Will dog scare bunny?

[somebun]

 I don’t own a dog myself, but occasionally I watch my sister’s Chihuahua for a day or two. My bun’s cage is in my bedroom, and that’s the only room he’s allowed to run around in, and until I do some more bunny proofing, only when I’m in there with him! But the dog has really bad separation anxiety and when he’s here with me, he wants to follow me all around the house, he can’t be away from me, and he sleeps in my bed at night.

So I don’t know what I’m going to do when he stays here. I’d feel bad having to keep Olliver in his cage all day – he sleeps a lot during the day, but he even prefers napping outside of it, and his normal routine is run around like crazy for a bit, take a short nap, repeat repeat repeat.

I think I’ll have to introduce him to the dog, but I’m really not sure how either will react. The dog is sweet and well behaved, not a typical Chihuahua  but he is a bit yappy, and he’s never been around bunnies except to chase them out of the yard. The people I got Olliver from had a dog in the house too, but I didn’t think to ask if they’d ever interacted, and I don’t want to risk scaring him – I’ve heard stories of bunnies getting so scared by a dog’s bark or even a dog approaching the cage that they died of fright. I definitely don’t think Olliver could be out of his cage if the dog is in the room, I’m sure he’d chase him. I’m concerned about nighttime too; what if the dog gets up to go harrass Olliver while I’m asleep? I do trust the dog to an extent… like I said, he is very sweet, but he’s still a dog and a rabbit is still a prey animal.

What do you think?

[kcomstoc]

The only dog experience I have is we take our bunny downstairs so he can get some exercise and we have a family dog. Sometimes he’s in the living room and he doesn’t bother Caleb (the reason why I kind of trust the dog with Caleb *never leaving them alone together, but I trust him not to try anything while I’m in the room* is because Tucker (the family dog) doesn’t chase any animals while we are outside on a walk. He can see a squirrel or bunny or anything and be fine and keep walking). So Tucker usually sleeps and Caleb runs around, one time the dog walked up to Caleb (I was right there to interfere if needed) the dog sniffed Caleb and then ran away. Caleb even went up to Tucker sniffed him and Tucker ran away. So he either sleeps or runs away. There way a time where Caleb tried to jump up on the couch and Tucker was on the couch sleeping and idk if Caleb scared him or not but he did take a snip towards him (I don’t think he was actually trying to get Caleb) and Caleb ran away and won’t go on the couch anymore. Tucker wasn’t resource guarding either because people can be on the couch with him and I has Caleb and I on the couch with him and he didn’t do anything that’s why I think Caleb just scared him and he took a snip.

[Bam]

I have a dog and a bunny, both are free-roam. They don’t pay much attention to each other. Before my bunny was neutered he courted the dog intensely, which made her uncomfortable, but it stopped after the neuter. Before and after that they haven’t interacted much, the dog licks the bunny on the head to say good-morning in the morning and I have to watch her when I give him a carrot or she’ll steal it from him, otherwise they’re not socializing. Of course the bunny has safe places where he COULD hide and the dog couldn’t get to him, should he feel the need to, but he doesn’t. This has been going on for about 1,5 years now.

The first weeks I had my bunny he was in a cage on a table and the dog couldn’t get to him. She was of course all too interested in him, she had never known any other rabbits than the kind she’d chased away from gardens. I made it very clear to her though that the rabbit was my property and mine only. She’s a good and obedient dog and knows to stop whatever she’s doing when I tell her NO. Perhaps you could do some clicker-training with your sister’s dog? That’s usually an efficient and fast method to teach dogs stuff like “NO” and “Stop!” (perhaps you already do clicker-training). The yapping IS a problem, most bunnies hate sudden shrill noises.

[Delilahbunny]

Thats so good that your dog behaves that way. You must have trained it well!! I took my bun to the vet the other day and unfortunately there was two dogs that was someones in their off the lead obvs the bun was in a carrier but they come running up to me (must of smelt her) and barked i told the vet to call me when i was ready to be seen as the lady refused to put her dogs on the lead. I get worried she will get scared of the dogs or that the dogs will try to get her. Its the reason i cant take her out because where i live dogs come first and they should always be kept on the lead in parks etc yet they don’t so for Delilah its just the garden at the moment until i can find a safe place.

I think the only thing you would have to be careful with is making sure the dog doesn’t get jealous just because you said he gets separation anxiety so he seems quite needy of attention. This may mean if you give the bun attention he may not take it to kindly.

[Bam]

Yes, that’s an important point, the dog could see bunny as competition. So you should probably have sth really tasty ready for the dog if you choose to present them (no direct contact at first of course) so the dog learns to associate the rabbit with pleasantness and rewards.

I’d never dare to take my bunny outside in a park or sth, there are too many dangers. It sounds awful that a person wouldn’t put her dogs on a leash even at the vet’s.

[Chronicambitions]

Put the dog on a leash when you first introduce them and make sure the bunny has a spot to run and hide to. Watch how the dog behaves around the bunny and never leave them alone together.

[Delilahbunny]

They should have places for us to take our buns.

Yeah i no people can be funny she said her dogs were safe but they were quite interested in the bun.

I think the only thing to watch out for is seeing the bun as competition as this may cause the dog to attack.

[StickyBun]

Wow, I find the client at the vet’s office who would not put her dogs on a leash to be quite ignorant…not to mention rude! It doesn’t matter how ‘safe’ she considers her dogs to be…perhaps your bunny is not comfortable with her dogs! Not to mention the fact that since the dogs were off leash, anyone could have opened the door to the office and they could have run out and been lost and/or injured!

We have a rule at our office…all dogs must be on leashes and all cats must be in carriers. If you didn’t bring a leash or carrier, we are more than happy to loan you one It is not negotiable. Too many people do not use common sense when it comes to their pets! Honestly, just because your dogs ‘loves’ other dogs does not mean that all other dogs who may come through the door will ‘love’ your dog!! Geesh. People really need to learn basic manners and consideration.

Also, introducing pets while on leashes has it pro’s and con’s.  Pro is if the dog is on a leash and aggressive towards bunny, you can always safely keep him/her away and at a safe distance.  The opposite side of the coin is this:  there is a phenomenon referred to as ‘leash aggression’.  Dogs natually have a ‘fight or flight’ mentality when faced with something that is outside their comfort zone or potentially scares them….so they will either choose to confront it aggressively or run away from it.  When on a leash, the option to run away is gone and often they feel they have no other choice than to go on the offensive.   This does not happen in all situations but it is something to keep in mind.  The leash can actually cause aggression in certain situations! 

[Isabel]

I’m currently trying to get my bun assimilated to my two dogs. Lambda loves to sniff the 2 dogs– through his cage. If the dogs come over to smell him, it’s usually fifty fifty. He’ll either not care or dart under the couch. I make sure to give him plenty of places to retreat to if he feels threatened. But he always feels safe in his xpen. I would suggest starting with that.

[somebun]

 Thanks everyone for the ideas!

I don’t think I’ll put the dog on a leash when I introduce them (through the cage), only because he knows leash=walk, and he’ll get too excited (plus I’ll be forced to walk him after  .), and since he tries to chase bunnies and other animals on walks, I think the leash would make him more likely to be aggressive. And I’ll definitely make sure to keep giving the dog enough attention, good point!

I don’t know when he’ll be over next, but I’ll try to introduce them and see how it goes. Don’t think it will be anytime soon, so that will at least give me time to bunny proof, and hopefully if I can then get past my paranoia about leaving Olliver alone  he can be let out when I’m not in there with him so I don’t have to lock the dog out.

[Elrohwen]

I have a dog and bunnies. At first the rabbits were very afraid of him, but with some training (clicker and treats) they got over it and now will run to him excitedly. The dog, unfortunately, is way too excited to be around the bunnies. He is fine watching them through a baby gate, but if they stick their noses through he gets way too excited.

I would introduce them with a pen in between so they can sniff, but nothing can happen. With a small dog like that, you may have an easier time (at least you can physically control him easily).

[Deleted User]

Truthfully, since the dog does not live with you I would always keep the rabbit confined when the dog is there. The rabbit should feel safe in his cage, … if not right away then quite quickly. They will probably express interest in each other, and as long as the dog isn’t aggressive any interaction that takes place through the cage should be fine. Living with them full time is different. But honestly I wouldn’t try any kind of introduction. If they do live together the advice is to let the animals get used to each other through a cage (or pen same idea) for weeks or even months. I only learned that is the official advice about a month ago and was rather pleased since eight years ago I had brought a rabbit into a household with two dogs and subsequently introduced (over a few years) two cats and a new dog. I took the advice to heart and my new pair haven’t been anxious since the first week they were here. The cats visit them (one sleeps on their cage) and they have essentially ignored my eighty pound Shepherd from the first. Unless I’m holding one he isn’t very interested in them either. (Although he was very close to and upset by the death of my first rabbit. My Lab was also very close to that rabbit and the rabbit looked for her for some time after she died.) Last night for the first time since they arrived (about a month and a half ago) I opened the cage door while he was standing beside me (not unusual) and surprisingly he immediately turned and poked his long head into the cage. Both rabbits had come to see if I was holding anything edible and were right there. One backed up a couple of steps, but neither startled or ran, and one actually sat and sniffed him. After sniffing too the Shepherd removed his head and wandered off. My Yorky’s barking has never seemed to disturb them. All rabbits are different of course, but I strongly suggest not forcing anything, watching, waiting and taking my cues from their behaviour.

I’m not even going to get started on the topic of dogs off leashes, … Its been a subject that’s made me see red for years but since last spring when my Shepherd and I were jumped by five or six horrors running off leash in a pet store I cannot attempt to be pleasant about it. There is no excuse for a dog to be off leash (the one exception being completely enclosed carriers, … my Yorky doesn’t walk well on leashes, he is carried), no matter what you think you know about your dog you can always be surprised, and you do Not know what another dog will do. I’ll stop there.

Best of luck! Let us know how the first visit goes.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Both my dogs ignore our buns completely. But if you are just dog sitting then just leave the buns in their cage until the dog leaves. Or see how the dog reacts when he sees the buns.

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