Grooming Your English Angora Rabbit
That long, gorgeous, coat isn’t going to stay that perfect on it’s own! Your EA will require your help. Here’s how to do it:
The Brush and Comb Method
This is not recommended. However, there may be times when you cannot, for some reason, use your blower, so we'll cover this. Collect all of your grooming supplies first, including your scissors just in case. Start by visually inspecting your rabbit for any problem areas. If you see any mats or things stuck in the wool, go ahead and remove them first. For larger mats, you may need to break them up with your fingers or cut them into sections with your scissors – or even cut them out altogether. After this step is done, run your hands through the coat to feel for any problems. If problems are felt, go ahead and tackle them. After this step, immediately go to the feet and belly. Using a slicker brush, start at the tips of the bottom of the toes and work your way back, brushing in the direction the wool grows, little sections at a time. Then do the tops of the feet, followed by the rest of the leg, all in the same method. Next, do the tail and belly, starting with the tip of the tail, working all the way up to your rabbit’s chin, section by section, brushing in the direction the wool grows (towards the tail.) Next, flip the rabbit over and start on the back. Starting at the tail, brush section by section working your way up to the head. I am right-handed and hold the slicker brush in my right hand and hold the wool I haven’t gotten to yet back with my left hand, allowing the brush to pull little sections out of my hand as I go. Brush the ears in the same manner. Be extra gentle with the bangs and face, and a steel comb might come in handy for these areas.
Using a Blower
This is the best method, but I quite honestly cannot put the blower method into words. If you use a blower, be sure to cover your rabbit’s eyes and ears with one hand, to protect them from the air. The blower can dry out and/or irritate the eyes and ears if you’re not careful, so covering them keeps your rabbit safe. Below is a video done by a fantastic breeder that demonstrates how to groom with a blower.
The Brush and Comb Method
This is not recommended. However, there may be times when you cannot, for some reason, use your blower, so we'll cover this. Collect all of your grooming supplies first, including your scissors just in case. Start by visually inspecting your rabbit for any problem areas. If you see any mats or things stuck in the wool, go ahead and remove them first. For larger mats, you may need to break them up with your fingers or cut them into sections with your scissors – or even cut them out altogether. After this step is done, run your hands through the coat to feel for any problems. If problems are felt, go ahead and tackle them. After this step, immediately go to the feet and belly. Using a slicker brush, start at the tips of the bottom of the toes and work your way back, brushing in the direction the wool grows, little sections at a time. Then do the tops of the feet, followed by the rest of the leg, all in the same method. Next, do the tail and belly, starting with the tip of the tail, working all the way up to your rabbit’s chin, section by section, brushing in the direction the wool grows (towards the tail.) Next, flip the rabbit over and start on the back. Starting at the tail, brush section by section working your way up to the head. I am right-handed and hold the slicker brush in my right hand and hold the wool I haven’t gotten to yet back with my left hand, allowing the brush to pull little sections out of my hand as I go. Brush the ears in the same manner. Be extra gentle with the bangs and face, and a steel comb might come in handy for these areas.
Using a Blower
This is the best method, but I quite honestly cannot put the blower method into words. If you use a blower, be sure to cover your rabbit’s eyes and ears with one hand, to protect them from the air. The blower can dry out and/or irritate the eyes and ears if you’re not careful, so covering them keeps your rabbit safe. Below is a video done by a fantastic breeder that demonstrates how to groom with a blower.
Grooming Schedule
You’ll need to groom show coats 1-4 times a week, depending on your rabbit’s age. Here’s how it breaks down.
*High-quality rabbits from good lines should NOT need this much care. These recommendations are meant to meet the needs of all rabbits. Use your judgement and try not to over-groom your rabbit.
You’ll need to groom show coats 1-4 times a week, depending on your rabbit’s age. Here’s how it breaks down.
*High-quality rabbits from good lines should NOT need this much care. These recommendations are meant to meet the needs of all rabbits. Use your judgement and try not to over-groom your rabbit.
Age of the Show Rabbit |
Approximate Grooming Requirements |
0-8 Weeks Old |
No Grooming Necessary |
2-4 Months Old |
1-3 Times a Week, Depending on the Rabbit/Lines |
4-6 Months Old |
2-4 Times a Week, Depending on Coat Stage and the Rabbit/Lines |
6 Months + |
1-4 Times a Month, Depending on the Rabbit/Lines |
Most of our rabbits do not need to be groomed at the maximum frequency suggested. However, if you are not experienced with Angoras, we recommend this schedule to prevent any problems from occurring that might be "over your head." As time goes on, you'll learn more about your rabbit and it's grooming needs.
To see a chart of suggested grooming/shearing schedules for rabbits that aren't being shown, see our Harvesting Wool article HERE.
NEVER BATHE YOUR RABBIT UNLESS IT IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND YOU WERE DIRECTED TO DO SO BY A VETERINARIAN!! Getting an EA wet can and will result in a bunny with felted up mats that have to be carefully cut out. Bathing any rabbit can lead to the rabbit going into shock and dying as well. Keep your EA away from water. If your rabbit gets urine or another smelly/staining liquid on it’s coat/feet, you can sprinkle some corn starch on the area, let it dry, then brush it out, but do not immerse the bunny in water.
Nail Trimming
This is where those nail clippers in your supply list come into play. You don’t want the kind that you have to stick the nail in a hole. Rabbits don’t like those and they can rip their toenails out or break them off. Use the kind that open and close like pliers or scissors. Look for signs of the blood supply (easiest detected on white nails) and stay below that point. When in doubt, cut tiny bits at a time to minimize the effects if you cut too much. If you cut too much and the nail bleeds, dab it in some corn starch and try and keep your rabbit from walking on it for a few minutes and he should be fine. Nails should be trimmed as often as necessary. Keep them as short as possible at all times. There really is no set schedule for nail trimming, just make sure you check them every time you groom your rabbit’s feet and you shouldn’t have any problems.
To see a chart of suggested grooming/shearing schedules for rabbits that aren't being shown, see our Harvesting Wool article HERE.
NEVER BATHE YOUR RABBIT UNLESS IT IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND YOU WERE DIRECTED TO DO SO BY A VETERINARIAN!! Getting an EA wet can and will result in a bunny with felted up mats that have to be carefully cut out. Bathing any rabbit can lead to the rabbit going into shock and dying as well. Keep your EA away from water. If your rabbit gets urine or another smelly/staining liquid on it’s coat/feet, you can sprinkle some corn starch on the area, let it dry, then brush it out, but do not immerse the bunny in water.
Nail Trimming
This is where those nail clippers in your supply list come into play. You don’t want the kind that you have to stick the nail in a hole. Rabbits don’t like those and they can rip their toenails out or break them off. Use the kind that open and close like pliers or scissors. Look for signs of the blood supply (easiest detected on white nails) and stay below that point. When in doubt, cut tiny bits at a time to minimize the effects if you cut too much. If you cut too much and the nail bleeds, dab it in some corn starch and try and keep your rabbit from walking on it for a few minutes and he should be fine. Nails should be trimmed as often as necessary. Keep them as short as possible at all times. There really is no set schedule for nail trimming, just make sure you check them every time you groom your rabbit’s feet and you shouldn’t have any problems.