Dog/Rabbit ‘bonding’

[BlackTigers_Curse]

I have a 9 or so year old English Springer Spaniel (Lula). She’s calm after she gets used to something, but is kind of hyper if say we have company over for the first 10 minuets. She has sadly managed to catch and kill a wild rabbit once, but that was a few years ago and Lula was a lot younger. She is much calmer in general now. I am thinking of adopting a Rabbit from a local Shelter and was wondering, 1, if it would even be possible with Lula; 2, how to introduce them (probably will end up with two rabbits) and 3, would a Flemish Giant be more compatible with Lula then a smaller breed? And help will be appreciated.Thanks

[jerseygirl]

I have limited experience with this but did want to ask; does you local shelter have rabbits that are in foster homes at all? Finding a rabbit that is already in a home with a dog and is acclimatised would be good, if possible. 

As to breed, flemish giants are known to be more laid back but it’s not a guarantee. A lot comes down to the individual rabbit, despite whichever breed. 

Hopefully some other members that have introduced their dogs and rabbit successfully will give some advice. Ive seen plenty of different dogs being very chill around the bunnies on here over the years.

[Mikey]

Being that she obviously has a prey drive (chasing, catching, and killing a wild animal without instruction), it really would not be a good idea at all to get a prey animal. She may be older and calmer now, but that doesnt mean her drive and instincts have disappeared. English Springer Spaniels are bred to have a prey drive towards rabbits, too, which makes it even more risky given her past.

When my Badger needed to be babysat over at his grandmas house (my partners moms house), he bonded well to her two small dogs. But neither dog had prey drives, and neither’s breed were hunting breeds.

[Bam]

It depends rather a lot on how well the dog listens to you. Some dogs are very independent and have very little will to please. I don’t think I’d trust an independent dog that has a high prey drive around a rabbit. My dog wants to chase wild rabbits (she doesn’t because I tell her no, but I can see how she wants to) and she’ll chase wild rabbits and cats out of the garden if they come in when she is there – but she’s never managed to catch anything and she seems more interested in chasing than in actually catching an animal. She’s a German Shepherd and has very little interest in my free roam bunny. She’s very obediant as GSDs tend to be though, so getting her to understand that a house bunny is a family member was really easy. She was 3 when I got Bam, she’s 9 now.

[Vienna Blue in France]

I had a dog who thought for the first day that bunny was dinner (ears up, alert, in position of pointing) and was taught bunny was part of the house pack. This would not have stopped Kyra chasung a wild rabbit…. But if your Lula the springer (generally an intelligent breed) if she is well educated and listens to you you should be able to introduce her gently to the rabbit. In cage of course with NO direct contact until you are 110% sure of Lulas reaction. In my experience with my three rabbits and two dogs it’s not the rabbit that is afraid of the dog, so it has to be the dog who is instructed to LEAVE.

Common sense should prevail !!

The size of your rabbit should depend on your lifestyle and the space in which you have to house it.

[Bam]

I agree with Vienna, it’s the dog you need to teach. Dogs are (a lot) more receptive to teaching than rabbits. And many rabbits are not the least bit afraid of dogs but rather want to make friends with them, so you can’t count on the rabbit to keep a safe distance.

[Vienna Blue in France]

Haha Bam. We posted at same time !!

[Bladesmith]

Honestly, and without any offense meant, I’d give this up as a bad idea.  Springers are hunting dogs, the hunting drive is hard wired into their DNA.  Trying to teach this kind of dog, who has already learned that rabbits are prey, is going to be incredibly frustrating for both you and the dog, and most likely lethal to the rabbit.

You might have some luck if the rabbit is full or mostly grown Flemmie or Contie, equal or larger in size than the dog, but that’s an expensive risk to take.

[BlackTigers_Curse]

Posted By jerseygirl on 10/22/2017 9:49 PM

I have limited experience with this but did want to ask; does you local shelter have rabbits that are in foster homes at all? Finding a rabbit that is already in a home with a dog and is acclimatised would be good, if possible. 

As to breed, flemish giants are known to be more laid back but it’s not a guarantee. A lot comes down to the individual rabbit, despite whichever breed. 

Hopefully some other members that have introduced their dogs and rabbit successfully will give some advice. Ive seen plenty of different dogs being very chill around the bunnies on here over the years.

The shelter I’m currently watching is not a foster based shelter, but I could see if there are any close to me as a second option

Big thanks to everyone else, I can’t say yet what I’ll do because I honestly don’t know. The more input the better, Thanks everyone

[Author]

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