Raising a puppy to co-exist with a pet rabbit

MrJoeSoap

Hey all,

I'm extremely keen to get myself an Alaskan Malamute puppy in the next couple of months but have one small problem. We have a pet rabbit, about 5 or 6 years old, who has free run around the back garden and sleeps in the shed. Has anyone here raised a puppy with a pet rabbit succesfully?

I realise that Malamutes would be completely at the end of the scale in terms of size and strength and that's what has me worried. Even if they did grow up together in a reasonably friendly manner, even a playful nudge from a Malamute would hurt most people, never mind a rabbit.

I've seen a couple of video's on YouTube where Malamutes and cats get on well, so any feedback would be very gratefully received.

Thanks guys,
Mark.

andrewh5

I think you will find that the rabbit will stick up for itself. Generally though, just socialise the pup with the rabbit from day 1 on a supervised basis and they will settle down together.

MrJoeSoap

andrewh5 wrote: »

I think you will find that the rabbit will stick up for itself. Generally though, just socialise the pup with the rabbit from day 1 on a supervised basis and they will settle down together.

I'm slightly worried for this rabbit more than I would be with most as it was treated very badly by its parents and siblings whilst young and whilst being accepting of human contact, it isn't overly friendly to us. It tends to be slightly independent.

Thanks for the tip though, I will definitely give it my best shot. Last thing I want to do is get a dog and become attached to it, but have to give it away after a few months.

Interceptor

I have no experience of other breeds, but I tried my best to raise a rabbit and a Labrador together with careful supervision, handling both in the same way and bringing both into the house in the evening together. Not a hope. Even after months, once the rabbit started running, the dog was after it like it was its last meal. I gave up and built a dogproof run for the rabbit.

Good luck OP - I hope it works out for you.

'cptr

artieanna

Interceptor wrote: »

I have no experience of other breeds, but I tried my best to raise a rabbit and a Labrador together with careful supervision, handling both in the same way and bringing both into the house in the evening together. Not a hope. Even after months, once the rabbit started running, the dog was after it like it was its last meal. I gave up and built a dogproof run for the rabbit.

Good luck OP - I hope it works out for you.

'cptr

I can just imagine it and you after them both:D:D:D
A dogs natural instinct is to catch the rabbit and it would be very difficult to change that, I imagine.

Demonique

artieanna wrote: »

I can just imagine it and you after them both:D:D:D
A dogs natural instinct is to catch the rabbit and it would be very difficult to change that, I imagine.

Yes, much easier to raise a cat and a rabbit together. The cats that came into our back garden were scared of the rabbit and they were particularly scared of the guinea pig (but that's probably because the guinea pig run up to them and head butt them)

Interceptor

artieanna wrote: »

I can just imagine it and you after them both:D:D:D
A dogs natural instinct is to catch the rabbit and it would be very difficult to change that, I imagine.

The amazing thing is that I have pet rats and I often have the rats on my lap while the dog is nearby and she shows no interest. One of them hopped onto the floor once and the dog stood back with her head cocked but she never moved toward it. Who knows - thick dogs Labs.

'cptr

andrewh5

artieanna wrote: »

I can just imagine it and you after them both:D:D:D
A dogs natural instinct is to catch the rabbit and it would be very difficult to change that, I imagine.

I had a rabbit with 2 dogs (collie cross and spaniel cross) and 2 cats. No bother from the dogs at all and the rabbit used to attack the cats. If the dogs got too close and the rabbit wasn't interested she just used to grunt and lunge at them. Quite often she used to sit cuddled up to the dogs in the garden with the cats sleeping close by as well.

emsy g

ah yeah,so long as you get it as a tiny puppy,and make sure the rabbit doesn't attack it of course , then it should be fine,dogs are great if they know the animals from a young age usually....labs are thick though,and cocker spaniels and i think dalmations aren't the brightest either,though i have no experience with them i have heard they are very hard to train...anyway....that's not what you asked puppies should be good with anything so long as they are exposed from a very early age

Lauragoesmad

A mate of mine got a rescue staffie when she already had two rabbits that ran free in her garden. Even though Sacha (the staffie) was about two and had never seen a rabbit before, after about a week she just left them alone. I think she just wanted a sniff and to see what they were.
My oldest dog is nearly fourteen and always hated cats. I found a kitten two years ago and by this stage they're fine. Now they don't love each other but they don't fight.
I'd say once you socialize the pup with your rabbit you should be fine. Post some photos if you do get one too!!