Happy Bunny or Annoyed Bunny

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 11sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 10 months ago by wendyzski.

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- 01/19/2009 at 9:57 PM
  KweenElmer
  Participant
  46 posts
  Hi All!
  
  I have a mini (holland) lop and a small mixed dog. We have properly introduced them and now allow supervised play times. Luckily, our bunny is fearless and our dog is just so excited to have a friend to play with. All she wants to do is play. You know how dogs crouch down and try to do encourage friends to play with them. She (the dog) does that and runs back and forth. And the dog has sorta started chasing after the rabbit — now, it’s not an aggressive run nor do i think the bunny is particularly scared (he will stop to sniff the dog and/or groom himself) I just don’t know if he is necessarily enjoying the runs (you know, just sorta annoyed by it) How do I know the difference?
  
  Thank you so much.
- 01/19/2009 at 10:09 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22345 posts
  If he’s fearful, I’m sure he would run and seek cover being a prey animal and all. It does read like he is politely ignoring your dog – hehe – as only a bun can do. Also, with the dog lowing it’s head, your rabbit may read that as a request for grooming, which he is not willing to do. Sounds like they might hit it off, but continue to supervise as always as a rabbit can quickly lunge and bite and dogs will to for that matter.
- 01/19/2009 at 10:18 PM
  KweenElmer
  Participant
  46 posts
  He does run to the other side of the room, but he doesn’t necessarily go under cover, like the sofa or something, usually the litter box or the dining table (which the dog easily fits under)
  Thanks for your help.
- 01/19/2009 at 10:34 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22345 posts
  OH in that case, he probably is running to safer spots. Litter box being his territory, table always a favourite safe spot. If he isn’t retaliating by lunging it’s probably ok, just be sure he has a place he can go to that the dog cannot. Hopefully though one day, they’ll be lounging side by side.
- 01/20/2009 at 2:36 AM
  KweenElmer
  Participant
  46 posts
  Well, there is a love seat that I don’t let the dog follow him into ( though she can fit) but really that’s where he goes if he thinks I’m going to put him in his cage. In fact, he runs much faster from me than the dog.
  I thought I saw him half binky while running from the dog, but I don’t want to be imagining things or making things up if he’s not having a good time, you know?
- 01/20/2009 at 6:27 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  it sounds like they’re okay. just be so careful and ALWAYS supervise. we have another member who recently experienced an attack betw/ one of her dogs and one of her rabbits. and these were two animals that had been introduced and they were used to each other’s presence. with animals, sometimes you never know what is going to spook them and cause them to lash out.
  
  what kind of dog do you have? can you create a small spot that only the bunny can gain access to? for example: maybe a 2x2x2 NIC grid box in the corner somewhere with just the litterbox and some hay inside. you could even anchor a cement tube as the “doorway” so the bun can run thru the tube to get into the pen, but the dog cannot follow.
- 01/20/2009 at 1:33 PM
  KweenElmer
  Participant
  46 posts
  My dog is a tiny mix, who looks vaguely chihuahua, but no one is really sure because she came from a cardboard box with a miscellany of siblings who looked nothing like her. It’s okay though because she has no idea that she’s a dog and frankly more scared of the rabbit than the rabbit is of her. (Why must he make so much noise in it’s cage, she always wonders, I believe).
  Puck, my rabbit, has a corner that only he can really get into. It’s between the loveseat, side table and corner of the room.
  (thanks for your help)
- 01/20/2009 at 2:29 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  As long as your bunny can run and hide where the dog can’t get him (think tunnels-you could get some cardboard tunnels for pooring concrete at home stores, cardboard boxes, under the couches etc) then that’s great.
  
  If he’s sitting and grooming, that’s a social activity-and he’s not frightened.
  
  This is a fantastic sign for decoding what rabbits are saying, and it’s quick funny read too! I highly recommend it http://language.rabbitspeak.com/
- 01/22/2009 at 8:04 PM
  KweenElmer
  Participant
  46 posts
  Thank you, I have read that article. Of course, I have a little difficulty reading his ear signs coz he is a little lop and his ears pretty much go where gravity takes them.
- 01/23/2009 at 9:07 AM
  wendyzski
  Participant
  1312 posts
  I think what we may have here is a failure to communicate.
  
  Dogs “play-bow” by putting their heads down – it’s an invitation to play.
  
  Rabbits put their heads down as a demand for groomings.
  
  So your rabbit might be annoyed that your dog thinks it’s in charge, and your dog is confused because her weird-looking puppy-friend doesn’t want to play with him.
- 01/23/2009 at 11:28 PM
  KweenElmer
  Participant
  46 posts
  hmmm…. thats very interesting, i never thought of it that way. do you think that at some point they’ll be able to translate each other?
- 01/26/2009 at 11:38 AM
  wendyzski
  Participant
  1312 posts
  You might need to be an interpreter for them. There has to be some way they can learn to adjust, but I wouldn’t have the faintest idea how to go about it.
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