Rabbits have become one of our<br >favorite pets and are readily available<br >in most pet stores. Unfortunately， we<br >often assume that our pet is well<br >cared for if we provide it with shelter，<br >some dry pet food， water， and， occa-<br >sionally， a carrot.<br > Not so!<br > In order for you and your children<br >to be truly happy with your rabbit<br >(and it with you， which is just as im-<br >portant)， you ought to provide your<br >pet with living conditions that best<br >suit its nature. Only then will you， the<br >owner， fully enjoy your pet and will it<br >reciprocate by being cheerful， lively，<br >and healthy.<br > Everything you need to know is<br >contained in this guide. In it you will<br >find a wealth of practical information<br >drawn from the research of behav-<br >ioral scientists， veterinarians， and<br >dietary experts in the field of animal<br >care.<br > As is true of all domestic animals，<br >rabbits were not originally created as<br >pets; and they retain major character-<br >istics inherited from their ancestors in<br >the wild. In the special section<br >"Understanding Rabbits" you will<br >learn some important facts about<br >their origins and natural habitat. You<br >will also learn how they communicate<br >by sounds and body language. You<br >will find out what it means， for exam-<br >ple， when your rabbit rises up on its<br >hind legs， beats on the floor with its<br >hind feet， or tries to nuzzle you.<br > Mistakes made in acquiring and<br >training your pet can have dire conse-<br >quences because animals that are<br >poorly handled and cared for tend to<br >respond by biting. Turning such<br >animals into trusting， gentle pets is<br >extremely difficult and requires great<br >patience as well as an intuitive ability<br >to communicate with animals. For<br >this reason， I have summarized in the<br >chapter "Considerations Before You<br >Buy" (see p. 11) everything you<br >should keep in mind when you go to<br >the pet store.<br >If you want to understand your rabbit， watch its<br >body language. This animal is on the alert and<br >ready to defend itself.<br > Rabbits are gourmets and need a<br >varied diet. In the chapter "Correct<br >Nutrition" (p. 34) you will find infor-<br >mation on how to feed your rabbit<br >and how to keep it healthy with the<br >right diet.<br >