Arizona State Rabbit and Cavy convention Study Guide.

What does a comment card look like?

You fill in your information: Both You and your rabbit’s info is needed. You write down the # of rabbits in a class (know what class is. ) Head comments Body comments Color and fur comments Markings comments and all other. Circle what rabbit is entered as Write down what the judge placed the rabbit as... 1 st 2 nd 3 rd …etc. Did the rabbit win Best of Breed, opposite…other ? circle here. Know all abbreviations. Check correct box down column. Of each Row. Very Good, good, fair, or poor. Any other comments that judge may mention. Such as any DQ’s and why the rabbit was DQ’ed. Write Judges name down.

Here is an already filled in comment card Sometimes the info of the rabbit and breeder are placed as a sticker on back of card by the show secretary. This rabbit didn’t win anything because it was DQ’d. This rabbit was snipey in head. What does that mean? Rabbit had good type and bone. Shoulders are weak and midsection is hollow. Color is Stained but texture was good The condition was only fair? Name same reasons that could make condition fair. Name some breeds that fit into these rows. Name a breed that fits into these rows. Name some reasons a rabbit could be DQ’ed.

Balance- Type: Shape or conformation. (overall rabbit) Base Color- color next to skin (fur) Brindling- The longer tipped guard hairs (Fur) Broken Coat – missing portions of a coat. Can be caused by molting. (Fur) Bull Dog - A short, broad, bold head with a definite masculine appearance.

Carriage Chain Charlie Choppy (or Chopped Off) Cobby How the rabbit carries its ears. (Head) The markings on the side of a rabbit (markings) A rabbit that is way to light (color) A rabbit is not well filled out and rounded in the loin and rump area. stout and stocky: short legged.

This is a Choppy Rabbit. Look at rump of rabbit. Starts Arc nice Then goes down in a line rather than finishing in a nice arc Then Goes down in a horrible ugly looking almost 90 degree angle to tail.

Condition Crown Density Depth Ear Lacing Over all Condition of rabbit. (usually body or fur) the ear base on some lop-eared breeds. (head) The property or quality of a thick coat of fur. (fur) Measurement downward from the top line of the body to the lowest portion of the body. (Body) The coloring that outlines an ear. (Head/color)

Faking Fine Coat Finish Flat Luster Altering the rabbit in an illegal way that other wise would be deemed a fault or DQ. Such as coloring a miscolored toenail with marker or nail polish, plucking white hairs out. (any where on rabbit) A coat of fur too fine in texture, lacking body. Lacking the proper amount of guard hairs. Coat will feel very thin coarse to the touch. (fur) Fully prime coat, color and flesh. (fur) Either in shoulders or coat. Lacks spring or body as noted by touch. Usually a fine coat coupled with a lack of density. the top line over the shoulders is noticeably parallel to the surface of the judging table. (Body or fur) The shine, brightness and brilliance of fur. (fur)

Mandolin Massive Open/ Slipping Coat Smut Snipey Sport Another word for Semi- Arch (Body) A term meaning bulky and heavy. Ponderous or large. (Body) A shedding rabbit (Fur) A term describing slate grey fur that is foreign to the standard color for the breed. (Fur) A term describing a narrow and elongated head. (Head) A rabbit that is too dark in color for its breed. (color)

Stocky Tucked Up Under Color Type A term meaning compact, stout, and cobby. The trim appearance of a Belgian Hare, with rounded body and breast and belly gathered in closely to form an arch when the rabbit is sitting. The base of the fur shaft. Shaft next to the skin. Not the belly fur of the rabbit. A term used to denote body conformation of a rabbit or shape of a particular part of a rabbit, as in "head type". The general description of the physical makeup of the rabbit.

BOSV – Best Opposite Sex of Variety BOV – Best of Variety BOSG – Best Opposite Sex of Group BOG - Best Of Group BOS – Best Opposite Sex BOB – Best of Breed BIS – Best In Show RIS – Reserve In Show

Now we will fill out a sample comment card from a paragraph given... First fill in your info into the comment card. The rabbit info is listed below Breed: Champagne D’Argent Sex: Buck Class: Sr. Ear Tatoo: BUBBLES Variety: Standard Show: Practice comment card writing There are 5 entries in the class.

This rabbit will receive a 4th… has a very good head and ear base. Only fair bone, thin and light. The shoulders are flat, but leads to a nice top line. Midsection and hindquarters are hollow. The Coat lacks Luster and density and sheen, being open. Very good in color although under color could be lighter for age. Shows even ticking throughout whole coat. The overall condition is good.

How to Tattoo a rabbit

Materials needed Rabbit Tattoo Pen Ink Ice alcohol Paper towels (wet and dry)

First Step Take your rabbits Left ear and rub with Alcohol to sanitize rabbits ear and remove dirt. Then use the ice cube to numb the rabbits ear so he won’t feel as much pain. Leave it on until the rabbits ear feels fairly cold, don’t frost bite him though!

second Step Make sure the tattooing point of the pen is only sticking out just slightly. Put ink into a small cap and turn on Tattoo pen. Stick it into the ink for 5 seconds. Turn off tattoo pen. It is now filled with ink. Use paper towels to clean up ink on tip and/or any spilled ink.

Third step Place rabbit in lap while sitting down. You can have someone hold onto rabbit while you tattoo so it doesn’t move. Turn tattoo pen on. Grab the left ear and flip it inside out. Hold pen like a pencil.

Fourth Step Press hard enough to make pen go in, but not hard enough to make ear bleed or go through when tattooing. Try to go down lower in the ear so it will cause less pain and the rabbit won’t wiggle as much. Stop after each tattooed letter and wipe away with wet paper towel to check your progress. It takes time to get the tattoo right. At first you will press to light afraid you will hurt the bunny. You may have to retrace letter several times to get it deep enough.

Fifth Step Put Vaseline on the tattoo to protect it. Put rabbit back in cage to calm down and you are done.

For AZ Convention You will tattoo a Banana at convention so it will a lot easier because it won’t be moving. To tattoo a banana just hold tattoo pen like a pencil, tilt at a slight angle and press just enough to get into the surface of the banana while the tattoo pen is on or else the ink won’t stay as well. Write slowly and clearly. Block letters and all caps are better and more legible.

How to Tag a cavy

Materials needed Cavy Tagging Pliers Ear Tags Rag or towel

First Step Take cavy pliers and insert cavy tag with numbers on tag facing upwards. Don’t squeeze on the pliers or the tag will close before it is in the cavy and you will have to throw tag away.

second Step Place cavy in your lap. If no one is holding cavy wrap in a towel so it can’t move much. Look at the ear and make sure you tag in the right spot.

Third step Take pliers and place them over the target area. From here squeeze the pliers firmly and release right away. Your done!

For AZ Convention You might tag a piece of paper because it is about the same thickness as a cavies ear.

Other things you may need to know for AZ convention

How to fill in a pedigree

Genetics… Little a could stand for long ears on parents. Big N could stand for short ears on Parents. Half babies from parents have short ears and half has long ears.

Executing a keep cull class. You won’t actually cull rabbits out, you will just decide which rabbits out of a group you would sell as pets, have DQ’s, etc. And then which ones you would keep to show if they were your litter of rabbits.

Judging 4 different classes of rabbits… 4 in each class. We will go over how to judge in next meeting.

What is the difference between showroom variety and registration variety.

Showroom Variety is by group like: Broken, self, shaded, Agouti, and ticked. Registration variety is the actual color of the rabbit.

Telling a rabbit’s Showroom variety? 1. Guess rabbits registration color to best of your ability. 2. Make sure you know all the different groups. 3. Look at rabbit, is color one solid color (Self or Solid), a white with some other color in spots (Broken), blend of two different colors (Shaded), has longer different colored hairs sticking out of a solid color (Ticked), has a shade on neck and belly. (TAN)

Guess the showroom and registration variety. Blue and Self Tort. and shaded Otter and Tan pattern Chestnut Agouti and Agouti Sable Point = Shaded Note: difference between Agouti and ticked is that Agouti has three colors as you can see in the picture. Ticking is a solid color with longer different colored hairs.