Rabbit Agility

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Rabbit Agility
By Amanda Greening
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Equiptment
Rabbit Agility is a bit more of an expensive
hobby for you and your bunny than clicker
training. You will not only have to have a
rabbit, but also

• Hoop Jump
• Teeter Totter
• Open Tunnel
• Closed Tunnel
• Weave Polls
• Tire Jump
• A-Frame

Please note that you do not have to use all of
them.
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Whats The Difference In Rabbit Agility And
Rabbit Hopping is an event that is only for jumps
and there is nothing else, like tunnels, seesaw,
weave polls and A-frame. Rabbit hopping is a bit
easier because you only have to teach your bunny
to jump, and nothing else.
Rabbit Hopping Site
4-H Rabbit Hopping
Rabbit Hopping?
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Rules
It is important that your rabbit is well groomed
before each competition. A dirty body or tail
area can contaminate the Agility Equipment. Long
nails could get hung up in or on the equipment
causing injury to the rabbits foot. Long toenails
may scratch the handler, Judges or others helping
at the events. You alone are responsible for
your own rabbit's as well as you own health and
safety while participating in Agility
events.Equipment as well as the agility course
area shall be made as safe as possible for the
competing rabbits.A barrier shall be set up
around the agility equipment with room for the
rabbits, handlers, Judges and contestants to move
around freely. The barrier will be safe for all
breeds of rabbits. The size of the webbing shall
be small enough to contain the smallest of rabbit
breeds. The barrier shall also be tall enough for
the safety and containment of the largest of
rabbit breeds.All rabbits will use the same
equipment and the equipment will be used in the
same order each competing rabbit's "run" per an
events run.Items of equipment to be used in
competition will be announced in the sign up
sheet before the event and be announced by the
Judge at the handlers meeting.
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Rules
Only rabbits that are healthy, tame, clean and
friendly are eligible for agility competition.A
rabbit must be a minimum of 6 months old to
participate in Rabbit Agility competition.Rabbit
s that are 6 - 10 months old may only participate
in Novice classes of Rabbit Agility.Pregnant
does shall not participate in Rabbit Agility.No
Nursing Does shall participate in Rabbit
Agility.Rabbits should never be "pushed" to do
a piece of or course full of agility
equipment.Human contestants, called handlers,
must remain calm when working their rabbits at
rabbit agility. No yelling, fast motion or unruly
behavior.Rabbits must be handled in a Humane
way. Judges may ask anyone to step down from
competition that is showing any type of cruelty
to their animal(s).
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Rules
For Novice Rabbits there will be up to five
pieces of agility equipment used in competition.
They might be the Teeter Totter, the Hoop Jump as
well as another lower type jump, balance item and
straight open tunnel. The novice class will not
use the Sea Saw, Long Jump, Closed Tunnel, Over
Under, Weave Polls or any jumps over 6".For
advanced Rabbits there will be up to eight pieces
of agility equipment used in competition and will
include the Open Tunnel and the Sea Saw. The
Agility Hosts will choose what type of equipment
is used and the course layout. For highly
skilled rabbits there will be up to twelve pieces
of agility equipment used in competition and will
include the Closed Tunnel, Sea Saw, and the
Balance Beam. The Agility Hosts will choose what
type of equipment is used and the course
direction.Agility hosts must bring cleaning
fluids and paper towel for competitors to use if
their rabbits would soil the equipment.Only
rabbits that are participating in the event are
allowed in the Rabbit Agility ring.If any
rabbit leaves the course, does the wrong piece of
equipment or gets off a piece of agility
equipment before finishing the task correctly
then that rabbit will need to be put back to the
spot where it left the course and restart from
there. Timing will continue and a five (5)second
penalty added to the total time per each mistake
the rabbit makes.Only rabbits that are
participating in the class that is going on in
the ring are allowed in the Event Area.Events
committee hosting a Rabbit Agility event must
have a place or area for people to wash their
hands. If the event is held outdoors the events
committee shall bring baby wipes and or hand
sanitizer for hand cleansing.Spectators must
stand to one or two designated sides of the ring
and back a minimum of 4' from the barrier.
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Rules
Events committee will determine placement of the
agility equipment in the ring and are responsible
for having it set up in time for the handler's
meeting before the event. Spectators need to be
quiet and stand still while rabbits are running
the course.No food or drinks in the agility
ring.Small rabbit treats are allowed but must
be given to the rabbit after it passes the finish
line or in the rabbit's own cage so that crumbs
will not be left on the competition ring thus
distracting other contestants.Events can and
some will be held outdoors, it must be made
extremely clear on the Event Invitation that it
will be an outdoor event. Every safety measure
shall be taken by the events committee for the
safety of both the competing rabbits and their
owners. Rain cancellation and/or rain dates must
be posted on outdoor event invitations. Parking
at an event must be plentiful and within
reasonable distance from the event.Events
committee shall make sure that there is a fishing
type net brought to the event that is large
enough to catch an escaped rabbit. However, it is
completely up to the escaped rabbit's owner to
ask for help and the net to catch their
animal.Please do NOT bring unruly children to
Rabbit Agility Events. Loud noises and fast
motion made by people will not be tolerated.
Anyone "acting out" will be asked to leave.
Rabbit agility is about the rabbits. Anyone
startling a rabbit or interrupting a rabbit's
individual Agility Run will only be given one
warning before being asked to leave the premises.
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AND MORE RULES
If anyone notices an unhealthy rabbit at an
agility event it is to be reported to the events
committee and the event Judge. The Judge along
with event committee shall look over the rabbit
for signs of bad health...hard breathing,
sneezing, runny eyes, signs of diarrhea, runny
nose, excessive scratching, scabs, ext. If the
health of the rabbit is found questionable the
Judge and event committee have the right to
remove the rabbit from the event and have it
moved off the event property. Rabbits on any
type of medication are not eligible to
participate Rabbit Agility. Judges may
disqualify any rabbit that is found in the Judges
opinion un-groomed or with excessive long toe
nails or an especially dirty rabbit or rabbit
tail. 
Both of these rabbits are
unacceptable
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What Breed Is Best For Competition
An English Lop with huge ears would not be able
to manipulate the agility equipment well. It's
ears would likely get caught in some of the
pieces of equipment, or it could step on it's own
ears while running and turning, the rabbit could
be seriously injured. The Angora or Wool/Long
Haired breeds would more then likely be a mess by
the time they finished an agility run on an
outdoor course. Their wool will pick up leaves,
sticks and other matter. Trained and competing
indoors some Angoras may well out do other
breeds. Hairless Rabbits would likely get cold
or hot at an event. They also would not have the
fur to protect them while running through the
Rabbit Agility or Rabbit Hopping courses. The
Giant breeds may not do well as Rabbit Hoppers
because the constant jolts to their joints would
be hard on their health . However with the
correct sized agility equipment and only a few
jumps they may do well at Rabbit Agility. The
more active and racier breeds would be a better
choice for Rabbit Agility or even Rabbit Hopping
competitors. Many people prefer rabbits about or
just under 7 pounds.
These breeds are English lop, angora, hairless
rabbit, Flemish giant and the German giant
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An Interesting Breed
The German Giant
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Starting Out
There are many items you can use at home to train
your rabbit for agility and hopping. Use you
imagination but keep safety in mind. A cardboard
box can be used as a jump, tunnel, or a
frame. There are many ways to set up safe and
inexpensive jumps to train your rabbit.
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Jumps
1. Two 55 Gallon Drums (plastic barrels) with
holes drilled out from bottom to top kind of in
diagonal. Use 1" plastic conduit cut to 2 1/2'
to 3' sections, add poles as the rabbit jumps
higher. 2. Two 5 Gallon Buckets set up the same
way, only the holes would be drilled straight up
and down in the buckets. 3. A Havaheart Or
Havaheart type rabbit cage set on it's side with
loud colored crate paper woven through it. (Crate
paper is so that the rabbit would see the jump
easily). 4. Same cage turned as if a rabbit were
in it with two bricks (one on each side) in the
rear so that the cage is tilted up. Crate paper
would be in the front and up on top so that the
rabbit could see it. 5. TV Tray frames with
conduit set in the middle fold (with the tray
open so that the conduit would have a cradle to
set in). Add pieces for heights by taping or
drilling tray stand. 6. Concrete blocks with
conduit poles. Add concrete blocks on top of one
another as the rabbit gets better at jumping. BE
VERY CAREFUL to make sure that these are VERY
stable. 7. A good humored spouse to lay down on
the trail and raise up in position as the rabbit
gets better jumping.
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To start your rabbit jumping the jumps first
train the rabbit to walk on a leash with a
harness. After your rabbit is comfortable walking
on the leash, have the rabbit walk up to a low
jump. A short jump such as a 2" x 4" board laying
on the ground, and let it sniff if it would like
to. Say the word "jump" and give the rabbit a
slight gentle boost over the jump....praise and
give the rabbit a little piece of treat. Repeat
this stage of training until the rabbit will walk
up to and jump over the board. After the rabbit
is doing well at a low jump add another jump
about 5 foot behind the first jump. Make the
second jump a bit higher but made to resemble the
first jump. Take the rabbit over the first jump
and up to the second jump. Say "jump" to the
rabbit as it approaches the second jump. If the
rabbit jumps it, praise and treat the rabbit. If
the rabbit does not jump the second jump, give it
a slight boost as you say "jump". About the age
of rabbits that you begin training for agility or
hopping. I have heard that only rabbits that are
4 months old should be taught to jump. I have
heard others say any age rabbit can learn. I
believe that it will depend on the amount of time
you have spent with the older rabbit. No, if you
rabbit is just out there in a hutch and has been
for a couple of years with little if any
handling.....this rabbit is not a good candidate.
However, if you have spent time with that older
rabbit, housed inside or out, and if it is used
to you and used to being handled, by all means
try this rabbit at jumping.
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What To Bring To An Event
When you attend a rabbit event you should always
bring a small sturdy cage with a secure lock and
a slide out tray underneath it for each of the
rabbits you bring. Bring a small amount of your
rabbits regular diet, a fresh vegetable snack,
some treats for encouraging your rabbits to
"play" and a water bottle filled with water from
home (take this off the cage for the drive so
that it does not leak in your cage). You should
also bring a small amount of clean bedding so
that if your rabbits bedding would get soiled,
wet or otherwise needing changing you would be
prepared. Never bring more rabbits then you can
safety handle by yourself. Others will have their
hands full with their own rabbits as well and be
helping with the event, never assume someone will
be there to help with extra rabbits that you
bring. Always bring your good humor. You have an
agenda, your rabbit does not, it does not care
about winning or impressing anyone. Always
need to bring your good humor, sometimes a double
dose is necessary.You should wear comfortable
clothing. Running shoes are a must. Just
remember, many time pictures are taken for web
sites, articles and club newsletters. Many times
a group of competitors will go out for a bite to
eat after an event so comfortable clothing are a
must but don't wear your "barn clothes". You may
also want to bring a snack and drink for
yourself. If several rabbits are present, the
event may last longer then first
anticipated.Bring your copy of the event rules
and regulations.Bring a folding chair to sit in
with you from home. The event may or may not be
held in a place that provides chairs.Bring a
small notebook or even just a folded piece of
paper in your pocket with either a pen or pencil.
You will want to write down your animals times,
competitor times, and other notes about the
event. You may also want to write down phone
numbers and email address of new friends you have
made at the event. If you have business card,
bring some of them too.You are responsible for
all of your own personal property including your
own rabbits while at a Rabbit Agility event. Keep
your purses and other personal and rabbit items
with you at all times. You may want to think
about what you really need to take with you to
the event and what could stay home.
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Training Tips

• Training and practice are very important. Train
  your rabbits even in wet grass, it may rain
  before an event and other rabbits that have never
  been in wet grass before.
• Rabbits will thrive on a small size piece of
  fruits and vegetables each day. Don't give your
  rabbit a full piece of fruit or vegetable.
• Overweight rabbits are as unhealthy as overweight
  people. Feed your animals right.
• Patience and Practice is the ONLY way to train a
  rabbit how to manipulate the agility pieces.
  Practice, Practice, Practice and use good treats.
• Do not pick up your rabbit by the harness.
• Training is going to take some time. It's not
  like you can just hook on the harness, wind up
  your rabbit and it will run the course on it's
  own at high speeds.
• Make sure that your rabbit's harness fits
  properly. A proper fitting harness will look
  tight, but you will be able to place a finger
  between the harness and the rabbit. If the
  harness is too loose the rabbit will be too. If
  the harness is too tight the rabbit will not be
  able to move freely in it.

Some Very Good Bunnies ?
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Thanks For Watching!!