Live Animals

[Harpoetta]

My Dad used a rabbit in his show for years before she finally died. She was a big bunny, very big, and he used to produce her out of a squared circle. She puffed herself up when he put her in, so she'd look even bigger than she actually was (she was trying to make it look like she didn't have enough room), but when he came back to produce her out of it, she was always facing the wrong way.

We had 4 rabbits, not all at the same time. 3 females and 1 male. The first 2 females were very nice and easy going, the 3rd was a terror for everyone but me and Dad. The male bit me 2x to show that he was the dominant one, he also nipped at Mom and a couple other people before we sent him to a farm with some people we knew. The boy that kept him in his room on the farm thought he was an absolute sweet heart and couldn't understand why we gave him up, til he got bit.

None of our rabbits were fixed, they just had their own personalities. The first 2 rabbits both loved my family, and they both got along great with the dog we had at the time. We'd go down to the basement with the collie, take the rabbit out of her cage, the dog would lay down and the rabbit would go over to her and they would curl up together. It was really cute, I wish we would have thought to take pics of it, but we didn't think of it at the time.

Some animals are pretty smart, but some are really dumb. Our rabbits knew who liked them and who took care of them.

Our collie that we used to have, and our collie shepherd mix that we have now were/are both pretty smart. They both could/can spell some words (leash, out, dish...). The pure bred used to pick up her dish and hand it to us, but we haven't been able to get the mix breed to do that. My aunt's airdale is the reason that I think that the name "airdale" means "airhead". She's very sweet, but she is either very dumb or very stubborn, she doesn't listen worth a darn, and she could never be a performing dog. She is cute for pics though.

Right now Dad and I are taking care of a couple of doves. Dad's thinking about buying them and training them. He used to use doves in his magic act, but when Mom got pregnant, she made him get rid of the birds. Now that the youngest is 16, and we can keep the birds at the shop, he wants to try putting them back in the show.

I saw a guy performing at a magic convention once, he produced a couple of doves, put them into a cage that one would usually use to vanish the doves and produce a rabbit, but instead of a rabbit, he produced a good sized iguana. If I can get my iguana tamed up enough to use her in an act, we might try to figure out something to do with her, too.

[Mr. Dazzle]

The only downside I can see about using live animals is the upkeep...

Due to that I can see the advantage in using "spring animals" and puppets.

Very little upkeep, they don't smell, and you don't have to feed them or clean up after them.

[Pickles]

I name each and every one of my fish -- I could never harm them.

[Willace-the-Clown]

harpoetta you should havetold them the story how your dad pulled you from the box along with the bunny & a bowling ball. I dont use any animals in my magic none of them are trained &are way to stubbern

[Kiddy Clown]

This is coming from a kids advice just to let you know.I think it would be really cool to have an animal in a magic show. And its not animal abuse.

[Fitzwilly]

Originally Posted by Harpoetta

My aunt's airdale is the reason that I think that the name "airdale" means "airhead". She's very sweet, but she is either very dumb or very stubborn, she doesn't listen worth a darn, and she could never be a performing dog. She is cute for pics though.

I think I dated someone like that once...

.

[bugaboo the clown]

I was at a convention over the weekend and a magician used a rabbit. My daughter who clowns with me was in love. My issue is taking it to the show. My trunk is jam packed already. It's hard to say no to a 12 year old clown...lol The jury is still out on this one.