Best dog for rabbits?

It's about assessing risk, I guess. In general, your average Lab is less likely to kill small fast-moving fluffy things than your average greyhound.

If you choose a breed that tends to be associated with particular traits, then you're more likely to get that trait in the dog of that breed that you choose to bring home. And a high prey drive dog is more likely to kill your rabbit than a low prey drive one.

Sure, if you're keeping dog and rabbit well separated or supervised, it may not matter what breed you get because the dog won't get chance to hurt the bunny. But what if despite your precautions, they do end up together? Maybe your cage isn't as secure as you though. Maybe a visitor lets the dog into the garden not knowing the rabbit is out. Maybe you're supervising your pets and have to take your eye off them for a minute to stop your toddler eating weedkiller.

I for one would be much happier knowing that although my dog might go into a killing frenzy in those situations (because any dog might) it probably won't, because it has a low prey drive.

Isn't a high prey drive dog also likely to become frustrated living in proximity to interesting tasty fast-moving snacks that it never gets chance to chase and kill? It would be like expecting me to live happily in a house with a locked room full of delicious chocolate which I didn't have the key to. Sounds unfair to the dog as well as the rabbit.

That's a good point re assessing risk. And I guess accidents are always possible...not something I like to think about though!

I've never found that with my dog Teddy or with my cats and parrots re becoming frustrated. It's certainly possible and something to keep in mind so you can have a plan in case that happens (e.g. decide other possible locations in the house/yard to house your predators or prey) but not something I'd be overly concerned about. I guess I'm confident I can have a backup plan in case of stuff like that so I just think well, I'll just see what happens, cross that bridge when/if I come to it. I try to remember that, like I said earlier on, it does all depend on your house/yard/set up/other people living in the home. Everyone's situation is different.

Plus I'm just so used to keeping animals apart from each other, I grew up doing that with the cats and prey animals, so it's like second nature. If you're not used to it and you're doing a rotation of allowing them out in the garden I suppose it could be difficult to get into a routine, remember not to let them out together, make sure your family/visitors don't let them out together, etc. I know people can find that all very stressful and time consuming.

I'd tend to plan for the worst, so starting out with a large secure run so your rabbits and dog can both exercise without interacting. You'd also have the option to put solid barrier around the pen if the dog did show too much interest.

Training will be important too, so for a puppy socialisation and training to leave when told, not to react over excited to smaller animals etc. You could look at adult rescue dogs with a history of living with cats/small animals too.

Personally, I think any dog would be fine, no matter there breed, if they are brought up around the rabbits and proprely trained. My dog was brought up around 14 animals all different over the years, I have 6 at the moment which are all different too. We got two rabbits a few years ago now, both at different times, but becauce Harry (my dog) was used to animals from a puppy he was fine with them, Willow my first rabbit, I call them pair best friends. Willow absolutely adores Harry. And Flopsy was fine with him as well. They've never been loose with Harry just becauce, Harry is a very excitable dog, it's much better/calmer to just let them watch eachother through her cage or run outside. they sniff one another and Willow chases Harry around. It's so cute! One time Harry and Willow were loose under the bed, I didn't know, they were under there ages and then Harry came running out, turned out he was too scared to come out because of Willow, big wuss!

My pets Harry likes best are the hamsters, he will sit for hours watching them on there wheel or having something to eat, and he enjoys giving them a very wet bath! I remember one time when one of our hamsters was poorly and Harry was sitting there licking him for ages, he knew he wasn't well. He's done this with my guinea pig too, sat next to his cage when he had died.

He's great with them

And I totally disagree with avoiding hunting dogs, becauce Harry is a Jack Russell Terrier x Patterdale Terrier. And they are known for hunting foxes and rabbits.

I think with dogs it is important to remember that the exception is not the rule.

Also, William, please bear in mind that most of our members, particularly in the UK, will have much much smaller houses and gardens than yours.

I have eight rabbits (three set ups, sheds with runs). I also have two dogs, a labrador x and a collie.

The collie used to 'rush' the rabbits whenever they moved. We then had two in the house and they would occasionally thump their feet. Since then she has been afraid to go near the runs (phew). I would have fenced off the rabbit area has Tass not stopped 'rushing' them.

Jojo, our labrador x can go nose to nose with them (through the weldmesh) and if any of the shed doors are open (only when I am there) she will eat their rabbit royale muesli. In fact both dogs come out at evening feeding time to get a little teeny bit of muesli.

My lab and bun get along great. They both free roam the house all day. My dog has a high prey drive but only in the field (he's a master hunter) They were bred to hunt and retrieve birds not bunnies. I believe you can train any dog to be however you want them to be. My dog knows the bunny is mine and respects it. My bun is not afraid of him at all. My dog used to lick him on the head (like he used to our other dog who passed away) but I had to stop it cause the saliva would make my bun's head itch later on. My bun liked it though and would do binkies afterward. In fact my bun won't roam the yard unless my dog's out there with him. I had my dog first and got my bun as a baby so I'm not sure if that helped my bun not having any fear of him.