in rescues and shelters were dumped by a person who doesn't think of the rabbit as a legitimate concern. This is often because they bought it from a backyard breeder, Craigslist, Facebook post by a friend, Internet ad, or pet store. None of these sellers are going to be picky about the homes their rabbits go to, as long as they are sold.
Some breeders, particularly of the dwarf breeds, charge a fairly high amount for a pet quality rabbit. This seemingly high price ensures that the buyer isn't getting a rabbit on a whim, but is serious enough to understand the cost and commitment of owning a rabbit. So in general, only people who are serious about being good rabbit owners will buy from a good breeder. Because of this, the unwanted rabbits that end up in rescues are not being produced by reputable breeders.
On the positive side, rescues and shelters are a great chance to give a rabbit a second chance at a loving home. It feels great to be able to give that new life to a previously neglected animal and let them blossom in a new home. On the negative side, rescue and shelter staff can be rude, pushy, and finicky. Having volunteered in rescue for years, I have personally had far too many experiences with rude and aggressive volunteers.
If you are set on purchasing from a shelter or rescue, do your homework and find an ethical shelter/rescue. Retail rescue is a thing, and it's something to avoid! Look through several shelters, take your time, and pick the rabbit that has the most suitable temperament for your needs.
Now hopefully you've got some new information to think about. Whatever rabbit you choose, you will love it with all your heart and it WILL be the right decision. Now it's up to you. :)