Sheepherding Rabbit Hops To Fame (Video)

An overachieving bunny named Champis has gained international fame for his skills as a gifted sheepherder. The five-year old pet rabbit has more than 700,000 YouTube hits, after a video caught him rounding up a flock of sheep on his owner’s farm.

Paula Lundberg and Dan Westman run a small-scale Border collie breeding and training farm in northern Sweden. Their Border collie “Gimmie” and her puppy “Fame” are often used to train other dogs how to herd sheep.

Apparently Champis was paying close attention to the lessons, as well.

Westman, who shot the video said he was in “awe” when he first saw the little mix-breed bunny running back and forth rounding up the sheep.

“It’s really incredible, it’s a herding rabbit,” Westman said. “He rounds them up, and if they get close to escaping through the gate he sometimes stops them.”

Westman said there are very few dogs that can do what Champis does. The sheep actually seem to follow wherever the little rabbit wants them to go.

Westman is amazed the sheep pay attention to Champis although he calls the little guy “a bit of a boss.”

In addition to his sheepherding talents, Champis also saved his favorite hen from a dangerous situation when she got caught in a narrow “feed rack.” Westman believes the bunny is motivated to help the animals on his farm because he lives with them and wants keep everyone together.

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Photo from rohitchhiber via flickr.

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Debbie C.

11:37AM PST on Mar 4, 2012

Oh my gosh!!! How cute is this!!

Now, I can't get that song out of my head - "Run rabbit, run rabbit, run, run, run. Run rabbit, run rabbit, run, run, run.... (LOL)