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Reviews
This
attractive, small book has another subtitle: "Everything
About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Grooming, Behavior,
and Training." While Rabbits doesn't literally
cover "everything" about these topics, it does address
them all. What the book lacks in depth of coverage
it makes up for in range of topics of interest to
a pet owner.
You'll
get guidance on how to pick out the right rabbit
for your household; how to select and set up housing
(including a diagram of an outdoor hutch you can
build); advice on what type of equipment (feeders,
crocks, bowls, etc.) to provide for your bunny; what
to feed your rabbit; and how to handle your pet properly.
A brief section on litter-training will introduce
you to the topic, although it really doesn't cover
how to handle problems you might encounter during
the process.
The
book is filled with handy checklists, such as a list
of typical accidents a rabbit can have and suggestions
on how to prevent them; a pictorial of rabbit behavior
with an interpretation guide; tips for traveling
with a rabbit; and a meal plan for the typical pet
rabbit. These checklists are really useful and interesting
and help make up for the rather brief coverage of
most parts of the book.
The
section on health in particular is not extensive--it
includes warning signs of when to take your pet to
a vet, with very brief descriptions of a handful
of common ailments. This section of Rabbits is
one of the weakest parts of the book.
The
same can be said of the section on breeding--the
topic is covered in two pages. I chalk this up to
the fact that the author wisely advises against breeding
pet rabbits; however she does provides a little information
on caring for a pregnant doe and baby rabbits to
help readers who don't want to listen to her sage
advice. A couple of very sweet pictures of baby bunnies
are in the breeding section, however. While not strictly
useful, these pictures are adorable!
Originally
written in German by Monika Wegler, the book has
been translated into English by a veterinarian, Helgard
Niewich. The translation is excellent, making Rabbits easy
to read and understand. One thing that really wasn't
translated for readers in North America, however,
is the classification of rabbit breeds. This book
covers some European standards for classifying rabbit
breeds. If you want information on how rabbit breeds
are classified in North America, you're better off
getting the ARBA Standard of Perfection, available
at the ARBA web site.
All
of the full-color photos in the book were taken by
the author, and she's very talented in this area.
These are some of the best candid shots of rabbits
that I've seen, especially the ones of rabbits in
motion. One shot of a rabbit grooming itself catches
the tongue extended, making it look like the rabbit
is petulantly sticking his tongue out at the reader.
Another photo shows a rabbit in mid-gallop, all four
feet suspended in air. Another rabbit caught in mid-yawn
looks like he's laughing.
With
a suggested retail price of under $7 for over 60
pages, Rabbits is a good introduction to having
a rabbit as a pet. You'll find it easy, fast reading
because of the number of checklists in the book.
However, you probably won't find this book as useful
if you have some experience with rabbits--a book
such as Rabbit
Handbook or House
Rabbit Handbook will better suit your needs for
a reference. And if you have any interest in breeding
and showing rabbits, try Your Rabbit for a
great introduction on how to do it right.
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