Considering getting a dog

[JennyBee12]

We have am almost 7 year old outdoor rabbit who enjoys free range of the garden. We'd love to get a dog and after researching breeds suited to rabbits we'd like to go for either a Golden Retriever or a Labrador. Does anyone have experience of owning both and have any helpful advice?

Are you considering a puppy or an older dog you can test with the rabbit?

I wouldn’t do it but if you do then never leave them alone together . The dog barking at the rabbit could be enough to give it a heart attack.

I should've added that she doesn't scare very easily and she's OK with cats, even plays with some but if any annoy her she'll either chase them off or run to her hideaway. Also we have a large garden and a gate dividing it so could potentially let dog out alone in its own area and only let it in rabbit's area supervised. We'd ideally like a puppy so we could train it from the start to be nice to the rabbit

Be a doggy foster parent for a month first.

Rabbits are low maintenance, dogs are super high maintenance, like having a toddler. You ll never be able to take time away from the dog. Vets bills are expensive, they are 100% more high maintenance than rabbits.

Thanks for tbe advice. Me and my husband have both owned dogs before kids so we know the work involved in general.

I've had rabbits for a long time and adopted a dog a year ago. Fortunately I knew her previous owner and her history and that she was fine with cats, chickens, ducks, horses, she thinks my two rescue rabbits are her best friends. She's also tiny, a Chihuahua cross, so the rabbits are the same size as her anyway!

My rabbits are outdoor in a secure shed and aviary (free ranging unsupervised is generally not recommended). The amount of interaction they actually have is minimal as the dog knows she's not allowed in their shed and run and is very good at just peering in (and play bowing at the bamboozled rabbits).

It would definitely be best that the rabbit has her own secure area and any interaction with the dog should be supervised at all times. For a larger breed, even just a playful paw bop could seriously injure the rabbit.

We have a very large garden with a gate separating the grass part from a concreted section so one consideration is letting the dog out for wees etc where we have concrete and supervising when we go out to the grass to play etc. The rabbit has her shed where is quite happy ro escape to anyway when kids are being too noisy etc. And like I said we're keen to get a puppy with low prey drive that can be trained

My DSis had a Lab with a prey drive. He was a chocolate lab though and I think they're known for being a bit "different".