Dogs and Rabbits?

[William]

Just because other people do it doesn't make it a good idea. Most people treat their rabbits like

On here? A lot of people here have predators, you just have to be careful. I've always my whole life had cats and rabbits and for 6 years I've had dogs, cats, and rabbits and have had no problems.

 

[BevBunny]

Just because other people do it doesn't make it a good idea. Most people treat their rabbits like

I take offence at that and I would think that a lot of other people on here do too, most people on this forum go out of their way to look after their bunnies with the love and respect that they deserve, and what you're insinuating really doesn't belong on this forum.

 

[Stator]

On here? A lot of people here have predators, you just have to be careful. I've always my whole life had cats and rabbits and for 6 years I've had dogs, cats, and rabbits and have had no problems.

"Just being careful" is insufficient. If something happens the rabbit will be dead before you can intervene.

Even keeping the animals apart all the time isn't good enough. Accidents happen and then you end up with dead rabbits.

 

[William]

"Just being careful" is insufficient. If something happens the rabbit will be dead before you can intervene.

Even keeping the animals apart all the time isn't good enough. Accidents happen and then you end up with dead rabbits.

Well, its never happened to me. I'm usually with 'better safe than sorry' but this is just being too careful I think. Unless you're careless, you're way more likely to loose your rabbit to an illness or a wild animal than you are own your pet.

 

[BattleKat]

I think getting an older rescue dog which is known to have lived with small animals is just as good as getting a pup, possibly better as you know what it's behaviour is like rather than hoping you can train it.

I think it's perfectly possible for a dog and a rabbit to live harmoniously. Not all dogs are predators any more.
My friend has a westie that won't even chase a ball and he's always been 100% fine with his rabbits. I'd have no qualms about leaving them together.

I used to let my old dog and my buns out together but I wouldn't ever have left them unsupervised. The problem is that sometimes dogs will leave something alone in front of you because they know they aren't supposed to have it but when you're out they'll go and play with it.

 

[beccimarie]

I think getting an older rescue dog which is known to have lived with small animals is just as good as getting a pup, possibly better as you know what it's behaviour is like rather than hoping you can train it.

I think it's perfectly possible for a dog and a rabbit to live harmoniously. Not all dogs are predators any more.
My friend has a westie that won't even chase a ball and he's always been 100% fine with his rabbits. I'd have no qualms about leaving them together.

I used to let my old dog and my buns out together but I wouldn't ever have left them unsupervised. The problem is that sometimes dogs will leave something alone in front of you because they know they aren't supposed to have it but when you're out they'll go and play with it.

i agree :wave:

 

[Kittykat23uk]

Considering I lost Gasket and Tappet to next door's dog this year, I would not recommend a husky. :evil:

We used to have tibetan terriers, and, supervised, they were good with my rabbit and GPs at the time. But, Frankie one of my Tibs, did once catch Jasper, my Nethie, who had escaped into the garden when I was at school, he brought him to my dad, thankfully he was very gentle with him and Jasper was unharmed. :?

 

[tinkabellswish]

i got my bunnies when my dogs was 5 year old and 11 they had only seen rabbits in the wild, i introduced my dogs slowly i bought the cage before i got belle and let the dogs investigate it then when i put belle in the dogs was aloud to sniff the hutch with belle inside belle was a rescue rabbit and was not scared of the dogs think she would hurt my dogs before they get to her i put a rabbit run up and the rabbits and dog would lie next to each other
bonding rabbit with rabbit is more complicated for me then bonding dog with rabbit :lol::lol:

 

[SuzieBlue]

I have two house rabbits and two cats. They all get on fantastically, I've had house bunnies for 10 years or so, and only recently got the cats - they'll be 1 yr old in a week. We deliberately got kittens so that they would grow up being used to the bunnies and learn from the start how they should act with them. We introduced them v gradually, and very sensibly, and now they're friends. They snuggle together, infact one bunny and one cat are currently sat in the bunnies cardboard box, both fast asleep. If either felt threatened then that just wouldn't happen. The cats lick the bunnies, and they often drink out of the water bowls together.

I think if introductions are done right then different species can get on harmoniously, although it does also depend on the personalities or breed of the cat/dog. For me the bunnies comes first as they've been here the longest, but I know them well enough to know if they are even the tiniest bit scared.

Eddie cat and Lavender bunny.

Buxton cat and Darwin bunny.

All four fluffies:

OMG these animals are adorable!!! One of the cats (Eddie I think?) is a total poser!! Love it.
Agreed - slow introduction can work out fine depending on all animals involved. I guess you just need to get to know all of the animals really well to figure out how they'll act.
My flatmate had his parents round recently who brought their 2 yr old lab into the house, despite knowing i have 2 free range rabbits......:evil: And guess what the lab did first? Ran into my bedroom where boy bunny was sleeping and tried to grab him. Dog and owners swiftly ejected from house. Much common sense needed in these situations..

 

[mattyp]

Just because other people do it doesn't make it a good idea. Most people treat their rabbits like

Most people? That's a brash generalisation.

 

[GrahamL]

Most people? That's a brash generalisation.

Hi Matt :wave:

I think Stator means 'most people' as a generalisation across the board, not 'most people on RU', so in fact, not as brash as you may have read it

Afraid i'll have to sit on the fence for this one, as i've never owned a dog and dont know anything about them, but i personally would never have a dog, now i have bunnys

 

[RampantRabbits]

Three rescue dogs, all adopted as adults,all fantastic with the rabbits, including the house rabbits....

YAYY!! You proved it!! :lol:

My dog is great with the rabbits and the guinea pigs. The guinea pigs snuggle into her fur if shes layed out. I would trust her around them 99.9% of the time. Our hamster used to have a ball and would escape, Jess would follow the ball around, just watching it, not doing anything else. When the hamster escaped, she would cry at it and come and find us! :lol:

Although the same cant be said for all dogs, my dads puppy is proving to be hard work around them. Its funny, but Jess is a rescue dog, my auntys dog and my mums friends dog are both rescue dogs, and they are all fine with the rabbits, eventhough they dont have small animals at home with them. :shock:

 

[thenamesJT]

:wave: I have 5 dogs.

2 are terriers, both are never allowed near the buns.

The other 3 are labradors, trained for the gun. The eldest lets the buns sit on her & the other 2 were curious at first & would chase if the buns ran but after socialising them with each other, are totally fine.

It depends on the dogs nature & how much time they are spent together. If they all get along under supervision, it shouldnt be a problem. Rodge was usually found in the dogs kennel snuggled up to them during the summer.

 

[mattyp]

Guinea Pig and Dog in love

A funny link I think you'll all appreciate

 

[pigsforlife]

I have 2 dogs. Both are poodle crosses and very friendly. They have brilliant personalities and are such great little dogs. But I would NEVER risk them interacting with the rabbits or the guinea pigs. There is just WAY to many things that could go wrong and I do not want to take the chance that someone will get seriously injured. There is always at least one wooden door between the dogs and the rabbits.

 

[MopsyMops =]]

I have a terrier who has quite a high hunting instinct and drive. With my bridge bun he was fine 'cos she wasn't scared but with Ogs it took a little longer for them both to be comfortable around each other (Ogs in the run outside) but it was achievable. Oggie hates going outside so he hardly ever gets to actually see Andy but I bet they can smell each other in the house (dog isn't allowed upstairs) and they are both fully relaxed.

Personally, it can depend on the dog for sure but take breed into thought aswell. Although Andy has a high prey drive, I can call him away if need be.

Good Luck with your search :wave:


ETA - Personally would never leave my dog with Ogs alone, even if Oggie was in the run.

 

[tracey madigan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUV1oTciznE&feature=fvw

This made me cry its so sweet , i have two dogs,one being a staffy and 6 rabbits one is a house bunny ,the dogs are fine with the rabbit and although i would never leave them alone together just in case i have no worries when they are in the house with me

 

[stranger23]

Considering I lost Gasket and Tappet to next door's dog this year, I would not recommend a husky. :evil:

Its down to the dogs personality tho as we had a husky until a few days ago and when we looked after my cousins rabbits which were so badly treated they were almost like wild rabbits we built them a run in the garden with their hutch attached so we didnt have to touch them so they could exercise our husky broke into the run and would lay down with the bunnies no matter what we did to try and keep them apart he would find a way in he never hurt the rabbits and just wanted to lie with them, he managed to tame the rabbits enough for us to be able to touch them and he was sad and moping around the house when the rabbits went home

 

[loppy ears]

Just because other people do it doesn't make it a good idea. Most people treat their rabbits like

I have dogs and rabbits and my rabbits are not treated like .

I think you have to be prepared to put in the time and effort to train a dog, dogs can be trained to very high standards, think about assistance dogs and what they can do.

 

[giantbunnymummy]

I think being careful is always the key to this one. My old dog was very tolerant and got sat on by Daisy bunny all the time and didn't bat an eyelid. I was confident he would never have done anything to hurt the bunnies, but even so I'd never have left them unsupervised.

Since loosing him we've taken on a rescue puppy, now six months, and she is far too excitable near the bunnies so rarely sees them. She's well trained but I still wouldn't trust her. I also have cats but they don't see the buns very often either. I trust them, but not Daisy as she's very territorial and guards her bedroom and husbun zealously - if the cats are upstairs when I open the door they all run for cover!