About Debs
I started keeping rabbits at the age of eight when I went
away to boarding school and it had a pet’s corner. I enjoyed a natural affinity with animals, one day aspiring
to become a vet. At school I was the person other children came to for advice about their pet rabbits, guinea pigs etc.
Throughout my school years I acquired many more rabbits and guinea pigs and became a ‘rescuer’ of other kids’
unwanted pets. Some came to me because the child was leaving school and returning to their overseas home. Others because they
were mistreated, particularly rabbits who were scared and vicious.
During
one of my school holidays I met a husband and wife team who exhibited Netherlands. I bought some of their
stock and started to breed and for a while show my own, mostly siamese sable, seal points and red eye whites.
I
also acquired a beautiful pair of sooty fawn dwarf lops from a show. They became the foundation of my breeding stock
for many years. Eventually I progressed in to other colours including orange, chinchilla and butterfly to name a few!
Years later a horrible turn
of events left me terribly upset and I decided to take a step back from breeding. It happened when a band of 'travellers' and their
pack of dogs got on to my property during the early hours (as witnessed by a neighbour!!) I came out in the morning to feed my beloved pets as normal,
but to my horror found slaughtered and in some cases partly eaten baby rabbits and guinea pigs strewn all over my lawn.
The adult rabbits were missing; undoubtedly in somebody’s stew pot. There was only one rabbit and a few guinea pigs
left untouched, terrified, in the top cages. For a few years I only kept those remaining few, gave away a lot of my cages and
turned my attention to my dogs and dog agility.
Agility was a large part of my life for 15+ years. The dogs all thoroughly enjoyed
it, the training, competition and socialising with other dogs. Sadly, a badly frozen shoulder and my club losing one of their
training venues meant I lost the opportunity to continue once my shoulder improved. However, by then the rabbit showing had
taken off again!
Top left was Penny (R.I.P.) a Bearded Collie and a very independent girl. She would either not
be in the mood to compete and face the wrong way on the start line or half way around the course would make a bee line for
the Scribes tent (especially if tea and biscuits were about!) Or she would complete a course but would run it barking
her head off!
Top right was Jet (R.I.P.) my wonderful little black Labrador (only 17 1/2 inches to the shoulder) She
loved to take part and worked so hard and won out of an agility course and had many other high placings.
Bottom left
is Thai a working Border Collie, now an old man but was quick and keen to please, he took us to Level Four (formerly
Novice)
Bottom right is Buzz, my handsome Border Collie with a fantastic pedigree in all aspects of the dog world from
showing to field trails... very eager and exuberant but quick to learn and had the most fantastic contacts.
I still
miss agility but would highly recommend it as a brilliant hobby for both dog and its' human!
When Heather got some mini lops, it rekindled my love of rabbits. The
memories I had of that dreadful day of the 'attack' had faded and so I decided to get some of my own.
Currently I'm working on black, chocolate and blue otter also chocolate self and chocolate tort
as my main patterns/colours. Both Heather and I will show and use other colours that may arise in our litters,
if we consider the type to be good enough. We also share a stud of Hulstlanders and Netherland Dwarfs, I also
show and breed Lion Lops.
About Heather
As a newbie to the show world, I am building upon my
own knowledge by the day. Slowly I am learning about type and colour. I can identify.... or HOPE that I can identify
a good from bad rabbit. I'm quite happy to read up for hours and hours on the internet researching various rabbit
information and I'm pleased to say I've taught myself basic genetics and predict colour combinations and compatibilities
well.
After 'the attack' sadly
my memories of rabbit and guinea pig keeping are not many. However as a child and teenager I remember many a summer holiday
afternoon sat in the rabbit run playing with the bunnies and cuddling my much loved pets.
To the right is a picture of my favourite rabbit 
Benny an orange dwarf lop buck, he was so playful, friendly and affectionate. It was the memory of him that inspired
me to start up with rabbits again.
My
long term aim is to concentrate on sooty fawn a fairly competitive colour and dabble in a few of the prettier
colours i.e. seal point, rew, fawn and agouti.
