Part of the family: Buns and predatory pets

[SeaTurtleSwims]

Tolliver and the other pets are still getting to know each other. So far they are all allowed to smell each other. Tolliver walks right up to smell them back and is not afraid. The cat has even given him a bath. I make the dogs go lie down if they get too interested.

Obviously Tolly is never left unattended with the other animals. I have not let him on the floor with them either. I’m trying out a tactic of letting the animals sniff, lick etc and get bored. I’m afraid to make Tolliver a zero contact bun because the forbidden bunny is the exciting bunny So far it’s worked and Tolly can be out of his crate on the couch with cats and dogs lying down, caring less after the first few minutes. Even still, Tolliver’s crate is behind a closed door for when I am gone.

What are your boundaries for other pets in the house when it comes to your buns? What was most effective during your introduction period? Is there anything different from what I am doing that could be made safer?

Thanks for your input!

[Bam]

I pretty much did what you’re doing. I have a German Shepherd dog. She’s obedient and gentle, but she has a high prey-drive outdoors, not to kill but to chase. The first months I never left them alone together and I saw to it that there were places in every room that the bun could run to and hide where the dog couldn’t reach him even if she set her mind to it. It turned out my first bun is a rather sedate little guy who prefers lounging to running, which is a good thing. It’s often running that sets the prey-drive off. My dog was 3 years when I got him, I think it’s an advantage if the other pets are adults.

Your pets are adorable btw! Lovely caramel colors!

[SeaTurtleSwims]

That’s a good idea! What did you use for the rabbit to go that the dog couldn’t reach? Are you talking an extra carrier in the room he was in or did you just rely on him going underneath furniture for escape routes?

PS- the two dogs are 5 and the cat is 4 so they are not as bouncy as puppies, which is a plus I hadn’t considered haha

[Bam]

I have a sofa in the living-room room that’s low enough, in the hallway there’s a chest of drawers that’s low and I blocked off the space under the bed partially so the bun could get in under it but not the dog. She’s rather big, which makes it easier, of course. But I don’t think my buns ever have felt the need to hide from her. She’s not interested in them, but she will eat their food if she gets the chance. If they have sth she wants she just pushes them aside with her nose and they hop away like ok, have the silly kale then.

I think it’s important for a bun to know it can hide if it wants to. I don’t think a carrier would keep a dog or a cat out, but it is nice for the bun to have a hidey-house, they do like small narrow “burrows”. An over-turned cardboard box with 2 door-holes cut out (one on either side so the bun doesn’t feel trapped) is often much appreciated. My buns love their cat-tunnels too.

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