:: Dogs and rabbits

Hi everyone, I'm new ^^ I just got my first rabbit ever today. He's really calm and sweet, it's like the perfect rabbit for me, but I have a little problem. I have a 10 years old poodle, and he's being really curious about my rabbit... he won't stop staring at my rabbit (obviously inside his cage), and sometimes growls or barks... I guess this will eventually stop since this is the first day after all, but I really hope they can get along.

We've never had any other kind of pet since we got our dog 10 years ago, so I fear he could feel replaced T_T I want both guys to be happy! At least my rabbit is not scared, in fact he sniffs my dog when he's close, and they don't show any aggression.

Can anyone give me some tips? Does anyone else also have a dog? I really need as much advice as possible, because I kind of feel it will be hard for my dog to adapt, and I love him so much T_T



I hope I can work this out, guys ^^ I'm loving my new friend.

i have a dog and the first time i brought daisy and fuzzy home last month i opened the carrier and her head when straight in :shock::lol:
But she is friendly towards anything... :roll:

Have to introduced them? face to face without the cage?
Hold your rabbit on your lap and let the dog come over and have a sniff...
you can either sit on the floor, or on a chair aslong as the dog can reach.
if anything happens just push the dog away gently and move away. :wave:
hope everything goes ok. :wave:

If you're going to introduce them put a muzzle on the dog to begin with. He may see the rabbit as a toy and this could lead to very serious injuries. I wouldn't introduce them at all for a couple weeks.

Also remember never to leave them alone together. I wouldn't leave them in the same room either even if the rabbit is in the cage, as a lot of damge can be done through the bars.

My dogs sit outside floppys cage looking after him and watching him rolling about :lol: i never leave them together tho alone introduce them gradually not bang heres a rabbit :lol: its all curiosity he'll settle down once he's use to him

It's natural that the dog is curious about the bunny, and I'm sure it will settle down.

Let bunny settle in for a couple of weeks before introducing them though.

Dogs and buns can be great mates if their owner is very careful and watchful. When I was bonding my 2 male buns, Roger and Barney, Roger was trying to make friends with him but Barney was resisting. Roger would stand on his hind legs leaning against the playpen looking at the dogs - he wanted to come out and play with them because Barney wouldn't play with him

Here's some of my gang...

I've got a dog and he helps me put the bunnies out in the runs and do the litter trays so he feels involved.

Guys, I know it's only the second day, but this is getting frustrating... I haven't been able to enjoy my rabbit because my dog won't stop staring/growling/barking at him, and he goes nuts when I take him out of his cage. Now I feel awful, because I'm being grumpy with my dog, and I fear he could get jealous...

I feel really impotent, I hope I can work this out, I really want to keep my rabbit.

aussiebun said:

It's natural that the dog is curious about the bunny, and I'm sure it will settle down.

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George&dillon said:

its all curiosity he'll settle down once he's use to him

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Hopefully this will happen ^^

LilVicky said:

Have to introduced them? face to face without the cage?
Hold your rabbit on your lap and let the dog come over and have a sniff...

Click to expand...

I've done this. My dog gets really hyper and licks my rabbit. Maybe he wants to eat him? ~_~

This is just the beginning, and I already feel this will take a while... I hope this ends quickly, without my sweet rabbit leaving my house.

Ralph stood over the cage drooling when we first got Alvin.. he was threatened with death should he hurt my little boy... he is now the one who hides from the bunnies as Alvin quite often digs into his side :lol::lol::lol:

they will get on, just take it slowly and the dog will lose interest

you can use flower remedies as an extra boost to help deal with any dominance issues and to help them deal with the new set up.

I use them all the time with mine if they have something stressful to deal with etc.

I have dogs but they are terriers so go nowhere near the bunnies as that would not be a good ending but i know lots of people on here who have dogs and rabbits that happily get along. Your dog may be just curious, if he has been the only pet for 10 years then he is likely to be a little jealous aswell. Keep them interacting but reassure your dog that he still has his place in the 'pack'

I have three dogs and 8 rabbits and the dogs roam freely with the rabbits BUT this is because the dogs have been well socialised from the minute I got them.

To me it sounds as if your dog is overly interested in the bun at the moment, to the point that any introduction at this point would be careless.

You need to be patient - even if it is months - and wait until the dog has stopped obsessing about the bunny to the point that it appears fairly uninterested before attempting any face to face meeting.

Be very aware though that introducing your dog to a rabbit that you have still on your lap may be very different when the rabbit is running free, so I'd advise caution all round.

I guess I'll just be patient. My dog has never been aggressive, so yeah, he may be simply really curious. My rabbit is so cute ^^ He completely ignores my dog, even if he barks. He's definitely not afraid >_< And he sometimes sniffs my dog.