HOW DO I INTRODUCE MY DOG AND MY RABBIT?!
By Fiona Murphy, The Bunny Coach
This is a question I get asked all the time - and the truth is that sometimes rabbits and dogs just won't get on no matter what you do, and may always have to be kept apart. However, it is often possible for them to be happy around each other and even become great friends with careful introductions, and while you should always supervise them when together, it can make everyone's lives easier if they DO get on, and can also greatly enhance both their lives!
The chances of success can be largely dependent on the breed of your dog (for example labradors and retrievers can be very good with small animals, and dogs such as greyhounds may just have too high a prey drive) but of course, as all dog owners know, not all dogs fit into their breed 'box' and are often misjudged unfairly because of this! An older, mature dog or a calmer one will be easier to introduce than a puppy, but with time and the correct introductions it can be successful in most cases, and quite often the rabbit is 'top dog' in the relationship!
If you have a cat you want to introduce to your rabbit, a lot of the same principles can be applied, although because you can’t restrain a cat in the same way as a dog using a crate or leash, it can be trickier, but quite often the rabbit ends up as boss in both scenarios so don’t be surprised if this happens!
The introductions need to be handled very carefully, and The Golden rule here is to go slowly, - It is important to only allow controlled, positive interactions at all times.
The whole process is easier and faster if
- The Dog has some obedience training – so if your dog is a new puppy, you need to work on this alongside the introductions, or do the obedience training first. Commands like ‘leave it’ and ‘gentle’ are important in this process.
- Your rabbit is used to being handled by you as having him /her on your lap if they are used to it will give him / her some more reassurance and security. If he / she is not used to being handled, then they may panic when you try to pick them up and it is important that you have control of both animals at all times so that your bunny doesn’t get hurt. (If you need help getting your rabbit used to being handled, check out my popular class
- Neutered rabbits tend to be calmer so that would make the process easier too – if your rabbit is newly neutered, I would probably wait until the bunny's hormones have died down (8-12 weeks after neuter) to introduce them as they have hormone surges during this time which can make them a little crazy and less predictable!
You can either start with the dog on the lead and the bunny in a cage or in a crate, so you have control of each, or the dog in a crate if they are used to that and the rabbit free roaming on the floor, able to approach the dog on his or her own terms.
Start with short regular sessions, no more than 10 minutes long, every day if possible - consistency is important.
The key is keeping the dog calm and teaching him /her to be gentle, and not allowing the dog around the rabbit if he / she gets overexcited or aggressive
Here are some resources from reliable sources you may find useful –
https://rabbit.org/journal/1/dogs.html
https://awanj.org/wp-content/uploads/Rabbit-Handout-08-Dogs-and-Rabbits-Introduction.pdf
I also found this video below, I don't know anything about the source, but the steps were good to see on video I think
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjWyCsP8-7s
Hope this helps!
Fiona x
For more tips on Bunny Care from a Bunny Expert, an amazing fun and supportive community of other bunny nutters with no drama (Because we all know that people who aren't crazy about bunnies just don't get us!!), a whole library of bunny care classes for you to learn more about your precious fur baby, PLUS REGULAR LIVE BUNNY CARE MASTERCLASSES, QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS, AND DISCUSSIONS WITH GUEST RABBIT EXPERTS
check out FIONA'S HAPPY BUNNY CLUB - MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP
THE ONLY BUNNY CLUB LIKE IT IN THE WORLD,
COME ON OVER - YOU'LL LOVE IT!!
PS Sign up for my Weekly Newsletter for Care Tips, Special Offers and Fun Stuff here