Dog & Rabbit

[LoveChaCha]

I need some advice for the far future.

I am a rabbit person. My boyfriend loves my rabbit. But someday, he wants a dog. I’m fine with it, but I’m not fine with his choice in dog. He wants a husky. His sister disagrees with him wanting a husky (she owns a half breed husky) because they are A LOT LOT LOT LOT LOT LOT OF WORK. And I highly agree. My boyfriend thinks huskies are beautiful. So do I. But my point is:

 

Huskies = HIGH PREY DRIVE = RABBIT(S) WILL BE HURT/EATEN/KILLED.

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

I sent an article to my boyfriend via FB. It is this one:

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/siberianhuskies.html

I know this will be discussed in the future, but this worries me. I am okay with dogs and can tolerate dogs. Huskies are pretty. But they require too much damn work, and I like quiet after a harsh day at work and I am too tired to walk a dog, the dog will end up howling and making noise . Plus, ONE rabbit is a ton of responsiblity for me. Also, it isn’t just all looks. There is WAY MORE that goes into it (I learned after I got a bunny, but it works with ANY ANIMAL) and sometimes people can’t handle it.

I am for a dog, but I DO NOT want a dog that has a high prey drive. I do not know what I would do if something were to happen to my bunny  I know dogs can be trained, but huskies seem to be too overbearing after reading about them.

I know couples need to talk about stuff like this and make a decision  But I am very against havinga husky imo

Any experiences?

[Helenor]

I know my boyfriend wants a cat or dog someday. We’ve already discussed what could happen. He knows that if we’re still together, the other animals have to get along with the bunnies. I know he knows how much my bunnies mean to me and he also loves them too, so we’re going to make sure nothing bad would happen to them if we get more animals.

Has your boyfriend met your sister’s half husky? Maybe if he truly wants one, he should try babysitting for her dog? Maybe then he’ll see how much work a husky can be. Also, I know some people get stuck on one breed they really want, but fall in love with another when they see a sweet dog. Perhaps when he is really thinking about getting one, you guys could go to a shelter and look at some of the dogs there.

Yeah, dogs are a lot of work. My parents have a dog and every time it rains, my mom goes, “Oh no, it’s raining! The dog still needs to be walked so he could go poo!” And then we end up walking out in the rain and he gets to wear his doggy raincoat cause he hates water.

[Deleted User]

Brittany, if it is not you who wants this dog then it shouldn’t be you to do the work involved. Keeping a husky stimulated and maintained can be time-consuming depending on if you have just one, if you have a fence etc. If you get the husky young, socializing him with Chacha should only be a minor challenge, but it will require confining Chacha during unsupervised times for her safety. Definitely a working breed such as a husky will take hours and energy out of your day-to-day and that is a big deal. If your boyfriend wants this dog he should look after him. As I understand you look after Chacha because she is yours, so it should be.

[LoveChaCha]

Of course the dog would be his responsibility. The job that he will be having once he is out of college will be slightly demanding. I wouldn’t mind watching over a dog but big things like bathing and grooming aren’t for me.

My bf and I have met his sisters dogs. Personally, her dogs are untrained. I’ve read in many articles online that huskies are hard to train. I’m more laid back with animals and taking them out to poop andnpee isn’t my thing. O.o I’m spoiled having a potty trained bunny I guess.

I am very fond of labs and golden retrievers
If the bf and I decide to get a dog, it won’t be until we both have established our careers and have a house. I think it would be selfish to have a dog in an apartment.

He may change his mind, he may not. I believe it’s all about time management. In my point of view, I wouldn’t be too happy I’d the dog took up tons of my bfs time.

Thank you for your input guys

[RabbitPam]

I think that it’s good that you’re discussing this now, as it puts both your views and wants out on the table before you make a more serious commitment. I am not advocating breaking up by any means, but unfortunately experience has taught me that plans have a way of bending to suit circumstances, so it’s often about compromise. (By the way, Labs and Retrievers are prey dogs too, so they should be off the list as well. It’s bunnies that they are taught to retrieve.) You won’t know for sure what his job will be, or series of jobs, or yours for that matter, and what and where you live until you get there. So talking about your dreams is a good start for a permanent relationship.

What’s good about this situation is that you both are learning what is a deal breaker for each of you. Having a dog and a bunny may work – the work and risk involved may not. Setting your boundaries in terms of responsibilities also is important, so it’s clear that his dog is fed on time by him. Late hours at work = no dog. Etc. etc. If you should ever break up, and people have been known to when discovering a potential mate’s attitude toward animals, you can be more firm in your next relationship by knowing that it is one of your deal breakers. Love me, love my bunnies. Don’t be a dog person. Something like that. (Sounds like your a step away from the raising kids conversation, too.)

[LizzieKnittyBun]

I think major major research is in order before making a big step like this. As RP said, both labs and retrievers have been trained throughout generations to kill and retrieve prey animals like birds and bunnies. Even though there are beautiful dogs out there, like huskies and goldens, a lot of them are just too genetically dangerous for buns. These dogs have instincts that have been bred into them for hundreds of years.

There are some absolutely terrific sites out there that talk about the main personality traits of different dog breeds. Obviously all dogs are different and have different characteristics, but oftentimes there are specific traits that breeds share. For instance, many terriers have been bred to sniff out and capture prey in burrows (like rabbits… eek!), so terriers are generally on the no list for bunny companions.

You might want to consider herding animals, such as border collies, which are incidentally known to be the smartest breed of dog available. Instead of biting or grabbing smaller animals, they have an instinct to herd and protect them, which is why they’re trusted with flocks. Unfortunately, many collies and other intelligent herd breeds need excessive exercise and stimulation, otherwise they become destructive.

Basically… you’ll have to find some sort of medium ground between safety and stimulation so that you don’t end up with a hyperactive dog who is a potential danger to Miss ChaCha. Boyfriend should read about all these things with you so that he understands the risks as well. You can do it together!

: D

[Beka27]

It’s also going to depend a lot on what kind of set-up you have. If you’re in a house with multiple areas that can be kept separate somewhat easily, this would make the decision a bit easier. If you’re going to be in a small apartment, not so much. I would absolutely research breeds, but keep in mind that mixed breeds tend to make wonderful pets. If you found a mixed breed that was calm, it might not matter as much what the individual breeds were.

[LoveChaCha]

WoW thanks again guys

Well, when I become a Medical Assistant, it is a boring 7 or 8 am to 5 pm job, Monday thru Friday. I’m not sure about what my boyfriend’s will be. We have made it clear that we won’t be getting a dog until we move into a house. I am open to any breed – as long as it won’t prey on my rabbit. I would prefer going to a shelter to get a dog and asking if they can work with my rabbit and see how the dog reacts to it.

When my bf and I both finish school (within 2 years or so) we plan to get an apartment. We decided that we will be getting a 2 bedroom apartment or condo or whatever. The other bedroom is going to be a rabbit proofed entertainment room.

When I met his sisters 2 dogs, I was immediately told how to get the dogs from ‘jumping’ onto me. I know all dogs aren’t like that, but the husky was the one that wanted to jump on me. IF I had let the dog, he would have jumped onto me, put his paws on my chest and could look me in the eye o_O;;

RabbitPam, I do not mind at all helping with the dog. Like you stated, feeding the dog, I don’t mind. I am not up to big tasks. I don’t intend to walk the dog (I’ll go with my bf), as exercise, because I go to a gym for that. I would love to have a cat, but my boyfriend does not like cats :-/ I know a majority of cats and rabbits can tolerate each other. I guess I’ll be taking the hard way, blah.

Lizzie, I love reading books on animals, and I would sit on Petsmart for hours reading books on any animal I don’t think my boyfriend has done research on huskies. From that one website, it gave me ENOUGH information and it shook me up a bit It is like having a baby, people do research.. I just want him and I to make the right decision. He has to pull his load too. I have seen a DOGS 101 on Border Collies. They seem like wonderful animals.

Beka, that is right.. I never thought of a mix breed. I will have to keep that in mind

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Could I suggest he look at other dog breeds that also catch his fancy that are similar in looks? There are tons of Spitz’s out there, and yes Huskies are gorgeous but so are many spitz and many are more handleable
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitz
Perhaps an american eskimo would also be his thing, they are much less aloof.

I agree though breeds aren’t everything and he should look at the breeder as well(what socialization do the puppies get, health testing for parents, show records, what are the parents like, other pets in the household, how long do they stay with mom (9+ weeks is best) etc) because you can get any type of dog who’s been ruined by poor breeding or poor socialization by the breeder (yes socialization should start as soon as they are born and they should see hundreds of people before you take them home at nine weeks, health risks aside). So there are considerations even when he’s chosen a breed.

And there is always the option of never letting the two meet, if you do end up with a wild child dog. It’s best to plan for both, that they can socialize, to they can’t ever meet and everything in between because you really won’t know until you’ve brought the dog home and then it can take time as well.

[LoveChaCha]

My boyfriend is really up to getting a husky and nothing can change his mind. I think that it does depend on the personality of the dog. I have seen a lot of success stories with older dogs that have obedience training. I have told him that if anything happens to mmy rabbit, he will need to take responsibility for it. I will not be a very happy person.

I read blogs online and there are some people that do scent transferring. Not vacumming the area the rabbit goes into, taking some rabbit fur (from shedding of course) and toys to when people meet a dog. in return, the owners giving the dog bed to the rabbit to get used to the smell.

Although my bf’s sister did not have a good experience with her husky, I do not think she trained her dog very well. Training any animal takes time. She got rid of the husky because she has a newborn.

K&K, I am willing to compromise with dogs. I do not mind any other dogs, just not high prey dogs. I am open to seeing how it goes with husky breeders one day, but I’d feel awful not getting a dog from a shelter or somebody that is fostering. There are too many homeless animals.

Spitz ARE SO CUTE! They look like an orange husky! 

Monkeybun bought up an amazing point. My bf and I may be living in Oregon one day and there is a shelter/fosters that won’t adopt animals out if the other animals don’t get along with the ones at the home! WOW!

K&K you have a dog, right? Do you ever leave them alone with the bunnies? I heard it is good to always supervise if the 2 are together.

 

I just am very concerned about my rabbit(s) .. I do not want them eaten  

[Lintini]

Britt I am living with a rat terrier who was bred to kill rodents. She’s been living with us for about 15 months now and I have no had any issues with her. She actually shows tons of interest in the guinea pigs rather than rabbits at all. We took her to puppy school and all that jazz but you just have to be careful. Leia has jumped over my baby gate before but I have trained her that it’s “against the law” and same with the Pom, Wickett. If John has the time to spend and train that dog then I am sure you can probably make a dog/bunny harmony. But…then Chacha can’t have play time around the dog alone or at all. My 2 dogs both know they are not allowed in my bedroom and don’t bother with it anymore, but I always lock my door when I leave because I do have 4 cats too. Just really make sure John is seriously ready for the commitment of a dog. Our 2 dogs take up so much time because the terrier needs so much exercise omg…she’s insane. I know you guys will work it out, my main concern is for you being so used to her having a lot of free space and not having to worry about her being eaten. I know you guys will work it out though, just make sure when you guys do get a dog that you are ready for him/her 150%.

[KatnipCrzy]

Huskys are notorious for not being able to allowed off leash in an unfenced area- almost all of them will take off and are hard to catch again.  So unless you have a place with a fenced yard it is difficult to give them enough exercise- a brisk walk to you is not as tiring to a Husky usually.

It sounds like he really wants a Husky- but 16 yrs ago when I was first married I wanted a Dalmatian-and my husband said “one day, we will have one”.  By the time that day came around I had already changed my mind about what kind of dog I wanted- and I knew I did NOT want a Dalmatian.  So he could easily change his mind- especially if he is basing his “wants” off looks and what his sisters half breed is like. 

[Elrohwen]

If you’ll be living together with your boyfriend when you get the dog, any pet choices should be joint decisions, period. At least that’s how I see it. Now if he goes off and gets a dog while he’s living by himself there’s really nothing you can do, but to me, once you’ve moved in together you’ve made a commitment to compromise on important issues like this. Maybe put it to him that way. You’ll be living in the house too and you need to be a part of the process of picking the new dog and if a husky doesn’t work for you, the two of you need to compromise on another breed.

It sounds like neither of you have a lot of dog training experience, and in that case I think getting an adult (or older puppy) from a shelter would be a fantastic idea. You’ll be able ask for dogs who are good with cats (typically a good indicator of how they’ll be with bunnies) then actually bring your bunny and see how the dog reacts. With a puppy of any breed you have a chance to train from a young age, but if you’re not confident in your (or bf’s) training skills you could still end up with a high prey drive puppy.

Re: labs and goldens – yes they are hunting dogs, but they aren’t trained to kill. In fact, most labs and goldens have such a “soft mouth” that they can pick up birds and things without harming a feather on them. A retrieving or pointing dog who chased and attacked prey before the hunter could get to it wouldn’t be a very good hunting dog at all. Personally, I’m a fan of retrieving and pointing breeds in multiple pet households and the ones I’ve had contact with have been awesome with other small pets in the house (especially if the dog is mellow). I think terriers and hounds are more of an issue when it comes to rabbits – both are trained to hunt and actually bring down prey independently of a hunter and this is where the problem is, I think.

[Beka27]

I would also recommend a professional trainer if you don’t think you (or the BF) would have the knowledge, persistence, or time to train the dog yourself. For a dog you will have for many years, it is worth the expense and training should be included in the initial “start-up cost” of acquiring any dog. Keep in mind that interaction with rabbits are not the only issue. You need a well-behaved dog for when company is over and if/when you have a human child. There are an incredible amount of both pure- and mixed breeds in shelters that had to be surrendered because they could not be controlled around family members. A few weeks of training in the beginning could have prevented that.

[allegrabunny]

 

I have three huskies, I grew up with them. THEY ARE NOT RABBIT FRIENDLY!!! they just aren’t it’s unfair to put them in that position. They are wonderful dogs and I would never have anyother kind. But they are not normally “first” dog dogs. They are very smart and that can lead to naughty. They counter-surf, jump 6 foot fences, dig under fences, chase cats, etc. They MUST always be on leash. They are very very high energy dogs and shed so much. I am constantly covered in dog fur.

don’t get me wrong, best dogs ever, but not cat, rabbit, smaller dog friendly. they are super cuddly, and yes they can be really hard to train, they have to want to train. my dogs, taught themselves how to open doors, they will run out doors, not very good at recall and two are delta trained therapy dogs. they are very vocal, howling and whining. My dogs and rabbits don’t cross paths, my childhood husky was a notorious bunny-killer, just because she could (wild rabbits) I would really strongly suggest that you try an easier dog first, if you read any of the husky rescue pages online you can get an idea of how frequently huskies escape or are given up. A husky can travel up to 100 miles after jumping over your fence, in a matter of hours. Imagine trying to find that lost dog. Also I don’t know if you have a house or an apartment, but with a husky you need a house with a large fenced in yard (2 feet into the ground and 6 feet above)

having been bitten by my huskies (during a throwdown over a bone) I can say that they have very sharp teeth and can and do bite when they want something or when they don’t like another animal. Bunny-Husky really bad idea. My dogs all ripped the heads off of the stuffed bunny dolls I got to see if they might be ok with my buns, in a matter of minutes. the only live animal they didn’t try to eat was a possum otherwise, squirrels, foxes, birds, chipmunks, bunnies are all food.

[MayaConsuelo]

Hmm yeah you might have to put this on a list of dealbreakers. I don’t really understand people who get set on a specific breed either, it’s better to get a mix or go to the shelter and see what dogs needs homes. Also, aside from the specific exercise and attention needs people mentioned above, purebred dogs have serious health problems which happen in basically 100% of the dogs in that breed. My friend who’s a vet used to advise people to set aside money for future health problems when they had purebreds… then they would get mad with him… sure enough, they’re surprised when they have to pay thousands in routine health management.

The reason I would say NO to huskies is that I’m terrified of big dogs, and that’s because I was attacked by a pack of huskies (really) when I was little, maybe 6 or so. I was at my piano teacher’s house and he had 2 huskies. Then someone was visiting and they had brought their huskies too. I was on a rope swing in the woods when all of a sudden I’m surrounded by a pack of 4 huskies, all growling and snapping and lunging at me as my swing got slower and slower and was about to come to a stop, when my piano teacher and some other people came outside in the nick of time and pulled them off me. I wasn’t hurt at all but the psychological damage is there LOL. I’ll cross the street to avoid a big dog, the only kinds I’m not afraid of are labs.

Having a huskie in the house would be kind of like having a boa constrictor in the house. You would have to supervise 100% of the time, you could never turn your back on the dog, and you would never feel comfortable leaving them both alone in the house, even if they were in seperate rooms.

[Deleted User]

Allegra, I love your dogs, do you have a page with more pictures like on facebook?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Spitz ARE SO CUTE! They look like an orange husky!

Spitz is a type of dog, like herding dogs-not a breed You should get your beau to check out the list I linked-there are lots that look very husky like and yet are different

K&K you have a dog, right? Do you ever leave them alone with the bunnies? I heard it is good to always supervise if the 2 are together.

Yes and No. I would NEVER let him in area where they would run and leave them unsupervised. I DO trust him. He’s been with us almost two years and has worked hard to earn that trust….but I could see him hopping after them and scaring them and though I know, as much as anyone can KNOW, that he wouldn’t eat them, that he could chase a little and that could scare them. So no.

As for the yes…well yes he is (until we brough home Norman the piggie and are taking it slow again) he is home with the door to the bunny room open and a gate in the way. Yes, if he were a bloodthirsy coyote, he could get in there…. But he’s well fed AND kind of dull so I don’t really think he could figure out how to open that gate…
AND we got that way SLOWLY. Ie. having it open when we are home, then while sleeping…then for 1/2 an hour while out…And not just in a lets see what happens, but I do train him actively and I do work with other peoples animals in a training capacity, have been around animals all my life (successfully had a dog around my piggies while growing up) so I do feel confident that nothing would happen. But that was after a LOT of time and a LOT of training-and again…I’m not trusting him around running bunnies…I’m trusting him to not break down a door while he’s sleeping..so still no…they aren’t together unsupervised.
He certainly comes in to help feed and clean (aka eat poop) and I have had him and Rupert in the yard together…but Rupert loves outside and is chipped, slow and likes Mikey…
Yeah long story short-never alone together at all…but I do trust him and it’s been a long task at that

And I wanted to qualify all of that by saying a husky could be a difficult pet…but I wouldn’t say a husky could never be around a bunny OR would be the worst choice….doxie or jack russel would be a Big NO-they would be more what I would be worried about. Those bred to hunt rabbits. I don’t think (and I’m a firm believer in training/socialization over breed) that you could get over that.

[meow1]

This is my 8 year old great dane, Sophie, and Sunny the bunny (he is almost 4 months).  They get a long great-no problems whatsoever.  BUT I KNOW my dog. I know how she would react to bringing the bunny home and I properly prepared her for how to act around Sunny.

In the case of the husky, there HAS GOT to be ongoing training.  Some people do intitial training with their dog, then forget about it since the dog “knows” their commands, but you HAVE to keep up with it.  I don’t have experience with huskies, but it is a good idea to research the breed as MUCH as you can.  Speak to some people in husky groups/reputable breeders.  http://www.shca.org/  See what they say about it.

[LizzyBunny]

WOW! Amazing job with your dog meow1! I have a $*&!zu-poodle who is about a foot and a half tall and 2 feet long. Thumper loves him! She sniffs him all the time and follows him all over the house, it’s so cute. My only problem has been with one my chihuahuas, she was alpha female in my house and a very rude dog. (Doesn’t like men and kids at all). She has lunged at Thumper with me sitting with them so they are no longer allowed near each other but thumper still tries to get close to her and be friends.
To Brittany; why risk it? You never know when the bunny could do a jump or run really fast and freak the Husky out, resulting in chasing the bunny and possibly biting

[LoveChaCha]

Thank you for your concern Lizzybunny.

I don’t know what the future will bring my boyfriend and I. We may not even get a dog at all, depending on the circumstances. We may or may not get a dog, if we do, it may or may not be a husky. I will try to explain that we need to go a shelter; there are too many homeless animals that need homes.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Aw Brittany, I don’t think any of us who know you are worried about either ChaCha or any new pet you bring in your family with bf. He seems like such a nice guy, and I have no doubt you and he will make the right choice if and when the time comes!

And you can tell him I said so : )

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Also, meow1, I loved that picture!! It was so sweet. I have heard that Great Danes often have calm, gentle personalities, and it seems that Sophie sure does. It looks like she’s staring at Sunny with such tenderness.

Doesn’t it seem like a lot of the big huge dog breeds are often so laid back and mellow? I’ve often gotten that impression.

[meow1]

Well Sophie is a sight! She absolutely hates strangers, but is the sweetest dog when it comes to family and friends that she knows well. She also is very “alpha” like when it comes to other dogs. There are a lot of dogs she gets along with, and others not-so-much.

Sophie loves to chase cats and would love to get a hold of one. BUT here’s the kicker. Many years ago, knowing this, I adopted a little kitten. The way in which I prepared her for the kitten was crucial for their introduction. Well, they’ve been best friends ever since. To Sophie, our cat Marlo is NOT a cat. lol…they sleep together and everything. BUT if a different cat were to come near her she would chase it.

I used the same tactics when introducing Sophie and Sunny. No problems. The key with any dog owner is to KNOW your dog. I can watch Sophie and see changes in her facial expressions, ears, stance, and KNOW if something is about to happen. I have not had “something” happen with both the cat and the bunny.

She is a senior now, so yes she is much more laid back now. I guess lugging around that heavy body with old joints is more of a pain than before.

Brittany> good luck with WHATEVER you decide to do!

[jerseygirl]

meow1, what a precious dog! Does Sophie protect “her family” no matter the species?
We will NEED to see more pictures of her. Please.

[meow1]

Yes, she is very protective of her family, all of us!

You can see videos of her and Sunny on my youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/keebert, and I have pics of both of them on FB if you want to add me send me a msg on here

[LBJ10]

We have a doxie and she loves the rabbits. Perhaps, at times, she might love them a little too much! LOL Anyway, I remember people telling me that they weren’t a good breed to have with small animals because they were bred to hunt “vermin” inside their burrows. We had chinchillas before and they absolutely loved her and she loved them. I still regret not getting a picture of my girl sitting on my dog’s back (she would just hop right up there). After our babies passed away, my husband was really missing having some naughty little critters in the house and that’s when we decided to give rabbits a go. I swear, I think the dog thinks the rabbits are just funny looking chinchillas. She wants to see them all the time and, of course, get her snot all over them. Ugh! My point being, I guess, is that it is really the individual dog and not necessarily a breed. Although I do agree that you guys should keep your minds open to other breeds and definitely look at the shelters before getting a puppy from a breeder.

[Gina]

This was a giant concern for us when we got our puppy.  We researched dogs online and finally we adopted a Black Lab.  Sometimes she wants to get too playful with the bunnies, which we correct immediately.  We also corrected any prey instincts we saw.  She literally came face to face with a ground hog accidentally (on leash) and I was like “Oh, hey, we are going to walk away now” in a non-chalant voice and she just ignored it because I was chill about it.  I would have corrected her immediately if she would have tried to lunge for it. 

Honestly, dogs are exhausting.  She is always trying to eat SOMETHING and she is 10 months old now.  I would pick a lazier breed if you cannot commit to long walks or training. 

ALso, avoid any terrier or hunting dog if you want a low prey drive.

[jerseygirl]

I’m so impressed by the dog owners that have posted here. If only every dog owner were like you guys.

Thanks meow1 ! I’m not on FB but I’ll def check out your youtube channel. : ) edit to add: I watched the one linked in your siggy. I just loved seeing that, thank you!

[Author]

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