I’m going to try and take you through the grooming until they are adults. I personally start grooming my babies about 6 weeks old,where I take them out and sort out the knots behind their necks. Then at 8 week to 9 weeks I take them out regularly, which is normally every other day, and I check behind their ears and at the back of their tails, this should normally only take you about 10 minutes.
Start when they are young
I wean my babies at 10 weeks and place them on their own, in their own cage with a wire floor. At 12 weeks I start bringing them indoors, they are sat on a chair which already has a towel placed upon it. I then introduce the hoover and start blowing the coat, but if you prefer you could start with a cold hairdryer, you will also need a comb and a Mason Pearson brush which is made of nylon, and don”t forget the powder. Its is very important at this stage not to overgroom because if you do it now, the damage will be done permanently.
Method
Start by blowing the top of the coat and paying particular attention to the sides near the front legs and behind the tail. Then turn the baby on to its back, it is important that if you are wearing trousers or jeans to use a towel so that the baby feels secure. Then switch the hoover on and blow the underneath paying attention to the neck and between the front legs. Then check the back feet and finally the tail, I then cover the front and back feet and around the tail with powder, then I turn it back up and quickly blow the top again and place it back in its cage.
When I personally use the comb, it is for the feet only. I teaze the rest of the knots apart with my fingers to save pulling out too much coat.
Products to use
If you are going to show, try and get hold of some chalk powder as this has no smell whereas if you use talcum powder judges often comment that “They smell like powder puffs”. If the Angora is dirty or stained when you get it out of the cage, don’t panic! I know its easy for me to say, but the Angoras pick up this emotion. The easy way of cleaning it up is to blow it and put plenty of chalk powder on it. The art of a good groomer is to do all your preparation at home and only quickly blow it when you get to the show. Remember all you beginners try not to show your babies too early, they don’t look their very best until they are at least four months old, give them time to mature.
Grooming adult angora rabbits
When they are adults remember to blow the coat every day to keep it on good condition. The Angoras tend to look their best between April and October. So lets get them back out on the table and back on their winning form if they look good you feel good. Best of luck.
GROOMING FOR THE SHOW BENCH
Source: by Judy Connolly 1989 NAC Yearbook