Instructions
Handle your rabbit on a daily basis. Take it out of its cage and play with it, pet it and get it used to being touched by humans. Tell your rabbit "No" firmly when it attempts to bite or kick you and give your rabbit a reward when it allows you to touch and play with it.
Practice positioning the rabbit so that the judges can examine it. Practice flipping the rabbit onto the backside so the judges can see the stomach area. Practice opening the rabbit's mouth so that the judges can see the rabbit's teeth. If you practice each day, the rabbit will become used to being subjected to these moves and will not fight it when the judges look at it on show day.
Feed your rabbit a combination of rabbit pellets, alfalfa and vegetables such as carrots or turnips. Oats and barley are also good choices to mix in with your rabbit food; however, if you feed your rabbit either one of these items you should give the rabbit less rabbit pellets. Check the labels on the rabbit food to see how much you should feed your rabbit daily. The amount you feed your rabbit will depend on its age and weight.
Place your rabbit in the cage that it will live in during the show, so that the rabbit can get familiar with it. Allow the rabbit to explore the cage and spend a few days in it before the show. A rabbit that is comfortable with the surroundings will be easier to handle than a rabbit who has never seen its show cage before.
Clean your rabbit the day before the show. Give your rabbit a bath with tear-free baby shampoo and remove all dirt and soil from it. Brush your rabbit so that the fur is smooth and shiny. Clean out your rabbit's ears with cotton swabs, but do not enter too far into the ear canal.
How to Condition Rabbits for Shows
Rabbits are shown at country fairs or for 4-H projects and the hobbyists that show the rabbits pick the best rabbit out of their pets to show. People who condition their rabbits early have less difficulty when it comes to showing rabbits, because the animals will be used to getting handled by humans and will relax instead of fighting the judges in the ring. A well-conditioned rabbit has a better chance of placing in the show ring than a rabbit who is frightened and acting out.