Introduction -- About this book -- Conventions used in this book -- What you're not to read -- Foolish assumptions -- How this book is organized -- Part 1: Bringing On The Bunny Basics -- Part 2: Taking Care Of Creature Comforts -- Part 3: Rabbit Psychology: Behavior And Training -- Part 4: Enjoying Your Fun Bunny -- Part 5: Part Of Tens -- Appendix -- Icons used in this book -- Where to go from here -- Part 1: Bringing On The Bunny Basics -- Chapter 1: Jumping into rabbit ownership -- Admiring from afar -- Digesting this information (and that carrot) -- Taking advantage of skin and bones -- Taking a whiff -- Putting those ears to good use -- Figuring out whether a rabbit is right for you -- Asking yourself whether you're rabbit-ready -- Considering the right reasons to own a rabbit -- Knowing what you want in a furry friend -- Providing shelter -- Feeding your rabbit -- Grooming your rabbit -- Keeping up with chores -- Monitoring your rabbit's health -- Training your rabbit -- Thinking like a bunny -- Having a good time with your pet -- Chapter 2: Choosing the "right" rabbit -- Pinpointing the right age -- Deciding between a boy or girl -- Opting for an only rabbit or a bunny with a built-in companion -- Mixing it up: bunny mutts -- Rabbit coat types -- Head shape -- Size -- Living the high life: bunny bluebloods -- Purebred reasoning -- Different breeds, different looks -- Chapter 3: So many breeds, so little time -- American -- American fuzzy lop -- American sable -- Angora -- Belgian hare -- Beveren -- Britannia petite -- Californian -- Champagne d' Argent -- Checkered giant -- Chinchilla -- Cinnamon -- Creme d' Argent -- Dutch -- Dwarf hotot -- English spot -- Flemish giant -- Florida white -- Harlequin -- Havana -- Himalayan -- Hotot -- Jersey wooly -- Lilac -- Lop -- Mini rex -- Mini satin -- Netherland dwarf -- New Zealand -- Palomino -- Polish -- Rex -- Rhinelander -- Satin -- Silver -- Silver fox -- Silver Marten -- Tan -- Thrianta -- Chapter 4: Hiding in shelters, holes, and shops -- Donning your cape: rescuing a rabbit -- Presenting the problem -- Seeking the solution -- Saving a stray -- Considering breeders -- Getting a connection -- Checking out a breeder -- Calling the classifieds -- Taking precautions at pet shops -- Selecting the rabbit -- Watching for signs of an ill rabbit -- Keeping character in mind -- Part II: Taking Care Of Creature Comforts -- Chapter 5: Shacking up with an indoor rabbit -- Getting serious about safety -- Taking health concerns to heart -- Bonding with bunny -- Having fun with you bun -- Making sure that everyone's comfy: rabbit essentials -- Craving his cage -- Putting a pen to good use -- Rabbit-proofing your house -- Identifying trouble spots -- Chewing -- Digging -- When littering is good: the litter box -- Encouraging your bunny to go in her cage -- Providing 1_5 bathrooms -- Cleaning up -- Keeping a squeaky clean home -- Litter box cleaning -- Daily cage duty -- Weekly cage cleaning --

Chapter 6: Stocking up on carrots -- Supplying your bunny with belly timber -- Hay every day keeps the doctor away -- Going green -- Getting fruity -- Making the most of pellets -- Picking pellets -- Determining the correct amount of pellets -- Coping with a chubby bunny -- Giving your bunny treats -- Popping pills -- Forbidding foods -- Chapter 7: Cleaning behind those great big ears and more -- Stocking your grooming toolshed -- Handling with care -- Running down the grooming checklist -- Bypassing the bath -- Breaking out the brush -- Brushing short to medium coats -- Brushing long coats -- Clipping it not quite in the bud -- Cleaning your bunny's ears -- Chapter 8: Making fitness and fresh air fun for your bunny -- Fitness matters -- Keeping your rabbit fit -- Indoors -- Outdoors -- Motivating a lazy bunny -- Taking care of outdoor chores -- Rabbit-proofing your yard -- Keeping wolfie away -- Protecting your rabbit -- Protecting your yard -- Avoiding poisonous plants -- Plants for safe snacking -- Chapter 9: Nipping common health problems in the bud -- Finding Dr Doolittle -- Evaluating a vet -- Going for an exam -- Spay it, don't spray it -- Playing doctor -- Assembling a first-aid kit -- Identifying signs of pain -- Dealing with bunny ailments -- Gastrointestinal problems -- Urinary tract concerns -- Abscesses -- Dental disease -- Ear infections -- Heatstroke -- Head tilt -- Inflammation of the feet -- Obesity -- Paralysis and hind limb weakness -- Banning pesky parasites -- Intestinal parasites -- Ear mites -- Fur mites -- Fleas -- Flies -- Encephalitozoonosis -- Bayliscaris -- Chapter 10: Coping with other health woes and aging issues -- Treating infectious diseases -- Respiratory infections -- Ringworm -- Myxomatosis -- Tyzzer's disease -- Venereal disease -- Viral hemorrhagic disease -- Encephalitozoon cuniculi -- Caring for disabled and special needs rabbits -- Helping bunny live to a ripe, old age -- Saying goodbye -- Letting go: euthanasia -- Finding a place of rest -- Grieving is good for you -- Bonding with a new bunny -- Part 3: Rabbit Psychology: Behavior And Training -- Chapter 11: Thinking like a rabbit -- Making sense of body language -- Interpreting rabbit sounds -- Preying for safety -- Showing others who's boss -- Coexisting peacefully: ensuring a happy homecoming -- Gaining your rabbit's trust -- Meeting Fido and Fluffy -- Dogs -- Cats -- Combining children and rabbits -- Chapter 12: Putting boxing gloves on your rabbit: training -- Training your bunny the right way -- Giving a command performance -- Training with treats -- Here, Fluffy: coming when called -- Making like Van Halen: jumping -- Working on the abs: sitting up -- Cozying up in his cage: go in -- Taking a walk on the wild side -- Chapter 13: Reckoning with a bad bunny -- Just say "no!" -- Taming terrible teenagers -- Coping with aggressiveness -- Biting the hand that feeds you-literally -- Food aggression -- Dominance -- Self-defense -- Busting loose: kicking -- Boxing bunnies -- Chowing down -- Digging in -- Duking it out -- Pee marks the spot -- Barbering -- Shaking in his bunny boots: fearfulness -- Part 4: Enjoying Your Fun Bunny -- Chapter 14: Playing around isn't just for dogs -- Getting playful with toys -- Keeping safety first -- Going prefab -- Made from scratch -- Tag! You're it! Playing games -- Amusing themselves -- Making like The Pointer Sisters: jumping -- Tiny chariots of fire -- Various and sundry other hijinks --

Chapter 15: Getting hoppy with your house rabbit

Clubbing it

Regional rabbit clubs

Signing up with House Rabbit Society

Kid-friendly groups

Rescuing rabbits

Being proactive

Halfway there: fostering

Rabbit hopping

Getting up to speed (and height)

Taking the plunge

Putting on the sweatshirt: training

Showing rabbits

Considering pros and cons

Attending your first show

Taking the 4-H route

No relation to the Swedish band: ARBA

Chapter 16: Hitting the road with your rabbit

Keeping him at home

Preparing your pet sitter

Going the professional pet-sitter route

Boarding your bunny

Traveling with your rabbit

Travel dos

Travel don'ts

Packing a mean bag

Carrier comfy

Bunny you can drive my car

Flying the unfriendly (for bunnies) skies

Being a law-abiding bunny

Staying at a five-carrot hotel

Booking a reservation

Being a good guest

Part 5: Part Of Tens

Chapter 17: Ten signs that require emergency action

Blood in urine

Diarrhea

Excessive salivation

Poisoning

Heatstroke

Labored breathing

No stool

Pain

Injury

Bleeding

Broken bone

Burns

Paralysis

Head tilt and seizures

Sudden weakness

Chapter 18: Ten great rabbit web sites

www_arba_net

www_binkybunny_com

www_bio_miami_edu/hare/etherbun_html

www_leithpetwerks_com

www_myhouserabbit_com

www_oxbowanimalhealth_com

www_rabbit_org

www_rabbitnetwork_org

www_rainbowsbridge_com

www_veterinarypartner_com

Chapter 19: Ten ways to make your bunny's day

Get fresh

Take a peek

Get fit

Breathe some fresh air

Check on health

Make time for playtime

Listen to your rabbit

Schedule spa time

Clean up

Spend quality time

Appendix: Rabbit resources

Educational organizations

Veterinary organizations

Activity clubs

Rabbit rescue groups

Rabbit publications

Rabbit specialty supply outlets

Pet loss hotlines

Travel guides

Pet-sitting associations

Pet-shipping options

Rabbit registries

National specialty breed clubs

Index.