Questions about rabbit dog cat relationships XD

[KittenMuffinPie]

I have a rabbit named Jude who is 4 months old and my boyfriend (of almost 3 years) has a cat named Leia who is roughly 6 months old. I am a senior in high school and am almost halfway through with school this year and when I graduate I plan on moving in with him right away. I am getting a job in January and the first thing I am going to do is get him a leith petwerks 2 story cage since he will be spending most of his time in a cage during the introducing/bonding process and he is free range now of my room and only uses his (tiny) cage for litter box, food, hay, etc. Me and my boyfriend both would love a dog even though we probably wouldn’t get one until we get our own place since he is living in an apartment right now and 3 people (his brother is moving in with him next month) and a rabbit and a cat will already be packed very tightly… I have been looking at dogs that I think would be small enough and easy enough to get and raise with rabbit and cat. So far I have looked at border collies and australian shepherds because I love their coat colorations and how smart they are..plus they’re relatively small/medium dogs. One problem though: they’re both herding dogs..would this be a problem even if all the puppy has ever known is rabbit and cat? Any opinions are welcomed..

[Mocha]

Hello!

I just looked at the condo you’re interested in. It looks good size-wise, but it seems pretty expensive compared to other cages ($300, right). I just bought my 2 rabbits a pawhut two story hutch for like $120, but if you like the condo, it looks nice to me.

Whoah! You haven’t even bonded Jude and Leia, and you’re already deciding what type of dog! Bonding Jude with Leia, might take awhile, especially if they aren’t comfortable with each other. What type of personality do Jude and Lei have? It would work very nicely if Jude is not a shy bunny, doesn’t scare easily, and if Leia is more laid back and mellow.

I’ve always wanted a dog. I’m still trying to convince my parents that adding a dog to the family won’t hurt anything. Would Jude live live in her own room in your bf’s apartment? No matter how much you may think you’ve bonded a dog and rabbit, you can NEVER leave them alone unsupervised together. A dog can easily chew up a rabbit’s condo, and a playful swipe of the paw can injure your rabbit.

Would you want a puppy? I personally like young/adult dogs better. You already know their temperament, so there’s no guessing how the dog will be with the rabbit. A puppy may be fine with a rabbit as a puppy, but as he get’s older, he may change attitude and want to eat the rabbit. There are lots of awesome dogs at shelters who actually need homes.

If Jude doesn’t have his own room, then I wouldn’t really think it’s a good idea to get a border collie or an australian shepherd. Border Collie’s and Aussie’s are VERY energetic. They need constant energy, and it sounds like it’s going to be pretty crowded in your apartment. They would be happy with at least 2 hours of walks each day (morning and evening), and lots of mental activity like fetching. Both border collies and Australian Shepherds need a job to do, or else they will go crazy, and ruin furniture. (Note: it really depends on the dogs personality, but this is about the breed in general)

Pitbulls are very friendly and loyal dogs, that I 100% love and reccomend for a pet.

read this: http://www.rascallyrabbitrescue.org/Documents/rdogs.pdf

[Beka27]

You’re going to have your hands full… New job, new living situation, out on your own for the first time. Definitely not the right time to get a dog! And the apartment living makes it really tricky! Dogs aren’t going to be extinct anyone soon. Lol! You can wait a few years!

[KittenMuffinPie]

I repeat..not planning on getting a dog until we have our own house which is at least a year and 1/2 away..and yeah I’m planning on Jude being in my boyfriend’s room when we move in (which Leia isn’t allowed in unless he’s home)

[KittenMuffinPie]

and Jude is very laid back until there’s a loud noise or something like that..if he’s lounging in the room and someone knocks on my door he goes running but other than that nothing really scares him. My 3 year old sister has been in the house (screaming and hollering and stomping around like..well..a 3 year old.) and he was just fine with it. Leia is laid back most of the time but she is very playful sometimes. When we do introduce them we’re going to get kittyclaws (rubber tips to go over her nails) just in case. I feel like she would be more scared of him than him her because he’s actually most likely going to be bigger than her..he’s a holland lop but he’s pretty big to be 4 months old..he’s going to be a big boy. I have actually decided to go with the 3 level instead of the 2 level which is way more expensive ($419) but even if we do bond the rabbit and cat together and have a dog or puppy eventually..I would never be able to allow them all 3 out with each other by themselves..so with the 3 level he will have plenty of room while we’re not there.

[Mocha]

I wouldn’t really be worried about about Jude and Lei being together. My local rabbit rescue actually reccomends and doesn’t disaprove having cats and rabbits live together, as they are sort of similar.

I didn’t read the part where you said you would wait until you had your own house. I would never reccomend getting a dog though, unless your rabbit has his/her own room.

[Frodo Baggins]

I live in a household with 4 dogs, 2 cats and my rabbit. It is doable but I also have a roommate who like myself works with dogs and knows how to read body language really well and we did not have a problem with two of our dogs from the onset (one is a 60 pound hound the other a rat terrier). Lola the pitty has more of a prey drive so she can never be unsupervised with frodo but she was that hardest to get acclimated and it took about 18-19 months before we could trust her in the bunny room off leash. The newest is a Chihuahua terrier mix who alternately wants to play with frodo and is terrified of him so she fits in well.

Now I have a very confidant rabbit who was already 2 when I got him. He never has shown fear towards my dogs which has been an overall benefit. Every case is different. But you definitely want to know the dogs personality and train it very well. any dog can be good or bad with a rabbit.

And I agree with Mocha about he cats. Frodo helped raise a litter of four kittens that my roommate brought home. So the pair of siblings I kept ended with him no problem and have always had free access to him. Point of fact they are the only beings in our apartment that frodo won’t charge try to nip.

[Author]

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