Rabbits are popular pets, especially with children. They are cute and like to be petted. It’s good to know, however, that there is a wide range of rabbit breeds. There are even giant breeds, which require slightly different care than dwarf breeds. We asked the breeder Nikola Čapková about how to take care of the giant breeds and what to keep in mind before getting a giant rabbit.
Which breeds fall into the giant category?
Among the most popular are the Belgian Giant, the French Ram, the German Checkered Giant, and the Moravian Blue. These rabbits weigh over 5 kg, so they are no dwarves.
Is the care of giant breeds any different? If so, how?
The care differs especially in the area of feeding. A giant rabbit needs a larger home, with some of the breeds having huge ears, which means that the height of the rabbit’s shelter will also be needed to be taken into account. When it comes to food, these rabbits eat a lot.
What does a giant rabbit need?
Giant rabbits need, above all, enough space. Putting them into a meter-by-meter cage is certainly not possible. Therefore, many people choose a rabbit hutch, but if the rabbit is a pet and not a breeding animal, a pen or paddock is worth considering. For lop-eared rabbits, I would focus on suitable bedding – some of them have long ears that can easily get dirty.
What should we prepare for before we get a giant rabbit?
Be sure to think about the financial and time aspects. Rabbits of giant breeds need enough bedding, feed, and we should also consider the time needed to clean their large pens. Next, we need to ask ourselves whether we can handle such a large animal, whether we have a place for it at home. If we answer these questions with a ‘Yes’, then all we need to do is to choose between a rabbit with lop ears or erect ears.
Do rabbits of the giant breeds require more time for physical activity?
The large breeds are rather calm in nature. For example, the rabbit hop discipline is out of the question with these breeds, since their bodies are too heavy and their bones and joints would suffer. Although they know how to have fun, they prefer toys or cuddling. Of course, they can be taught simple commands like spinning or standing on their hind legs. Rabbits are happy to do so in exchange for a good treat.
How different is the amount of feed that giant rabbits need?
From my own experience, it is about twice what small rabbits need (in my case, I am comparing a French Ram with a small Tan Rabbit). Of course, there is a big difference whether we feed with cheap fattening dry food or a quality brand. The feed ratio may vary slightly between different brands.
Are rabbits of giant breeds suitable for apartments?
Yes, definitely! People often get the larger breeds for their apartments. These pets are a little less demanding than a dog but similar in size. They are calmer in nature, so you don’t need to worry about chasing them all around the apartment. Another plus is their calm and even temperament, which makes them the ideal pets.
What should future owners prepare for them?
Above all, lots of love and a lot of hand for cuddling. Other than that, prepare enough space and a decent supply of feed, especially hay, which forms the dietary basis of all rabbits. They like grinding their teeth on it.
Did you know that the domestic cat which is now kept as a pet all over the world, is probably a domesticated form of the wild cat, specifically of its subspecies the African wildcat, European wildcat and Asiatic wildcat?
Apart from regular care for the fur and dog’s teeth we should include also the inspection and cleaning of the eyes and ear inspection in the list of everyday tasks. Even though the cats are rather known for cleanliness, it’s important also for a...
Cat is a perfect tool for hunting. It owes it to the dozens of years of evolution. While in dogs, their physical signs have been emphasised or suppressed, cats got to keep, apart from several exceptions, their main anatomical features unchanged. In...
According to various statistics, the number of cats in our country is increasing. Not only dogs, but also cats belong to increasingly more common pets. So, it can happen to us more often, that we'll meet an abandoned cat in the street and we're...
Some dogs take the arrival of a new family member in a hard way. Previously, we described how to prepare them for this situation already before the baby even arrives home and today, we will take a look at the introduction itself.
It's no longer a strange thing when a municipality sets up a dog park or a dog playground. Due to frequent regulation of off-leash movement of dogs, this should, however, often be obligatory. Do you know how to behave in such places so that you...
Another possible sport at which you can play with your dog and exercise with them at the same time, is the Dog Puller. You can practice it with all the dog breeds, no matter the size or age.
Nowadays, cats are increasingly more often becoming members of our households. Cat toilets producers are adapting to this trend as well. They can provide cats with a greater comfort in their daily need. From the perspective of the owners, the producers...
Vacation time is finally here and many of us are planning where they will be headed this year. If you decide to go for an adventure by car and to take your dog friend with you as well, a bit of advice might come in handy on how to provide safety for...
Of course that we won’t talk about how to teach a dog the swimming technique. We want to talk about how to teach the dog to get used to water and how to make swimming a positive experience for it. Since not every one of them trusts water and some are...
If you’re planning to bring a new addition home and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a kitten or an adult cat, it is necessary to prepare the flat for it as well. Do you know what will the animal need and what you shouldn’t forget about or how to choose...
No matter how thorough we are with the prevention, a situation might come up when a dog or a cat will get to a poisonous thing, whether it’s by our inattention or it's somebody else’s fault. That’s why it’s not off-topic to prepare yourself for the...
