Things I wish I had known before going to my first Rabbit Show:

The showroom can get full quickly if its a big show or if it has well-attended breed specialty shows- or if the showroom is small. If you decide to bring a rabbit or rabbits to show, get there early and find a spot to put your carrier, grooming table, and chair, if you bring these. (and you will wish you had these basic things, if you are staying for more than an hour or 2.)

Don't block aisles or anyone's access to their rabbits. Try to take up as little space as possible- don't spread out. If you bring kids, keep them contained and in your sight at all times. Don't assume anyone else wants to have your kids in their space, using their chairs, or playing with their stuff (that said, if you have some 'show buddies' you can sit with and your kids all get along, its great for everyone!)

Make sure you have the right tools to do any touch up grooming your rabbit needs, and that you clean up after yourself when you are done. Don't assume that you can borrow anything from anyone-- if you think you might need something, bring your own-- better that it ends up staying in your car, than risking being without what you need.

You rabbit needs a legible, permanent tattoo iits left ear- it can be any combination of letters/numbers you want. There are sometimes people at the show who are willing to tattoo (its the proper thing to do to offer them a few bucks for performing this favor), but on show day everyone is busy with their own rabbits/kids/entries, so if you can get the tattoo done  beforehand its much better for everyone, your rabbit included.

Most double shows have an entry deadline of 7- 8:00 am for the first show, and 9-10:00 am for the second show (with classes starting approx. 30 minutes to an hour after entries close). If you want to try and enter at your first show, you could go early and observe and politely ask questions after entries for the first show have closed, but before they close for the second show--

Go to the entry table and get an entry form and as many comment cards as you  have rabbits to show. 

Someone at the table might have time to show you the basics of entering, but you could also find someone with your breed that doesn't have 100 rabbits to groom and ask if they have time to show you how to fill out the forms and etc. We were all newbies once, and if you are polite and patient chances are a sympathetic person will give you some tips.

Then, you can fill out the forms to enter the second show, and you won't have  to rush, because the entry deadline is later. 

While you are waiting for your breed to show in the second show, you can watch and learn at the first show. There is usually some overlap of the two shows, so be attentive and listen for your breed to be announced.

Don't talk about your rabbit or anyone else's rabbit at the show table. General rabbit chat is fine, but be aware that once the judge starts giving comments and placing rabbits, most people want to hear the judge's comments, rather than chat.


Collect your rabbit and your comment card copy after the rabbit is judged. There is only one winner and its usually someone else, so if you don't win, be a gracious loser and take what you learned home to your rabbitry and use it to  make your next showing experience more successful and fun. 

If you consider any show where having fun and learning is a successful show, you can always be successful.