Selecting Your Rabbit
When selecting your Angora rabbit, the first thing you have to decide on is breed. There are 4 breeds of Angoras that are recognized by the ARBA, and they are: English, French, Satin and Giant. There are also German Angoras, however, they are not recognized by the ARBA. Because this website is based on my experience, I will not elaborate on the different breeds and their pros and cons. I would highly suggest doing your research, starting with the information from the National Angora Rabbit Breeders Club, which you can find here.
That being said, the rest of this article will focus on the English Angora. One of the most important things to decide up front are whether you intend to breed or not. There is often a difference in the quality of the rabbits that are sold for breeding/show and those that are sold for pets/fiber. You need to be upfront about your plans for the rabbits, and honest with the person you buy them from. Lying to a breeder will not get you very far with rabbits - we all know each other! Just be honest about your plans, and we'll work to find the perfect rabbit for you. If one breeder won't help you fulfill your dreams, just move on to another, but keep it honest. If you're thinking about breeding, please see our article here regarding ethics.
So you've chosen your breed, and you know your intentions.. now you need a rabbit! It is important to make sure you are matching a rabbit with the abilities and personalities of your family. Do not expect your family to learn to be the perfect family for a certain pet or the rabbit to learn to be perfect for your family, but instead, choose one that matches your family well as it is. When animals are chosen in this fashion, less end up in need of a new home, and more find their permanent homes with the first try. There are 3 ways you can obtain a rabbit. They are:
1. From a rescue. If you're just looking for a pet or fiber rabbit, a rescue may be a good choice for you. Angoras can be hard to find in rescues though. Many rescues just don't know their rabbit breeds, and mistakenly label all long-haired rabbits as Angoras, so most rescued rabbits are best suited for pet owners and highly experienced fiber artists. The most common mistake is labeling Lionheads as English Angoras. I believe that this is in part due to Lionheads being a newly accepted breed. You need to know your breeds well if you buy from a rescue. Wool quality may not be the best, as most rescue rabbits come from poor lines. There may also be health issues to deal with, again, from being from poor bloodlines. When you choose to buy from a rescue, you save a life, but you also take a gamble on what you're getting. As a pet, the potential owner should be willing to shear them often, as ease of care may be impossible to tell. As a fiber rabbit, the fiber artist should be willing to groom 3-4 times a week for the rabbit's entire life. We hope they won't need this much grooming, but again, it's a gamble.
2. A substandard breeder. These are the people that flood Craigslist with their bunny ads. They usually have lots of bunnies for the lowest prices, and there seems to be one in every area! They seem to have it all.. prices, short waits for bunnies, and location convenience. What they don't have, is quality. They also tend to have health issues. These people typically breed anything to anything, looking for cute, fluffy, rabbits that sell fast. All Angoras are cute, especially babies. But what you want to see are the adults. Your baby is going to grow up! A high-quality adult should be just as cute as it was as a baby, but also breathtakingly beautiful. The substandard breeder is not usually very active in the show world. His/her children may show in 4H and youth shows, but take notice of the actual breeder's activity. If they're flaunting wins, ask what show they won at, and if the show was ARBA sanctioned. Most often, the answer here is "well, it was my kid that won" and "no."
3. A reputable breeder. These are your "go to" people for high-quality rabbits. Health and grooming issues are far less frequent in these lines, due to selective breeding. They are active in the show world, with frequent high-placings. Many (not all) either currently, or in the past, are officers and/or board members in rabbit clubs. Those who aren't are typically active in other ways with club, they educate others, but tend to be pretty set in their ways. If you're looking for a pet, you may have a hard time buying from a reputable breeder. They are very protective of their rabbits, and understand that most pet owners just don't have what it takes to handle all of the grooming involved with these special rabbits. Many will refer you to a rabbit rescue, but not all. Regardless of your intentions, they will screen you. You may even have to fill out an application to buy a rabbit.
Now that you've chosen your source for your new rabbit (we're really hoping you chose options 1 or 3!) you have to decide what is a fair price. I get asked about this often.. "what should I expect to pay for an English Angora." The answer varies widely. If you're looking for a wooler, expect to pay $50-75 in the southeast, and $75-125 in the Northwest. These rabbits should NOT come with a pedigree. If you're looking for show/breeding rabbits, expect to pay $150 and up. The higher the quality, the higher the price. A super high quality doe should cost around $250+. A super high quality buck should cost around $200+. It is extremely difficult to take rabbits from the lower-quality lines and 'make' rabbits of high quality with them. Most simply don't carry the genetics needed to accomplish that goal.
Beware of any rabbits priced below $50. It is highly unlikely that such low priced rabbits are purebreds, if they are even Angoras at all. In the Northwest, and other areas with similar pricing, beware of rabbits priced under $75. Know your local market, and what is "normal." Attend some shows, meet some breeders, and discuss things there. That is the BEST way to pick a breeder and rabbit. When you pick a breeder, you should be picking a life-long friend, who will be giving you ongoing support through the years. Don't make this decision lightly.
As always, we're here to help. We'll be happy to help you find the right rabbit for you, and to guide you with their care once you get them home.
That being said, the rest of this article will focus on the English Angora. One of the most important things to decide up front are whether you intend to breed or not. There is often a difference in the quality of the rabbits that are sold for breeding/show and those that are sold for pets/fiber. You need to be upfront about your plans for the rabbits, and honest with the person you buy them from. Lying to a breeder will not get you very far with rabbits - we all know each other! Just be honest about your plans, and we'll work to find the perfect rabbit for you. If one breeder won't help you fulfill your dreams, just move on to another, but keep it honest. If you're thinking about breeding, please see our article here regarding ethics.
So you've chosen your breed, and you know your intentions.. now you need a rabbit! It is important to make sure you are matching a rabbit with the abilities and personalities of your family. Do not expect your family to learn to be the perfect family for a certain pet or the rabbit to learn to be perfect for your family, but instead, choose one that matches your family well as it is. When animals are chosen in this fashion, less end up in need of a new home, and more find their permanent homes with the first try. There are 3 ways you can obtain a rabbit. They are:
1. From a rescue. If you're just looking for a pet or fiber rabbit, a rescue may be a good choice for you. Angoras can be hard to find in rescues though. Many rescues just don't know their rabbit breeds, and mistakenly label all long-haired rabbits as Angoras, so most rescued rabbits are best suited for pet owners and highly experienced fiber artists. The most common mistake is labeling Lionheads as English Angoras. I believe that this is in part due to Lionheads being a newly accepted breed. You need to know your breeds well if you buy from a rescue. Wool quality may not be the best, as most rescue rabbits come from poor lines. There may also be health issues to deal with, again, from being from poor bloodlines. When you choose to buy from a rescue, you save a life, but you also take a gamble on what you're getting. As a pet, the potential owner should be willing to shear them often, as ease of care may be impossible to tell. As a fiber rabbit, the fiber artist should be willing to groom 3-4 times a week for the rabbit's entire life. We hope they won't need this much grooming, but again, it's a gamble.
2. A substandard breeder. These are the people that flood Craigslist with their bunny ads. They usually have lots of bunnies for the lowest prices, and there seems to be one in every area! They seem to have it all.. prices, short waits for bunnies, and location convenience. What they don't have, is quality. They also tend to have health issues. These people typically breed anything to anything, looking for cute, fluffy, rabbits that sell fast. All Angoras are cute, especially babies. But what you want to see are the adults. Your baby is going to grow up! A high-quality adult should be just as cute as it was as a baby, but also breathtakingly beautiful. The substandard breeder is not usually very active in the show world. His/her children may show in 4H and youth shows, but take notice of the actual breeder's activity. If they're flaunting wins, ask what show they won at, and if the show was ARBA sanctioned. Most often, the answer here is "well, it was my kid that won" and "no."
3. A reputable breeder. These are your "go to" people for high-quality rabbits. Health and grooming issues are far less frequent in these lines, due to selective breeding. They are active in the show world, with frequent high-placings. Many (not all) either currently, or in the past, are officers and/or board members in rabbit clubs. Those who aren't are typically active in other ways with club, they educate others, but tend to be pretty set in their ways. If you're looking for a pet, you may have a hard time buying from a reputable breeder. They are very protective of their rabbits, and understand that most pet owners just don't have what it takes to handle all of the grooming involved with these special rabbits. Many will refer you to a rabbit rescue, but not all. Regardless of your intentions, they will screen you. You may even have to fill out an application to buy a rabbit.
Now that you've chosen your source for your new rabbit (we're really hoping you chose options 1 or 3!) you have to decide what is a fair price. I get asked about this often.. "what should I expect to pay for an English Angora." The answer varies widely. If you're looking for a wooler, expect to pay $50-75 in the southeast, and $75-125 in the Northwest. These rabbits should NOT come with a pedigree. If you're looking for show/breeding rabbits, expect to pay $150 and up. The higher the quality, the higher the price. A super high quality doe should cost around $250+. A super high quality buck should cost around $200+. It is extremely difficult to take rabbits from the lower-quality lines and 'make' rabbits of high quality with them. Most simply don't carry the genetics needed to accomplish that goal.
Beware of any rabbits priced below $50. It is highly unlikely that such low priced rabbits are purebreds, if they are even Angoras at all. In the Northwest, and other areas with similar pricing, beware of rabbits priced under $75. Know your local market, and what is "normal." Attend some shows, meet some breeders, and discuss things there. That is the BEST way to pick a breeder and rabbit. When you pick a breeder, you should be picking a life-long friend, who will be giving you ongoing support through the years. Don't make this decision lightly.
As always, we're here to help. We'll be happy to help you find the right rabbit for you, and to guide you with their care once you get them home.