Classroom & Therapy Bunnies!

Classes that Want to Join the Country Bumpkin Bunnies Gang!

This page is dedicated to those classes and to those future classes that want to join the Country Bumpkin Bunnies gang!  Teachers, if you find yourself here because you are exploring the avenue of bringing a rabbit into the classroom, you are in the right place.  Ahnika has been very diligent about working with her bunnies on a daily basis for hours at a time.  She has these bunnies used to lots of commotion and noises so they are not easily startled.

She lets them hang out in her bedroom as she plays her games or whatever it is she disappears and does for hours at a time  (LOL).  She is very much into reading and film production.  However, she always has a bunny not far from her.  She thoroughly enjoys these bunnies and I am so very proud of her for becoming the responsible, young lady she is today!  

Ahnika started started our rabbitry at 11 years old.  She has made these bunnies not fear children, want to be picked up and held and they love her back.  Who knew a bunny would bring this much joy to a child?  Certainly not me but I am a witness to it first hand.  I (mom) am writing this so you can hear it from an adult if you are interested in a pet bunny.

Rabbits can be like cats and scratch you without meaning to do so. When children are handling rabbits, it is best to have a towel, pillow or blanket around for the bunny to sit on (on their lap) and have an adult watching over at all times.  You just never know when a bunny decides to take a leap!  

So there are pros and cons to any situation. One thing that I can think of right off the top of my head is allergies.  I personally have an allergy to all pet hair/dander.  However, I am a pet groomer (go figure).  So you might first want to be sure it will not cause an issue with any students with allergies.  Most of the time, those with allergies just need to limit their time in handling the bunny.  If the bunny is groomed regularly and coats are blown OFTEN, you may be able to avoid some of these issues.  

The hair brings me to another fact that I need to mention.  The hair!  These are fiber bunnies, exactly what they make angora yarn with and they have LOTS of fiber.  They will need trimmed down every three to four months depending on your preference.  They grow about an inch of hair a month.   They need to be in climate controlled atmospheres preferably.  This is a personal opinion but it is certainly not a rule. It just makes them more comfortable especially in the hot months. I believe the classroom will always be the perfect temp, but make sure you also watch the temps when you take them home over holidays or if you take them home on the weekends.  Don't put them outside when they are acclimated to being inside please!  Don't underestimate what an angora can handle though.  Our rabbits have moved all over with us and lived in extreme hot climates and extreme cold climates. We have always had them inside of a garage or barn if not in the house. They can handle the heat but watch them closely to be sure they do not over heat!
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Also, bunnies can be very fragile if they have too many changes going on at one time.  Always be mindful of what can easily stress a bunny and try your best not to put them in that situation.  They would not do well to go home with different students all the time.  Please be the only home responsible for them so they know what to expect, teachers home or classroom home.  Transporting bunnies around is stressful just like it would be for a dog or cat.  The problem is, a bunny doesn't bounce back from stomach upsets very easily.  They can lose their life over stomach upsets like bloat.  We certainly will discuss these sort of issues with our buyers because they are important when owning a bunny.

If you can get through all the possible "cons" in owning a bunny, there are some wonderful "pros".  English Angoras are such a loving breed of rabbit.  They tend to be one of the most friendly from what we have learned and even been told by many other rabbit breeders and rabbit owners.  These bunnies will lay in our arms like a baby on their back when they learn to trust you. They sit nicely on your lap and will even nudge you for attention, from what Ahnika tells me.  She says they will grab her by the shirt with their teeth and tug at it if she ignores the head nudges.  It sounds pretty funny but these are the reasons she loves them so much.  Some people cannot own a cat or dog because of the time and work they require.  Bunnies are much less work.  The only exception with this breed is the coat care.  You must be on top of caring for the coat or it will most definitely become tangled and matted.  Some people look at these bunnies and think they are dogs.  In fact, I have had many requests from Ahnika's customers to groom their bunnies like dogs (a poodle to be precise).  

Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this page so you don't miss anything!

Animals make wonderful therapeutic pets for anyone, young, elderly, ill or just someone who needs that emotional companion!  Years ago I used to sell therapy dogs.  Today I am helping Ahnika sell therapy bunnies that are being used for the exact same thing my dogs were used for.  It simply amazes me. They go into hospitals and visit sick children.

Some can go to nursing homes and visit the elderly.  They bring a smile to these wonderful people just when they need it most.  It takes the focus off of everything for that moment, brings a sparkle to their eyes, a smile to their faces that otherwise would not be present.

How can you not love a cuddly, cute, little furball like these bunnies? Ahnika has worked with bunnies that are being used for this reason and she is very proud to do so for anyone who asks.
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There is always a lot to say about something wonderful but I just wanted to get some info out there on Ahnika's special customers that really deserve a thumbs up! Thank you for doing something great for others!

​May God bless you,
​Annika's mom

The bunny lounging around is a therapy bunny Ahnika raised and sold that now lives in New Jersey!  This was his first day home and he even got a hair cut!

Here are a couple of videos of Ahnika blowing out the bunnies so you can see how to do it.  Keep in mind that the closer you get to the skin, the more dust and loose coat will fly off and keep them more tidy and clean.