Be very careful introducing your bun to the dog. In fact, don’t introduce at all until the new dog has a bunch of training and knows to Leave It. Retrievers can be quite… bad… with bunnies.

That’s fabulous! I’m also planning on a puppy in June/July so we can share experiences with puppies and bunnies 🙂

Also, I don’t necessarily agree with MB on retrievers being bad with bunnies. An extremely exuberant lab would be bad with bunnies but for the same reason that any super high energy and playful dog would be bad with a small pet. In general I think goldens are good with other pets. Of course you have to be super careful (I don’t imagine my own puppy will be off leash around bunnies for at least a year and even working up to being around them on the leash will take a while) but you could do worse than a golden.

I agree with monkeybun, wait to introduce. But not all retrievers are bad with bunnies. My family had a pure bred golden retriever when I was young and she was momma bear to all the other animals in the house. When the guinea pigs were outside to graze (they were always covered) she would lay next to them and protect them. They loved sitting next to her inside and out. She never once hunted or attacked even a mouse. She was a gentle soul. But I think for dogs it goes on a dog-to-dog basis therefore caution should be taken.

How exciting pandorachik! I want pictures! And I’m jealous, is it going to be a puppy? I would definitely look into obedience training if it is!

I’m not saying that the doggy will always be bad with buns, just saying it will need alot of training first I’d say the same about almost any dog. Retrievers though, can have a tendency to want to “play” with a bunny.

I do agree that any dog needs tons of training (I have dog training experience and I’m super nervous about getting a puppy). And I do agree that retrievers (especially labs) can be overly playful. With my own pup, I’m not worried about prey drive so much as just wanting to play with the bunnies and trying to chase/pounce on them, which obviously isn’t appropriate play with a bunny. It’s tough, for sure, but I think it’ll be so rewarding when we have a big happy family all lounging together.

erlohwen, I’d go for the calmer not super hyper when you pick them out then. Seems simple enough but the calmer ones are more likely to be like “oh hey a bunny okay I’m going to go take a nap” lol.

Oooo lucky! I have a black labrador retriever and she has absolutely zero prey drive. Not sure why, we never had to train her, she was just like that to begin with haha the only thing she chases after are tennis balls. It’s weird because her parents were champion field dogs, the only reason the breeders adopted out to us (they only adopted out to people who would compete) was because they were moving. But I agree to definitely train your dog just to make sure your bunny is safe Retrievers make great companions, you must be so excited!!!

Frankie, I’m not getting a lab 😉 Way to big and energetic for me! We’re working with a Welsh Springer Spaniel breeder.

haha I understand that. My Lucy is 80 something pound black lab and usually full of energy. Sadly when I moved out though she’s put on more weight and doesn’t really have the same energy because of that. Maybe if I get pet friendly place I’ll take her with so she can get more exercise.

awh pandorachik it’s so funny you said that because my faithful goldie was named ginger
We got her from a breeder (before we started adopting from rescues) and her full name was shandior ginger snaps. The shandior was the formal name and we named her ginger snaps because she was a little nipper when we first got her. I’ll see if I can find pictures when I’m on my computer later.

Be prepared for house training too, and lots of messes with a puppy. Messes of the stinky kind And chewed up shoes and furniture… lol. Puppies can be quite a handful.

that’s me and her when she was a puppy. I don’t have any on my computer from when she was all grown up.

haha thanks