Allow Your Dog/Cat To Smell The Rabbit (Scent Handshake)
When you introduce your rabbit and cat, begin by rubbing one’s scent on the other and vice versa.
You are performing a “scent handshake” that allows the two animals to get used to each other’s scent before they even meet face to face.
Carefully Watch The First Interaction Between Dog & Rabbit
During the first interaction, if any animal appears uneasy or scared, stop the visit.
You can always try again later once everyone has calmed down.
Don’t be surprised if the dog or rabbit takes control of the relationship.
Dogs and rabbits are pack animals and are more concerned about hierarchical relationships.
Cats are solitary animals, which you might guess would make them the dominant member.
Often either the dog or rabbit will take the lead in the relationship, as a solitary animal, the cat is much less likely to actually care about taking a lead in the friendship.
If the rabbit and dog are not seen as food or foe, then they will be tolerated, just as so many humans are tolerated by their cats.
The Dangers of Keeping Rabbits and Dogs Together
The Internet is full of horror stories of rabbits mauled or killed by dogs. They’re not just stories; the danger is real. In addition, any pets sharing a household can also share parasites and diseases.
An overexcited dog can severely injure a rabbit, even without meaning to. Not only might a dog be unaware of its own strength, but rabbits are physically delicate. Even if both animals have the best intentions, it can be a deadly combination.
Some dog breeds, and some individuals, may be aggressive toward a small animal. You can’t know how a new dog will react to a bunny, and even a dog you’ve had for years might discover its hunting instincts when confronted by an actual prey animal.
Your dog’s breed is only one factor. You can never know how two animals will behave until you have them together. For this reason, it’s important to follow the safety guidelines we’ll detail in a bit.
Fright might not sound like a serious problem, but it is. Rabbits can actually die of fright from things like:
If you’re going to introduce your dog and rabbit, do so in a way that minimises surprises, loud noises, and fright.
Dogs and rabbits can pass fleas, worms, and other parasites to one another. Dogs are often the source, however, plenty of dogs enjoy snacking on the faeces of other animals, which can transmit any worms, parasites, or diseases to your dog.
If you’re bringing new animals into your household, make sure that they are free of parasites and diseases. In addition, you will need to preventatively treat animals living in the same household for fleas and other parasites. Your vet can advise you about the best way to do this.
Given the right mix of personalities, a dog can make a fine friend for a bunny.
What kind of dog makes a good rabbit companion?
The main danger of introducing rabbits and dogs is injury to the rabbit, should the dog become overexcited. A dog with a calm personality will be less of a danger to your rabbit.
What’s your dog’s natural activity level? Is your dog a mellow fellow, or does he or she race around or behave destructively? If your dog needs to run a 5K to feel calm, then this might not be a good individual to introduce to your rabbit.
On the other hand, a mellow, sweet dog can make a rabbit friendly choice.
One good indicator of how a dog will get on with a rabbit is its track record with guinea pigs and other prey animals, as well as cats, birds, and so forth.
When you walk your dog, how does it react to other animals? Does it bark and lunge at squirrels, birds, cats, and other pets? If so, then this dog may accidentally hurt your rabbit out of excitement.
Barking and lunging at small animals can also be a sign of a high prey drive, which can be bad news for a rabbit.
Dogs are predators, but some dogs have a higher prey drive than others.
You might think that little dogs would be less likely to harm a bunny than big dogs. But your dog’s size is less important than its prey instinct. Many small dogs were bred to hunt and chase different species of small prey, including rabbits.
Many dogs bred for this purpose have a natural instinct to chase, and sometimes kill, small animals. A few breeds with a high prey drive include terriers, lurchers, and collies. It goes without saying that coyote and wolf hybrids should never be introduced to your bunnies.
Training can help to tame your dog’s prey drive, however it would be safer still to not take the risk in the first place, and choose a dog breed with a low prey drive.
Any dog that you introduce to your rabbit needs to have mastered basic obedience training. This means, at the very least, it must obey the basic commands “sit” and “stay,” even when it is desperate to chase a fast, furry rabbit.
Your dog must also “leave” or “drop” the object of its interest the minute you give the command.
Many rabbits move in a fast, unpredictable manner, especially when frightened. For some dogs, this can prove irresistible. Your dog needs to be well enough trained that it will resist.
How to Make Sure Your Cat or Dog Gets Along With Your Rabbit : Rabbit Care
Can dogs and rabbits live together? It depends on the dog, and it depends on the rabbit. Some dog breeds are more likely to get on with a bunny than others. Individual personalities also play a role. Most importantly, if you’re going to introduce them, do it safely.