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Rabbits and Dog...

coco1200

Warren Veteran
My brother's Staffie will be coming to live with us for 3 weeks when he goes away on holiday next week!
Now, this staffie, like any other dog has natural instincts and that is to eat rabbits!

My brother who had moved out years ago, came back home with his dog, (this was about 2 years ago) and we have tried to train his dog to get on with rabbits before but didn’t work. My last rabbit, Skip (English X dwarf) was the 'tester' as you could say. We put him in a run outside and the dog on a lead, and let him go up to rabbit and sniff him etc. but, unexpectedly, he broke through the run and tried to go for Skip! Fortunately, the rabbit survived this and all was well afterwards. (Surprised he didn’t die of a heart attack! :?)

we didn’t want to take any risks this time, and the rabbit had to spend almost 6 months in the garage where he died in there at 7 years old :cry: it was heartbreaking for me to see this, as he died without getting his freedom back.

Now that my brother has moved out again, we decided it was time to get a couple of new rabbits :)

Now, I have a little situation: cry: I feel so bad for my rabbits that I have at the moment, as they’re going to have to be cooped up in their hutches and runs for these 3 weeks.
If this dog even sees them running around in the garden he goes ape!!

I just don’t know what to do…

Is there anything that I can do?
Oscar (giant rabbit) is probably half the size of this dog so I don’t know whether or not he might get on with him, or his natural instincts will kick in again!!

I can see why he went for skip, he was a tiny little rabbit who looked like a small snack for him :lol:

is there any suggestions on this? becuase anything is better than nothing.
 
if it's just for 3 weeks, I'd suggest keeping them apart - I have to keep my house bunnies away from one of my dogs, it works out fine - they barely see each other :)
 
Keep them well away from it each other, its not worth the risk. Accidents can and do happen so quickly before you have chance to do anything to stop it.

Many years ago I had a dog that snatched a guinea pig right off my lap, and the pig died of a heart attack.:(
 
I googled rabbit and dog introductions once, and according to the information I found it does depend on the personality and breed of the dog.

Terriers are bred to hunt though, its in their nature.
 
I would never let my dog near my bunnies.She is a big soft St Bernard but just gormless:rolleyes:I know she would want to play but 12 stone trodding on a bunny would not be good:shock:
TBH i wouldn,t let any dog near my bunnies.My bunnies can hear her barking and are used to it,they are kept totally seperate though:D
 
Afraid its the way there bought up! I have here 2 staffies 6 rabbits and 4 piggies the dogs are fine with all of them,but they were introduced at a young age so mine have never been a problem other than wanting to constantly lick them!
This pic was taken when my bunny Alfie was quite poorly it was as if Mildred knew shes so gentle with them
1251.jpg
 
i don't think it's the way the're brought up, our dolly hates cats, she got my Oh's cat years ago and since then it had been instinct for her. When we got biff and flopsy, we tried to introduce them she went to nip them straight away, whereas jake wanted to play but he's a big clumnsy boy (both boxers) we went out one day, with the kitchen gates shut and the buns in their room and even at 6 she cleared the gate and got them both, the gate is now reinforced with two gates!!!! We have a hutch in the kitchen now with the mini's in we rescued, and she doesnt even look at them, she got into the front room when blue was 10 weeks old and nearly had him, i grabbed her but blue had already legged it!!! Our dogs and rabbits will never live together as such, they tolerate each other as long as Dolly can't get to them..........Very security concious we are now!!
 
Afraid its the way there bought up! I have here 2 staffies 6 rabbits and 4 piggies the dogs are fine with all of them,but they were introduced at a young age so mine have never been a problem other than wanting to constantly lick them!
This pic was taken when my bunny Alfie was quite poorly it was as if Mildred knew shes so gentle with them
1251.jpg

so sweet though, i'd love my dogs to get on with the buns....
 
i don't think it's the way the're brought up, our dolly hates cats, she got my Oh's cat years ago and since then it had been instinct for her. When we got biff and flopsy, we tried to introduce them she went to nip them straight away, whereas jake wanted to play but he's a big clumnsy boy (both boxers) we went out one day, with the kitchen gates shut and the buns in their room and even at 6 she cleared the gate and got them both, the gate is now reinforced with two gates!!!! We have a hutch in the kitchen now with the mini's in we rescued, and she doesnt even look at them, she got into the front room when blue was 10 weeks old and nearly had him, i grabbed her but blue had already legged it!!! Our dogs and rabbits will never live together as such, they tolerate each other as long as Dolly can't get to them..........Very security concious we are now!!
Its not something that happens straight away it takes time and patiace you should of seen Mildred when i first got her she tried to pounced straight on miffy and was trying to nip her it tooks weeks of being introduced on lead to start with as i said after all my hard work there brilliant together now:)
 
My staffie was and is excellent with all other animals, but we had to rehome one of our dogs (bloodhound X Dalmatation) because after 2 1/2 years she decided to kill the bunnies.

It was a perfectly normal day buns were out, behind the fence and she looked at me then jumped over the fence and started to kill them. She had been socialised with them all her life. If its in them there is nothing you can do, you may be lucky and they never give in to temptation.

Personally i'd keep the dog well away from the buns, it is not something you'd want to witness.
 
we have no idea of Gerrard's (staffie!) background.
he was a rescue... they found him on the brink of starvation, and with dirt and mud all over him.


i guess we cant really teach him anything in 3 weeks! too short period of time.
especially as he's so arrogant... and he has selective hearing! :lol:
but hes the sweetest dog ive ever met! he loves babies... when the neighbour gave birth, she bought her new baby around to show the family. gerrard came running up to the baby and licked her like made :lol::lol:

2hgxq40.jpg


there he is! (on my bed :lol:)

i think i will follow your guys advice, and keep them away as far as possible.

i guess the rabbits will have to do being in the garage for 3 weeks; there no choice in it.
 
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