I want a rabbit, dh doesn't.... can anyone answer some questions?

[lunavix]

I didn't really have any pets as a kid, and would love a houseful of kids and pets now but realistically our house/garden is too small for a dog which is what we'd all like the most. Dh doesn't like cats, and I've been thinking about getting a rabbit.

We have a small-ish garden, there is grass though (average for a terrace) and I think it would help get the older kids (mindees) out in the garden as atm it's full of toddler toys which they can't play with.

I've been looking at second hand hutches, one comes with a run that folds away that I'd imagine would be the sensiblist. However dh is adamant this rabbit would poo all over the lawn, the kids won't ever be able to play barefoot out there again, realistically we won't be able to bbq or get the paddling pool out again or anything else, the kids will leave the door open and the rabbit will come in the hosue and eat everything... how true is this?

I want a small-ish bunny, I've been told to get female as males can 'spray' you, can anyone recommend a breed good with kids (I have ds who's 2, plus 3 mindees over 5, and currently but not for long 2 mindees of nearly 3) or will the average £10 out the paper lop eared bunny do?

And is it going to crap over my garden to the extent ds wn't be able to go outside?

[goosey]

Well, I've only just got our two guinea pigs, although I did used to keep them when I was a child.
They have so far been very happy to be transferred from hutch to run and back again each day so the poo is contained to the area where the run has been and it's fine.
I have all ages of minded children here and they all have to wear shoes when outside (for their own protection - eg I don't want them to get hurt standing on a bit of pebble dash - too much paperwork) except for my own ds who like me doesn't care what he walks in. A bit of poo between your toes won't hurt. It all comes off in the shower.

[arfur]

We have a rabbit and a guinea pig together Rabbit is ok sometimes but mostly evil guinea pig is lovely and cuddly but much less active i.e. doesnt do much. Lady who looked after them whilst we went on hols said that she would def consider getting a pig but not a bunny. HTH.

[misdee]

people say bunnies are fine if they are handled young, but personally i dont pick mine up for cuddles. i stroke him, let him hop over to me for strokes, dont approach him etc as i dont want to scare him. he used to hide from me and curl into a corner, now he hops over for a little pet on his nose and will take food from my hand. i dont allow my kids to stroke him yet, as i think he needs to get used to them from the safety of his run. he will take grass and leaves which the kids poke through. but he has nipped my neice when she jabbed her fingers through. however he hasnt nipped my dd3 who does exactly the same as he is used to her in a way.