Showmanship Questions & Answers Use the Standard of Perfection and The Guide to Raising Better Rabbits and Cavies to answer most of the questions with varying answers, also see "Health and diseases", "Rabbit Breed Trivia", "Rabbit Glossary of Terms", and "Glossary of Marking Terms" to add to the following questions. You also may be asked to identify rabbit parts so be sure to memorize them.
Rabbit Parts
Ear Saddle
Eye Ribs
Nose Hips
Mouth Tail
Dewlap Hock
Cheek Legs (back)
Neck Forelegs
Chest Belly
Shoulder Toes
Flank Elbow
Loin Rump
Also: Forequarters, Midsection, Hindquarters, Underside
All Groups
Tell me about your rabbit.
(give just about all the information you can about your rabbit and its breed such as size, class, fur type, body type, brief description of the standard, history, other facts, etc. It's very important that you give thorough answers, do not keep your answer brief, the judge threw the door wide open for you to tell him/her everything that you know about your rabbit, and how you answer can determine your placing.)
What goals have you set in your rabbit project?
(tell the judge your goals and some detail as to how you plan to meet them.)
What would you tell a potential buyer about your rabbit to interest him/her into purchasing your animal?
(always start by telling the judge that your rabbit is healthy, then mention whether or not your animal is showable, and then you can add something about personality and anything else that might be important.)
Tell me 2 things you like about your rabbit and 1 thing that you don't like.
(this question is always asking about your rabbit's type (quality) and health. Most judges don't mind if you add a little extra, especially if you are a more experienced 4-Her.)
Rabbit Parts
Ear Saddle
Eye Ribs
Nose Hips
Mouth Tail
Dewlap Hock
Cheek Legs (back)
Neck Forelegs
Chest Belly
Shoulder Toes
Flank Elbow
Loin Rump
Also: Forequarters, Midsection, Hindquarters, Underside
All Groups
Tell me about your rabbit.
(give just about all the information you can about your rabbit and its breed such as size, class, fur type, body type, brief description of the standard, history, other facts, etc. It's very important that you give thorough answers, do not keep your answer brief, the judge threw the door wide open for you to tell him/her everything that you know about your rabbit, and how you answer can determine your placing.)
What goals have you set in your rabbit project?
(tell the judge your goals and some detail as to how you plan to meet them.)
What would you tell a potential buyer about your rabbit to interest him/her into purchasing your animal?
(always start by telling the judge that your rabbit is healthy, then mention whether or not your animal is showable, and then you can add something about personality and anything else that might be important.)
Tell me 2 things you like about your rabbit and 1 thing that you don't like.
(this question is always asking about your rabbit's type (quality) and health. Most judges don't mind if you add a little extra, especially if you are a more experienced 4-Her.)
Junior
What are the four "H's" of 4-H? Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. What is the 4-H motto? To make the best better What do you call boy and girl rabbits? Bucks and does What does A.R.B.A. stand for? American Rabbit Breeders Association How many breeds of rabbits are recognized by A.R.B.A.? 47 What are the 4 classes of a 4 class rabbit? Junior buck, junior doe, senior buck, senior doe. What are the classes of a 6 class rabbit? Junior buck, junior doe, intermediate buck, intermediate doe, senior buck, senior doe. Can you name the 4 fur types? Normal, rex, satin, and angora/wool Can you name the 5 body types? Compact, commercial, semi-arch, full arch, and cylindrical. How much feed should you give your rabbit each day? 1 to 1 1/2 ounces per pound each day. How much water should you give your rabbit each day? As much as it wants. When is it a good idea to give your rabbit warm or hot water? When the temperature is below freezing. What do you call spotted rabbits? Brokens What do you call the nose mark on a broken? A butterfly What is a kit? A baby rabbit. What is a litter? 2 or more kits being raised together. Where does the tattoo go? In the left ear. What is an albino? A white rabbit with pink eyes or rew (red eyed white) Are lettuce and/or cabbage good for your rabbit? No, it doesn't have any food value for them and can make them sick. What is a good treat for your bunny? Pine cones, cheerios, bananas, pineapple, dandelions, carrots, carrot tops, celery, celery leaves, etc. What is a gestation period? The period of time that a doe is pregnant. How long is a rabbit's gestation period? 28 to 32 days, usually 31 days. What is screw/wry tail? Twisted tail bones. What is a dewlap? A fold of loose skin under the chin on does in most breeds of rabbits. What is hutch stain? Yellow and/or brown patches on the underside, caused by dirty cages. What is a rabbitry? A place where rabbits are kept. Where should an outdoor hutch be placed? In an area that it will be protected from the sun, wind, rain, snow, etc. How can you keep your bunny cool in the summer? (answer varies) How old are kits when they open their eyes? 9 to 12 days What is one of the largest breeds recognized by A.R.B.A.? Flemish Giant, Giant Chinchilla, French Lop, Checkered Giant What is one of the smallest breeds recognized by A.R.B.A.? Netherland Dwarf, Britannia petite, Polish, and the Dwarf Hotot What is unique about the Himalayan? It is the only cylindrical typed breed. What is the term for crooked teeth? Wolf teeth, buckteeth, malocclusion What are the symptoms of ear mites? Scabs in the ears and frequent scratching What are the symptoms of mange / fur mites? Scabs and/or balding, frequent scratching, usually starts on the rump or the nape of the neck and shoulders. What are the symptoms of weepy eye? Gooey eye(s), matted fur or balding under the eye, swollen and/or inflamed eye lids. What are the symptoms of snuffles? Constant sneezing and/or coughing, mucus on the face and/or fore legs, and sometimes loss of appetite. How would you know if your rabbit had moon eye / wall eye? The eyes would be cloudy or it would look like there is a white film over the eye. What is the purpose of the tattoo? To identify the rabbit How can you prevent sore hocks? By placing a foot/resting board in the rabbit's cage. How can you prevent hairballs? By feeding hay or straw on a regular basis and daily during a heavy molt. What is general type? Overall type; excludes fur, color, markings, & condition What is the difference between a variety and a color group? A variety is a single color, a color group is a group of colors that have similarities. Name one breed that was developed in the United States. (American, American Fuzzy Lop, American Sable, English Angora, Giant Angora, Britannia Petite, Californian, Checkered Giant, American Chinchilla, Giant Chinchilla, Cinnamon, Florida White, Jersey Wooly, Mini Rex, Mini Satin, New Zealand, Palomino, Satin, Silver Fox, Silver Marten) Can you name 2 other breeds besides your own? (answer varies) What size is your rabbit? (answer varies) How many possible points are there for general type for your breed? (answer varies) Is your rabbit a 4 or 6 class rabbit? (small & medium: 4 class, large & giant: 6 class) How many varieties/color groups are there in your breed of rabbit? (answer varies) What is the proper eye color for your rabbit's variety? (answer varies) What type of fur does your rabbit have? (answer varies) What body type does your rabbit have? (answer varies) What are the ideal weights for your breed? (answer varies) |
Intermediate
What is a proven doe? A doe that has successfully raised a litter. How often is the standard of perfection revised? Every 5 years Is there a reason for a rabbit to have a tattoo in its right ear? Yes, if the rabbit has been registered it will have either a mark or number in the right ear. Which breeds have transparent guard hairs? The satin breeds (Satin, Mini Satin, and Satin Angora) What is a common disqualification for a black rabbit? A white spot What is the natural food for rabbits in the wild? Grass and grains What is a breeding trio? one buck and 2 does which can be bred. What is a breeding certificate? A written certificate by the owner of a stud showing the date of breeding and all but the last leg of his pedigree. What is a sport? Any variety that is not showable, or more often a solid in a marked breed such as a solid black Checkered Giant. What is a charlie? A lightly marked broken that carries 2 broken genes. Can a charlie have solid offspring? No, it doesn't carry a solid gene. What is line breeding? Line breeding is when you breed 2 rabbits with common ancestors. What is in breeding? In breeding is when you breed rabbits that are closely related such as father to daughter. What is out breeding or out crossing? Out breeding is breeding rabbits of the same breed that are completely unrelated. What is crossbreeding? Crossbreeding is breeding one breed of rabbit to another breed. What is inter se mating? Mating a brother and sister How many types of normal fur are there and what are they? There are 3,fly back, roll back, & standing. How many breeds have normal standing fur and what are they? There is only 1, the Silver Fox Do rabbits have hair or fur? They have fur What is a fryer? A young meat rabbit at or under 10 weeks of age weighing 3 to 5 pounds What is a roaster? A meat rabbit between 11 weeks and 6 months of age. What is a stewer? A meat rabbit over 6 months of age. How long has rabbit meat been marketed in Europe? Over 1,000 years Do Flemish Giants make good meat rabbits, why or why not? No, Their bone is too big and they have a slow growth rate. What are 2 of the most common breeds of meat rabbits in America? New Zealand, Satin, Californian Is rabbit meat white, dark, or both? It's all white meat. What percentage of the rabbit is usable? About 93%. When should you place a nest box in a pregnant does cage? About 4 days before she is due. What is a false pregnancy? When a doe builds a nest when she has not been bred. What is palpating? Feeling a doe's belly to see if she is pregnant. How old should a doe be when you breed her? Sr. age, but they should be bred before 1 year of age with the exception of giant breeds How long should a kit be left with the mother? 8 weeks minimum Kits double there birth weight in how many days? 6 days How can you tell if your rabbit is in prime condition? If you blow in the fur and you can see the white flesh then it is in its prime. How many teeth does a rabbit have? 28 What is the best way to treat any disease? To prevent it Why is it important to know causes of disease? So you know how to prevent it What should you do with an animal that has a contagious disease? Quarantine it from the rest of the herd. What are the symptoms of a hairball? Heavy molt, they consume little or no food, absence of droppings under the cage. How do you treat a hairball? Fresh pineapple contains an acid that will dissolve hair, squeeze or grind fresh pineapple and feed it to the rabbit using a syringe, you can also use petromalt for cats What are symptoms of snuffles? A lot of sneezing and coughing, mucus on the face and fore legs, loss of appetite, and usually weight loss Can you treat snuffles if so, how? Yes, penicillin can be given 1/10 cc per pound daily, or batril as directed by a vet. What kind of ears does a lop have? Bell/pendulous ears. What is an apple/bulldog head? The boxy head on most lops. Which breed of lop doesn't have a bulldog head? English Lop Is there a breed of lop that does not have a crown? Yes, the English Lop How many breeds of lops are showable in A.R.B.A.? 5, French Lop, English Lop, Mini Lop, Holland Lop, & Fuzzy Lop Lops often get frostbite on their ears in the winter, what is one simple way to prevent this? Hang the water dish on the wall of the cage so that the rabbit can't dip its ears in the dish, or put the rabbit in a well insulated barn. If you cut a toenail too short what is a fast way to stop the bleeding? Dip it in Kwick-Stop, cornstarch, or flour. How can you cool down a rabbit in or near heat stroke? Take the rabbit to a cool place, ice down the ears, and give it ice water using a syringe if it won't drink from a bowl. How many giant breeds are there? 4 Name all 4 giant breeds. Checkered Giant, Flemish Giant, French Lop, & Giant Chinchilla What 2 breeds were recently accepted by A.R.B.A.? Mini Satin and Thrianta Name a breed that is currently under development. Lion Head, Velveteen Lop Are all disqualifications permanent? No (open sores, nasal discharge, and abscesses are examples of temporary DQs) Are all faults permanent? No (molting or rusty or yellowish tint to the coat are examples of temporary faults) What is a marked breed? A breed that has specific markings such as the Rhinelander. Name 2 marked breeds. Blanc de Hotot, Californian, Checkered Giant, Dutch, Dwarf Hotot, English Spot, Harlequin, Himalayan, or Rhinelander Name 3 breeds that were developed in the United States. (American, American Fuzzy Lop, American Sable, English Angora, Giant Angora, Britannia Petite, Californian, Checkered Giant, American Chinchilla, Giant Chinchilla, Cinnamon, Florida White, Jersey Wooly, Mini Rex, Mini Satin, New Zealand, Palomino, Satin, Silver Fox, Silver Marten) Can you name 3 other breeds besides your own? (answer varies) Is your breed shown in varieties or color groups? (answer varies) How many varieties/color groups are there for your breed? (answer varies) Can you name 3 other varieties/color groups for your breed besides your own? (answer varies) What is the abbreviation for your breed? (answer varies) What are the ideal weights for your breed of rabbit? (answer varies) What are the senior weights for your breed? (answer varies) What are the intermediate weights for your breed? (answer varies) What are the junior weights for your breed? (answer varies) What is the minimum ear length for your breed? (answer varies) (asked only if specified in the Standard) What is the maximum ear length for your breed? (answer varies) (asked only if specified in the Standard) How many possible points are there for fur on your breed? (answer varies) How many possible points are there for general type for your breed? (answer varies) Where was your breed developed? (answer varies) |
Senior
Why is lighting important in a rabbitry? Because rabbits will not reproduce if it's too dark. How many hours of light do rabbits need for breeding? 14-16 hours What is the ideal temperature range for your rabbitry? 40 to 80 degrees What is the ideal humidity level in your rabbitry? less than 60% How long do rabbit's teeth grow per year? About 6 inches or 1/2 an inch a month How many eyelids does a rabbit have per eye? 3, upper, lower, and inner What is a nick and is it desired? A rabbit that is superior to its parents, yes it is desirable Can a rabbit get West Nile Virus? Yes What are the symptoms of West Nile Virus? Loss of appetite, heavy breathing, head held high, inactive, and the infected rabbit is usually dead within 24 hours. A rabbit is somewhat closely related to what large animal? A horse Which country's name translates to "Rabbit Coast"? Spain How many rabbits minimum can provide full-time employment? 600 head What breed(s) best supports the meat market? (any large commercial breed) What breeds best support the fur & wool markets? Rex for fur, Angora breeds for wool Which breeds best support the pet market? Any healthy animal What kind of rabbit best supports the breeders market? Any healthy, pure bred rabbit How does rabbit wool differ from other wools? Rabbit wool is the lightest and warmest wool in the world. How many types of wool are there and what are they? There are 4, English, French, German, and Satin Which type of wool is used most in the wool market and what breed is it found on? The German wool is used most and it's found on the Giant Angora What are the colored markings on the feet of Himalayan or Californian marked breeds and varieties called? Boots What is a sweep? The complete side marking on English Spots. What is a herringbone? It is the spine marking that has a jagged or serrated edge on English Spots. What is a false dwarf? A small breed that is lacking a dwarf gene which makes them grow noticeably larger than a true dwarf What is a peanut? A dwarf breed that carries 2 dwarf genes and is extremely small, they usually die within a week after birth. What are shadow bars? Faded color on either front or hind feet making light colored bars that run across the feet and legs. How many breeds of rabbits are there world-wide? Over 180 What are splayed legs? A birth defect or injury which limit the use of the hind legs What is coccidiosis? A disease affecting the digestive system, rabbits carry 2 types of coccida, one affecting the liver and the other affecting intestines, usually caused by dirty cages. What is ear lacing? The dark colored fur that outlines the sides and tips of the ears on some varieties of rabbits. What is the top speed of a rabbit? 35 mph What is a flat coat? Rex fur that lacks spring How many full arched breeds are there? 6 How Many semi arch breeds are there? 5 How many compact breeds are there? 17 How many commercial breeds are there? 18 Are rabbits rodents? No, rabbits are in the lagomorph family Are rabbits and hares different species? Yes Are domestic rabbits of American or European decent? All domestic rabbits come from the European Wild Rabbit. What is the percentage of protein in rabbit meat? 22% What percentage of the rabbit is bone? 6-7% How many degrees of vision does a rabbit have? 360 How is a rabbit's temperature regulated? Through it's ears The Headquarters of A.R.B.A. are in what city? Bloomington, Illinois When was A.R.B.A. founded? In the year of 1910 Name 3 different supplies that should be in a rabbit first aid kit. Scissors, nail trimmers, blood stop, Q-tips, antibiotic ointment, cotton balls, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, wound disinfectant, etc. Can you name 3 rabbit diseases? Snuffles, wry neck, enteritis, coccidiosis, vent disease, orchitis , conjunctivitis (weepy eye), pneumonia, etc. List 3 permanent disqualifications. foreign color, absence of color, broken bone, broken/missing tooth, missing toe, incorrect eye color, pigeon breast (in most breeds), moon/walleye, malocclusion, etc. List 3 temporary disqualifications. Any illness, broken toenail or tooth, open wounds, etc. What are the 4 breeds that have more possible points for color than for type? Standard Chinchilla, Harlequin, Silver, and Thrianta What breed is born black and turns gray or silver as it matures? Champagne d'Argent What is the oldest commercial meat breed that is still used for that purpose today? Champagne d' Argent About what age do the ears stop growing on an English Lop? At about 4 months Which full arch breeds are posed rather than ran on the judging table? Britannia Petite and Belgian Hare List the lop breeds from smallest to largest. Holland Lop, American Fuzzy Lop, Mini Lop, English Lop, and French Lop Which Breed has a hairline? The Dutch What is a drag? A fault on marked breeds that is an intrusion of color going into a white marking area. What is a run? A fault on marked breeds that is an intrusion of white into a colored marking area. What does the term summer ears mean? Ears that are longer than normal from being born in the heat of the summer. What are peg teeth? The 2 small teeth that are hidden right behind the top front teeth Name all 6 full arch breeds. Belgian Hare, Britannia Petite, Checkered Giant, English Spot, Rhinelander, & Tan. Name all 5 semi arch breeds. American, Beveren, English Lop, Flemish Giant, & Giant Chinchilla Name 5 commercial typed breeds. Rex, French Lop, New Zealand, Satin, Harlequin, Palomino, Silver Fox, etc. Name 5 compact typed breeds. American Fuzzy Lop, Dutch, Dwarf Hotot, Netherland Dwarf, Mini Lop, Mini Rex, Mini Satin, etc. Name the 3 medium breeds that have compact type. English Angora, Lilac, & Standard Chinchilla. Name 3 marked breeds. Blanc de Hotot, Californian, Checkered Giant, Dutch, Dwarf Hotot, English Spot, Harlequin, Himalayan, or Rhinelander. Name 5 breeds that were developed in the United States. (American, American Fuzzy Lop, American Sable, English Angora, Giant Angora, Britannia Petite, Californian, Checkered Giant, American Chinchilla, Giant Chinchilla, Cinnamon, Florida White, Jersey Wooly, Mini Rex, Mini Satin, New Zealand, Palomino, Satin, Silver Fox, Silver Marten) Can you name 5 other breeds besides your own? (answer varies) When and where was your breed of rabbit developed? (answer varies) Who developed your breed of rabbit? (answer varies) When was your breed first brought to the US? (answer varies) What year was your breed accepted by A.R.B.A.? (answer varies) What are the ideal weights for your breed? (answer varies) What are the senior weights for your breed? (answer varies) What are the intermediate weights for your breed? (answer varies) What are the junior weights for your breed of rabbit? (answer varies) What is the minimum/maximum ear length for your breed? (answer varies) What is the minimum/maximum fur/wool length for your breed? (answer varies) How many possible points for general type are there for your breed? (answer varies) How many possible points are there for fur/wool on your breed? (answer varies) How many possible points are there for color on your breed? (answer varies) How many possible points are there for markings for your breed? (answer varies) (usually asked only if you have a marked breed) What is your breed's slogan? (answer varies) |