All depends on each individual rabbit anddog. Some may be fine with it others may not. I don't think it hasanything to do with rabbitbreedsor dog'sbreed.
I tend to agree with this. While some breeds may have a reputation forbeing aggressive, or untrustworthy with other animals, overall it isthe dog itself who will either be friendly towards a rabbit or not. Myrule of thumb tends to be not to trust any animals together until theyhave been well socialized with one another, and you can determinewhether or not they will get along.
My dog is a mixed breed of unknown heritage, although she looksidentical to a dingo and could (possibly) be an Australian Cattle dogmix. I cannot trust her at all with other cats, or squirrels, orrabbits...basically anything that moves outdoors. However, she doesunderstand the rules of the house...the other pets are not food, andshe is not allowed to touch them. She is absolutely trustworthy aroundthe rabbits when they are loose - either in the house or outdoors inthe backyard - and has been known to protect them fromintruders.She also has made friends with my two cats, andoften they will sleep next to one another. However, I do know my dog'slimitations. If there is food in her dish - a special treat, such ascanned food as opposed to dry, or a coveted pig's ear- I willnot allow the cats near her, as she
will bite if they try tohelp themselves. And if my sister's dog is in the house (a sheltie mixwho will chase the cats if she sees them), I make sure the cats - andespecially the rabbits - are nowhere in sight. I learned quickly thatif Lassie sees one of the cats and chases it, Kaya joins in, and theplayful chase turns into a full attack asKaya's doggyinstincts kick in. So with Kaya, I trust her fully with both therabbits andthe cats, as long as there are no influences thatcould trigger her...as I mentioned, the presence of another dog, orenticing food. And with the last dog I owned, Misty...you couldn't gether to bite, chase, or otherwise attack anything no matter how hard youtried. She was the most docile dog I've ever seen...she even had astray cat attack her once, leaping on her back and clawing at the backof neck and head, and she did nothing to defend herself. She simplytried to outrun the cat, who - for whatever reason - was out to makemincemeat out of her.
As for rabbits, when I first got Anna (one of my rabbits), I wasstartled one day to see her on the futon where Kaya was stretched out.Only, Anna was not really sitting on the futon; she was perched on topof Kaya's back. Kaya was absolutely
not amused, but she wouldnot touch Anna. And Anna, who was terrified of both my cats when I gother, held no fear of Kaya at all. Raph, my other rabbit, has no fear ofanything, and I'm not sure if he doesn't have the sense to be fearful,or he simply believes that he rules.
So with any animal, I believe it is all individual. You learn theirtolerances and their limits, and you work with them, respecting whatthey will and will not abide. Watch body language and take precautionswhenever introducing two animals of any species to one another. Andwhenever in doubt, be cautious, cautious, cautious, until - and evenafter - characters and tolerances are well established.
