It's been said that the Registration System denotes an animal of quality.  ARBA's process stands above the rest as each animal has to be inspected for quality, and only those that are quality are approved for registration.

Not really.

Now, before I get into anything else, I would have to say, that I do appreciate this method to a certain extent verses the AKC method.  However AKC does allow registration of animals that are only non showable due to color, and ARBA does not.

When you register your rabbit you bring the animal, a full 3 generation pedigree (all info must be filled out, including the weights of all animals), and your ARBA Membership card and present these to the Regsitrar.  First, the Registrar goes over the pedigree and ensures that all the information is included and points out any information that is missing.  Then, providing the pedigree is complete, the rabbit itself is inspected.  The rabbit must be within the required weight limit and must not bear any disqaulifications from show at the time of registration.

But, your pedigree is only as good as the peice of paper it is written on.  Do you know your breeder well? Do you trust them?  Anyone, ANYONE can fill out a 3 generation pedigree providing Names, Ear Numbers, Colors and weights for a rabbit to make it look valid.  Anyone.  Not to mention the fact that I know of MANY MANY of the top breeders in this hobby that DO NOT register any of their animals.  None.  I also know of many who do not even keep records, so when you ask for a pedigree...who knows what you are truely getting!  At least AKC does DNA testing for studs.  Can you imagine the rabbit world if we did that? 

So then why do I register?  Well because I am adding to the database.  Once you submit your registration application, that rabbit's pedigree cannot be changed or altered.  EVER.  (okay well you can change the owner info and I think you can have them update the weight....but that is ever changing and not worth updating once a month)  The more rabbits registered behind a rabbit I purchase, means I can trust that pedigree to be authentic and true more so than I can one that is not.  But even then, should a person want to they could create a pedigree from Bucky bred to Doelina and write a pedigrees for the litter that never happened.  At least with AKC the owner of the parents must sign the litter registration verifying the breeding did infact take place.

I also register my animals because I do take the time and funds to send in for their Grand Championship Certificate.  It is a shame that ARBA does not allow other step ups in the showing process after Grand Champion.  But it is what it is.  The certificate goes in the rabbits file.  The more filled out my pedigrees are, the better I can show my animals are of QUALITY.

 However, in my opnion, quality is better determined by a judge not a registrar.  Sure your rabbit might be registered.  But does it win.  Does it have legs?  Can it be a grand champion?  If your rabbit is constantly loosing, chances are it is not a quality animal.  But that's okay.  Listen to the judges, find the one or two things that animal is lacking and breed up! 

I do feel that the registration process should include "sport" colors that are required to produce showable colors, such as Tri and Blue Eyed Whites.  Breeds like Rhinelanders and Spots, Checkered, Hotot and Papion all use the Sport or Solid to make the showable, desired color and markings.  The only reason the sport is not showable is due to color, and color alone.  All other aspects should fit the same standard.

Another reason to register, espeacially if you raise a breed that is listed on the Livestock Conservatory List, is because each rabbit registered is counted.  Those with low counts are considered endangered or threatened.  This is how the Livestock Conservatory receives this information.  Do not count on others to keep the counts up, you need to take part in this too.  And this is also another reason why the Sports should be allowed to be registered as a BROOD ONLY animal.

So register your stock.  Protect what you have worked for.  Ensure that future generations will have accurate information and that your breed numbers are properly being recorded.

Entering into the rabbit hobby is exciting, but can be overwhelming at times. Once you get the hang of it all, the rabbit hobby can be very rewarding!! As of late I have seen those who are fairly new to the industry ask all sorts of questions via social media. These are folks who obviously did not do their homework, and I have seen them ripped appart by more experienced breeders. This is sad. We are all supposed to help eachother. After all we are all breeding to better the breed right? With that said, I thought I would write a few tips of advice to these newcomers into the rabbit hobby, and perhaps maybe avoid some of these issues! :)


We all had to start somewhere right? For me, my grandfather bought me and my brother mixed breed pet bunnies for easter when I was 12. A year later, I had Mini Lops with pedigrees. I was in 4H. I was buying up rabbit books and wanting to join ARBA and start showing ARBA shows. My first Mini Lop was a birthday present from a school friend, and then it started from there! We all have came into this hobby in one form or another. How we managed to do so is not important. What is important is why we choose to stay!


One of the biggest things I cannot emphasis enough...RESEARCH! Before you buy your first rabbit, before you choose your first breed, research it! The American Rabbit Breeders Association has a great page of all recgonized breeds available for you to use! Check this page out, check out the links to the National breed clubs. Read about the breeds you are interested in! The next step would be to find a local breeder or two of these breeds in your area. Contact them and ask if they can take some time to visit with you about their breed, show you a few examples, and allow you to ask questions. Be sure to let them know that you are looking to get started, and are just researching breeds at this time. A good breeder, with a true passion for their breed & hobby will make the time to do this. And no matter how cute these darling bunnies are that you are shown, now is not the time to buy! Do not make impluse purchases! It will get you know where other than frustrated!


Your next step after talking with a few breeders, on your breed choices is to find a local show to attend. When you go to this show remember: DO NOT go behind the judges table, DO NOT interupt the judging, DO NOT stand in front of exhibitors watching the judging, DO NOT ask exhibitors to point out their animals. But DO watch how the judging works, DO listen to the judge place and comment on the animals (especailly the breed(s) you are considering getting into) When Judging is over, you may then talk to other breeders/exhibitors about their breed. Again this is not a time to buy, you are still researching!


In the meantime, between meeting breeders & attending shows, collect a few books on rabbit raising, Join ARBA, purcahse the current Standard of Perfection, and jion a few groups on Facebook dedicated to raising and show rabbits. These groups are excellent resources for newbies and a great place to meet more breeders, see more breeds, and ask questions!


When you feel like you have done enough research, and read all there is to know about rabbits. Now it's time to choose your breed. I highly suggest you start with one breed, and only one breed. A common mistake I see amoung newbies is getting so excited about all the varieties, pretty colors, body styles and just plain adorable rabbits! What ends up happening is that they cannot focus on all, they dont win at shows, improvements are being made when breeding, and in the long run they end up frustrated and give up!


Some of the biggest mistakes I see being made are newbies not doing their homework. Asking questions in groups in which, had you as a newbie done your research and learned about the basic principles of rabbit breeding and showing you would know these things. I understand that everyone was a newbie at somepoint, and everyone has to start somewhere. But, the point is do you really want to be that one person that posts a question in a group that says "I just bred my doe. When is she due?" Come on, if you did your research, you would know this! You are more than likely to get answers from several people. Several will be nice, most not so nice.


Showing and raising quality rabbits is not difficult and with today's world of technology all the information you need to know is right at your fingertips! So before you get started, do some research! Find the simple basics of breeding such as gestation, best age to breed (this varies from breed to breed and different breeders have different opinions) It's okay to ask questions to learn...but don't ask questions after the deed has been done. ​

​I am pretty sure I have posted about this before, but it does not hurt to post again. There is maybe one thing more important in this hobby than the breeders themselves, and that would be our local clubs. If it was not for these local clubs putting on shows, we would not have the opportunity to exhibit our breed specimens, converse and learn with others in our breed, learn about new breeds, and so much more! These local clubs are run by local breeders, not by ARBA or the National Breed clubs.


I have noticed that shows are becoming far and few inbetween, at least in my area. New clubs pop up, but quickly diminish. Why is that? Well lets look at how a club works:


A local club must consist of seven people: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer (Secretary & Treasurer can be combined), Board Director, and two other board members. This is what is required by ARBA to start up and continue a local club. All these club members MUST be ARBA members as well. Each club is responsible to make up their own consititution and by-laws. Each club is a small branch of ARBA, but not governed by ARBA. ARBA oe not get involved with club buisness matters.


Each officier of local clubs has a role to play. However, the heart and soul of each club without a doubt is the secretary and treasuers position. These positions in a club are always the hardest to fill. Many times a person will take the position, but quickly remove themselves. Without a secretary or treasurer the clubs cannot function! The sceretary is responsible to make sure all the paperwork is in order for the charter, taxes, non profit, state requirements, minutes for club meetings, etc etc. Then you have the treasurer who is responsible for the clubs money. Add that to the secretary's job and oh boy! But it's not impossible to do!


One of the most important things to remember of our local club members is that they are ALL 100% volunteering their time to these clubs. There is NO pay to be a club member! Infact, when new clubs start up, the charter fee comes out of pocket. And in most cases, when the show happens, awards, judges, hotels, coops, venue and all that goes along with hosting a show, comes from the pocket of the club members until entry fees are paid. This is especially true for smaller local clubs.


Don't think that your personal life is just too busy to be an active member of a local group! Each and every member, including the secretary and treasuer has a family to care for, a home to clean, kids to chase, a full time job, and their own rabbits to maintain! And yet, even though most members have full time jobs, and we all have an entire life of our own, we make time so that the show can go on!


What can a membership to your local club get you? Well first and foremost your paid membership to your local club gets you a vote in all things club related. It gives you the opportunity to make changes that you see need to be made. Your small yearly membership dues help pay for the club charter, purchase awards for the show, or pay for anything else the club needs to continue. Your membership is valued, no matter how little or how much you participate.


However, active members are needed! Even if you can only do so much, any help is appreciated when it gets time to put on a show. In most cases, your local shows are put on by two or three people. That is an average of three people finding and collecting bids for judges that they think the exhibitors will appreciate, organizing judging orders, taking in your entries and fees, making the show catalog and ensuring everyone who wants one gets one, sending in for sanctions, printing out and orgnizing pre show paperwork, picking up and entertaining the judges, finding the venue, setting up the show, finding table writers, and down to imputing all the placements after the show, printing out the show reports and legs and getting them off in the mail to you! There is so much more that goes into hosting a show than what I listed. But, the point is...on average three people do all this work for you the exhibitor to enjoy, while we work full time jobs, and care for our own families!


So take minute and contact your local clubs, ask to join and ask where you can help! YOu are an assest! No matter how big or how small!