To get a rabbit when I have a dog?

[Bunnyanddog]

NC as it’s fairly clear who I am if anyone knows me. We have a working cocker spaniel who has been castrated and is 5. He’s playful and completely non aggressive. I would like to get a rabbit, I’m just conscious that they can have heart attacks out of fear and I think it would be nice to let the rabbit free in the garden when we are out there, just want to know if anyone else has a rabbit and a dog and what type of dog/how to introduce and if it works?

we had many, many rabbits going up but our house had 2 separate gardens so the dogs (jack Russells) never mixed with them and anyway it’s quite different owning a pet as an adult who has all the responsibility, as opposed to a child who has all the fun 😃

OP please do your research before getting a rabbit, they are not cheap pets and they demand a lot of care if you are going to keep them correctly.

Most domestic rabbits should live at least up to 12-15 years old, all female rabbits should be neutered as there is an extremely high risk of cancer if they are not. Rabbits should be kept in bonded pairs as they will have an extremely unhappy life if they are kept single, they are social creatures.

Rabbits are a prey animal and are easily scared and startled, so keeping with a dog may be stressful long term. Your rabbits will need regular trips to the vets for its VHD and VHD2 injections annually as well as myxomatosis jabs, as well as teeth and nails checking, they also have important dietary requirements.

Its cruel to keep a rabbit in a cadge, as it will affect the muscles and health in general and they should always given a run of at least 8ft to run and jump. Rabbits are intelligent creatures with very different personalities, they are also one of the UK`s top abused and mistreated animals.

Rabbits have very weak bones and they break easily if dropped hence why quite a few do not like being lifted of the ground this is not natural for them. Some like to be handles others do not.

So please do a lot of research before buying one, as there are far to many in this county suffering as it is.

I have to say @Bunnyanddog that if you can write that post and not see for yourself what a bad idea it is to consider getting a rabbit with a dog that "might just play with it" , then there won't be much anyone on here can say to persuade you.

It seems a very cruel thing to do to me - as PP have said, even if you succeed in keeping them apart, the rabbit will smell and hear your dog and be constantly anxious and stressed.

@Kitkatcatflap

i would never get a Guinea pig because they give me the Willies (sorry!) but I would absolutely get 2 rabbits (I am curious about the right time to neuter to avoid unwanted pregnancy but I would ask a vet). This thread has actually just confused me further as some people seem to have managed to mix dogs and rabbits with no problems whatsoever, also with retrieving breeds. Does having more than one rabbit make a difference to their stress levels re dogs?

@CorsicaDreaming

to be clear I mean nice playing like a puppy, not some sort of horrible “in its mouth” playing! I just realise that might scare it too

@Flopbopandpop

none of that is a problem and I know about it from having many rabbits as a child. We have money for a vet and ample space for a huge run- my concern is really “just”
t he dog. But it’s a bit one

I had three dogs (labrador x, GSD and small dog) and a big solid rabbit. The rabbit ruled the roost. If the dogs are fairly laid back without murderous tendency, and the rabbit is a good side and has attitude, you'll be fine.

*big

thanks for everyone’s input btw it’s very helpful food for thought

Nice playing like a puppy? You can't be serious, a dog soft mouthing, stalking or standing close enough to a pet rabbit could still kill it. No such thing as nice play, are you joking? Its cruel, not funny. If you grew up with terriers, you must know that puppy play and development as with all young animals is instinctively practicing the skills they will needs adult dogs, ie killing other animals for food. Puppies don't play nicely for fun to be cute, they are learning to kill, to eat, so we train our digs from pups to live safely with us and other animals.
Credentials, pest control, hunting rabbits with dogs for work.

@OakRowan

no…I mean like jumping around and bounding about. Nothing to do with mouthing or teeth etc. I’m just worried the jumping might be scary. If that even happened

My dog was actually middle aged when we got the first rabbit. We chose a large breed, as the temperament tends to be calmer.

The initial introduction was with the rabbit on my lap, facing my tummy. (The dog had already learned "gentle" through play with soft toys, so it was a useful prompt.). The dog was allowed to sniff the bunny's backside while the rabbit faced away eating nice things. That satisfied most of his initial curiosity.

The rabbit, once spayed, had a lovely and affectionate temperament and would happily lie next to the dog and groom him.

I know people always say get more than one rabbit, so we got a companion. In hindsight, I don't know if I would do that again. She had bonded to all the other pets, and was never alone anyway. When we introduced rabbit 2, she was NOT happy. We spent months keeping them close but separated to get them used to each other and breaking up fights every time we tried to introduce them. Then one day, it just clicked and they loved each other--but they both lost interest in everyone else from that point forward.

@Lavenderosemary

was your rabbit indoor or outdoor and which one did you have first / dogs or rabbits?

@WhoWants2Know

was your rabbit inside or outside? Quite a few people on here seem to just have bought one

Of course that could kill a rabbit, do you think they can tell the difference?

Most people just have no idea about animal behaviour. Just because rabbits don’t “seem” scared, the truth is that when you mix predator and prey the prey WILL be terrified all the time. Freezing is a fear response, running away is a fear response, hiding is a fear response. Sometimes even running at the predator is a fear response. Rabbits should never live with or near predators. It’s just not fair.

and also that pet shop is totally incorrect when they say rabbits can live alone. This is never true. To own a pet shop you need no training or qualifications. They literally can (and do!) say anything they like. I hear it all the time in practice - the things pet shops will say would blow your mind.

Your dog likely cannot distinguish between dead bird and a “frozen” rabbit. It may not wish to kill the rabbit, but the rabbit absolutely will think it’s about to be killed. It’s an accident waiting to happen. You’ll have to get the rabbit out of line of sight every time you open the back door. For likely the next 10 years.

You would also need a rabbit savvy vet - they have very particular needs and stress causes them to become unwell at the drop of a hat.

I really think you need to forget the whole rabbit idea and maybe either look for another dog, or no other pets.

But I can see you’re taking in on board, so thank you for listening. Many people just don’t want to listen when they’ve got an idea in their head.

My friend did, had 4 staffs, 2 pugs, cats and rabbits all running free.

I wouldn’t risk it personally!

It wouldn't be cute puppy play, because you already know your dog has chased and caught a squirrel, that wasn't cute puppy and you couldn't stop it.

No @Bunnyanddog - that would really not be "nice playing" for the squirrel or rabbit.

If a toddler fell into the lion enclosure I don't think any kind of "nice playing" by the lion would be seen as anything other than absolutely terrifying by the child...

I got my rabbits when I already had my last dog and they used to sit in the garden next to each other with no problems it was nice to see. When my last dog died I got a puppy and he chased them which scared them but when they realised that he wouldn't hurt them they aren't as bothered and seem to be happy and have the run of the back garden in the day time

@OakRowan

I am not engaging with you because you’re putting words into my mouth and being quite aggressive in tone.

@SupposeItDoesnt

i agree with what you’re saying, and I am taking everything onboard (that’s why I asked). It’s interesting to me though that quite a few people on this thread only bought one rabbit as opposed to two. And some dogs seem fine with rabbits. It’s such a mixed bag. Ultimately I don’t want to do anything to upset a rabbit (or my dog), it’s a shame there isn’t a way to see how my dog would respond without actually getting a rabbit 🤦🏻‍♀️

@CorsicaDreaming

i Meant “nice” from my point of view eg non aggressive. I’ve said several times already and CBA repeating as you’re either ignoring or not reading that I’m fully aware that would terrify a rabbit

Mine started as indoor rabbits, which may have made a difference. (To be fair, the dog lived with cats first and had already learned not to chase them.) Maybe introducing them indoors led to more calm behaviour on the dog's part and an easy acceptance that the rabbits were family members. Once they were vaccinated, the rabbits soon learned to follow all the other pets out the cat flap, so they were allowed out with supervision. They loved digging up the flower beds and doing jumps and high kicks in the grass.

@winterchills

what type of rabbits did you get? Google seems to think that the larger breeds are well suited to dog households.

the problem is everyone has differing opinions. I can’t seem to trust the pet shop man and lots of people on here have differing anecdotal evidence. Might be sensible to ask our vet as he’s excellent and I suspect they treat rabbits, plus he knows my dog

@WhoWants2Know

yes i think it makes sense that if they are indoors they are Seen more as part of the family than “random thing running in the garden”!

People have bought a single rabbit because they didn’t know better and / or had been advised wrongly. All leading rabbit welfare charities / organisations and all veterinary groups advise against it.

@Bunnyanddog
You've had really straightforward and clear advice from a vet in the sixth post from the top already... @SupposeItDoesnt