There are a lot of preconceptions about rabbits.
Some of these are due in part to the rabbit's depiction in popular fiction.
Bugs Bunny has given us the rabbit with an ability to wise-crack and outsmart his enemies.
The tale of the "Tortoise and the Hare" portrays a lightning-fast rabbit who is overconfident in his skills.
And the immortal Easter Bunny is a mysterious rabbit that delights in hiding eggs for us to find.
Rabbits are also subject to an image that is heavily tied to their appearance.
They are known for Long ears, shiny eyes, soft fur, and being the perfect size to pick up and squeeze.
People expect the rabbit to behave accordingly with how it looks - to be innocent and sweet without presenting any problems.
The fact is, neither stories nor looks can adequately give an accurate idea of how rabbits behave as pets.
While rabbits are not totally unmanageable as pets, they are not absolute saints either.
The truth of how a rabbit will behave in your home lies somewhere in between.
Some parents give a rabbit to their child as a pet thinking it will be easy to take care of.
Others even think that rabbits can be left to their own devices inside their cages for long stretches of time, and have no plans to get a household ready to accommodate their new bunny.
No potential rabbit owner should walk in blindly.
Research and consultation should be done with professionals and rabbit owners to make sure there are no surprises.
When deciding whether or not to get a rabbit as a pet, the key thing to remember is that owning a rabbit is not like owning a hamster, nor is it as complicated as owning a cat or a dog.
Rabbits also have considerable cost that build up over the years for things such as food and hay.
They should also be spayed or neutered and the cost for this will vary depending on the veterinarian you choose.
While getting a rabbit may seem like a good idea at first, many people have been left in frustration and even abandoned their rabbits out of disappointment.
Don't allow yourself or your rabbit to be in this position.
Do your research about different rabbit breeds and the various ways rabbits behave.
Find out about their eating habits and what types on environments they like.
After looking at what you've found you may realize that your previous expectations don't match with what a rabbit actually needs.