What dog is best situeted for a bun?

[juliew19673]

Have been wanting to take in a dog for sometime; but with the bun not sure what to do.. I volunteer at a city run pound where the dogs come and go (very sad); most are pitbulls/chihaaus(spelling is WAY off I know)that are beautifu - loving dogs, but am thinking these are not the right dog fora bun.

My question, is there the dog that is better to have with a bun? The right disposition, patience etc? And is it better to get them as puppies, etc, etc..

 

[Pipp]

Stay away from terriers and any of the northern dogs like samoyeds and huskies. Hounds aren't so great either.

I'd think probably 'working dogs' would be the best in terms of generalities. Retrievers CAN be okay. And there's always the toys.

But this needs more research.


sas :bunnydance:

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

hopefully someone who has first hand experience with this situation will answer your post,,..off hand predator and prey animals don,t generally get along,..my cats are trained as kittens to leave the two-adult house buns alone.!!...so far so good 8 months now,,which makes me think a pup might be more preferable,to an adult dog,--animals when excited do act different,,and we don,t want a feeding frenzy..sincerely james waller

 

[Katmais_mommy]

I don't know what breed you plan on getting but you really need to research the breeds very thoroughly. Most dog breeds are either herding dogs or hunting dogs, whether they hunt birds of small animals. When a dog's natural instinct kicks in, it will try to attack. Whether it harms the bunny or not, your bun could possible inure instelf while trying to escape.

Luckily, my dog tries to avoid my rabbit. But I have seen him eye it a few times, so I always shoo him away.

Also, shelter pitbulls are often fien with people but not suited for other animals, especially if they were rescued from dog fighting.

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me. Good luck

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

I think you need to look at breeds that suit your life style first. There are many breed and individuals that can get along with rabbits, but there might only be a few that suit you. No matter how well a dog get along with a rabbit, if it is really active and you are not, it is not a good fit. If you live in an apartment or small house, a large dog might not be the best even though that breed gets along with rabbits. I would start with the basics: excercise, size, grooming, purpose of the breed, then look at if it can get along with small animals. Personally, I want a Newfound Land, but they are large, hairy, shed a lot and drool, so they are not for everyone. They would be good with rabbits, but do not fit everyones lifestyle.

That being said, there are some breeds that probably aren't the best. Terriers are bred to hunt and kill small animals, generally in holes. Hounds are also bred to hunt and can kill their prey. Sight hounds chase, while scent hounds sniff them out. A scent hound would probably be better, but still not the best choice. Sporting breeds (retrievers, spaniels and pointers) could be suitable. They are mainly bred to find birds and bring them back after they have been shot. Some do have strong instincts and will go after birds like chickens, but they should be good around rabbits. Toy dogs can be suitable, but they need to be trained. Too many people treat them like babies and so they become aggressive. These dogs are bred as companions, so with proper training can live with small animals. Some of the really small ones could be injured playing with a rabbit. The Non sporting dogs can vary. They have been bred for many different things. Some would be suitable, while others are not. The same goes for the working dogs.
Most of these generalizations are based on working bred dogs. These lines are bred and worked in what the breed was bred to do. Show line dogs are bred to be pretty and not for their ability to work. Some show line breeds might be better than the working line dogs. Some people do breed for both, so you do need to meet the breeder and parents of any dog before you commit.
There are many great breeds that can get along with rabbits. Generally, calm gentle breeds would be better. All dogs need training from day 1. Any breed and any dog could be aggressive toward a rabbit if not properly trained.

With puppies, you can train them form day 1 to respect the rabbit, you and to be a great dog. They are puppies, so they will behave like puppies for at least the first year if not longer. You have to house break them, do basic obedience, vet care, and deal with puppy stuff.

With an adult, you can get some unwanted behaviours that you have to work on. You do know the personality of the dog and can sometimes know of the dog if OK with rabbits. Some training might be done, but it may not be in the way you would do it or not to your standard. Vet care (like shots) is usually done. If you get a rescue, it will probably be spayed or neutered as well.

You might want to consider fostering a dog. That way you can see if it gets along with Baxter and if there are any serious behaviours that would need to be dealt with. If it doesn't work out, the dog can be placed in another foster home or will be adopted right away. If you find the right dog, you can adopt it.

 

[missyscove]

I've noticed a trend on here that alot of the dogs that are great with bunnies are golden retrievers, like my Missy.

[flash=425,344]http://www.youtube.com/v/Vj5t1yUrj0Y&hl=en&fs=1[/flash]

But that said, it's really entirely up to the individual. Some people say puppies are best, but my senior dog really just sleeps and eats all day, of course, you might be looking for a dog that does more than sleep and eat...

 

[slavetoabunny]

I've heard that Golden Retrievers do very well with rabbits. Definately avoid terriers. A few weeks ago a Jack Russell slipped his collar at an adoption event and attacked Snowball through the bars of her pen.

 

[Mrs. PBJ]

You need to look at energy level. Medium to low energy dog will do best with smaller pets.

 

[countrybuns]

I have a beagle pup that I just took on a week ago and we introduced her to the rabbits last night. One at a time with my hubby holding the rabbit and myself holding the dog. Vinny ignored her and so she lost interest, Fergie was scared so we put her away and then Jasper and her sniffed each other's butts and then he just sort of watched her and she tried to play with him lol. But again she lost interest when he wouldn't play with her.

 

[JadeIcing]

I have a small pom who does great with all my bunnies and my fosters. She has also been raised with the rabbits.

My mom has her two buns living with a cocker, poodle, **** zu mix (don't ask what we call her. ) her chi and a pekingesse (sp?) all do great. Her bunnies more so Rocky (my baby) do binkies off the dogs.

Now this is my take a big must is the energy level of the dog needs to match yours. Two is that training is a must. For so many reasons I think that it makes for a happier healthy dog.

Someone who does dog training told me the best thing to do is train the dog that the bunny is higher in the pack than they are.

 

[steffiexxweffie]

i have two dogs then got a rabbit. i have a schnauzer and a shih tzu... my schnauzer loves chasing patches but thats cuz hes a ratter (bred to chase rodants) and my shih tzu just barks at patches... they never ever harm him they just like to chase him like a battery powered toy lol... patches loves being chased, he actually antagonizes them... he knows that stomping his feet makes them chase him so he would go where they are and stomp his feet then start running is so funny... but when they get him in a corner he punches and growls and fights back. patches def. likes my shih tzu better because he doesn't do anything to him other than bark. so i think a toy breed must be better.

 

[elrohwen]

Steffiexxweffie, I don't want to be harsh, but it sounds like your dogs and bun *do not* have a good relationship. I would not let them out together unless the dogs are on leash and under control. The dogs need to learn to be calm around your bunny as Patches sounds stressed out by them.

 

[undergunfire]

I personally think it all comes down to the individual dog, not so much the breed. Yes, there are some breeds that are super high energy and have a high prey drive and probably shouldn't be put around rabbits - but don't rule out a certain breed because some say they aren't good with rabbits. A lot of people say Terriers aren't good with rabbits, but that doesn't mean ALL Terriers can't be trusted.

I have a 13lbs Doxie/Min Pin (both dogs that were bred to kill rabbits & rodents) mix who is awesome with the bunnies and always has been - he was a rescue adopted from a rescue group at 9 months old, so he wasn't raised around bunnies as a puppy. Sammy is also great with the ratties.

 

[irishbunny]

I have two terriers, one is a jack russell and the other a jack mix. The jack is still a pup and will try and chase the rabbits. If I shout Holly, she stops straight away, because she knows she isn't supposed to. She has been raised with the rabbits, most of the time she ignores them. If this breed is raised with rabbits and thought not to hurt them, they are totally fine with rabbits. My jack mix, we didn't have rabbits till she was about 13 and no problems at all. With training Jacks are a good breed to have around rabbits. Oh and if Holly is annoying the rabbits, they will turn around and bite her or scratch her and she soon runs the other way. That is one of the good things about having a dog not all that much bigger then the rabbits.

 

[zednon]

tibetan terrier (no relations to Terriers which have to be from england and where breed to hunt small game), have never been breed for hunting only pets, they change depending on there family they just want peace with the house hold, if you want a hiker now but a couch potato in a few years they change their needs to match yours. They are one of the few dogs that just want to be in family. Also they have no huntting insteced so are good with other pets.

 

[Luluznewz]

I dont mean to hijack this thread, but I have to say it too. Steffiexxweffie, I completely agree with elrohwen. That sounds like a really scary situation for your rabbit.

Being chased by dogs is not something I've know rabbits to be able to enjoy. It sounds like he is warning the dogs and is really afraid.

I'm really not sure why you think he enjoys it or is so sure your dogs wont accidentally (or on purpose) harm him. I would strongly advise encouraging your dogs to treat you rabbit like food or a toy.

 

[Inle_Rabbitry]

All dogs have their own personalities which are effected by their breed, age, way of being brought up, etc. So if/when you decide to choose a dog, you'll need to evaluate it for it's temperment, not solely on what breed it is.

However, with my former experience working as a canine behavior specialist, I would recomend any of the Working group dogs such as golden retrievers and especially dogs from the Herding group-in particular, only the dogs considered to be "Livestock Guardians" such as Great Pyrenees, Caucassion Ovcharka, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, etc. Dogs from thelivestock guardiangroup arespecifically bred to be tolerant and protective of other animals. Their prey drive is nearly bred out of them, whereas hounds and primitive breeds such as malamutes and huskies have an extrememely high prey drive and will destroy and kill anything that moves in less then five seconds of meeting it. Bully breeds (aka pitbulls)such as Staffordshire bull terriers and Bull Terrier are bred to have a high instinct to attack other animals as well (despite their very calm and effectionate demeanor towards people). Small breeds such as Chihuahuas are considered to be too outgoing, rambunctious, and territorialfor rabbits to tolerate and may very easily stress or harm them becuase of their high energy and assertiveness.

So, in all, it is with my proffesional experience, that I would strongly advise going with a dog breed that is a member of the livestock guardian group.

Hope this helps!

 

[jcottonl02]

Korr_and_Sophie wrote

With puppies, you can train them form day 1 to respect the rabbit, you and to be a great dog.

Yes that is a very good point.

As I am sure you guys know, I have 6 dogs- yorkshire terriers and maltese terriers, and 2 cats. I have never once had any slight problem. I would never leave them unsupervised, let me clarify, no matter how well they 'get on'.

While I agree that terriers are bred initially to go down rabbit holes etc. I honestly believe that if you bring one up with a rabbit, in a committed and correct fashion, there's no reason your bun should be in danger.

Benji was in the house first, so as the dogs (and cats) were slowly introduced to the household, they learnt to respect rabbits from the off. They grew up with them, so after a few weeks the novelty of the rabbit wore off. They just don't care anymore. They're like 'oh there goes the rabbit- where is my chew toy?'.
The rabbits are just another part of their life. Benji doesn't mind, and will snuggle the dogs, and the dogs will groom his ears etc. (Benji looks hilarious with his soaking wet ears lol, but it's lovely to see the interaction). The dogs are gentle, and respectful, as that is how we taught them.

[/img]http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w170/jcottonl02/?action=view&current=Benners-1.flv

Here u can see Benji and Lottie. Cut to 1minute if you don't want to see Benji running round the floor.
Look at Lottie's reaction. She doesn't care. He hops up- she looks at him for a few moments, and then resumes to chewing her collar (don't ask me why...she went through a very odd phase of that lol). He runs around her- doesn't even bat an eyelid. She doesn't even look. He Sniffs her- and she can't even be bothered to look at him.

And here is Benji with the dogs- they don't even look at him lol!

Pippin tolerating a groom while I was trying to get him used to the dogs etc. He was actually very calm here, which is why I allowed lottie to groom him. Usually he runs and hides, so I don't really let the cats etc. around him anymore.

Pippin came into my life after the dogs and cats. So he has always been very scared of them- I am not entirely sure why, but he is a really shy rabbit anyway. So I just don't allow them much contact. It's been 3 years- the dogs don't care, but Pippin is not happy with their company, so I will never make him tolerate it. So all is happy


I think generally the smaller the dog, the better. A rabbit is much less likely to be terrified of a dog it's size, and I reckon a smaller dog would be easier to control in the initial introduction stages.

However, I would personally get whatever dog you wanted. I mean, obviously I think it would be a little silly to get an Afgan hound or a Great Dane if you have a rabbit, because it's just not practical or safe for the rabbit, I don't think. But generally I think most breeds (if taught from a young age) will just lose the interest, and be able to live comfortably with your bun.

Jmvho

Jen

 

[mae9406]

I agree with the posts that say there really isn't a "set breed" that is better or not for rabbits. There's many factors that go into having a dog that's good with rabbits. I'd say start with the general "guidelines" for certain breeds, then once you find a few that fit your lifestyle then start looking for the right personality withen that breed.

From experience, I have 2 dogs. An almost 9 year old Lab/boxer mix and a 8 1/2 month old Boxer although they have many traits in common they have different personalities, but both are great with my rabbit too so I don't think there is also just "one set personality" that's fine with rabbits either....

Our pup is energetic, spontaneous, playful, dominating and hyper as hell onany given day before she has a chance to "run". And our older boy is laid back, low on the pecking order, calm and very gentle with the occasional energy bursts of playfulness and both do fantastic with our rabbit.


EDITTO ADD:

I also think it has to do with your rabbits personality. Ruvy, our bunny, enjoys playingwith Sara on nearly any given day. But she's very courageous and mischievous a more laid backbun may perfer a dog more like my older boy.

 

[elrohwen]

Any dog that is calm and under control can be great with bunnies. I would recommend against terriers - they typically have very strong prey drives and it can be difficult or impossible to train them to behave with a rabbit. Herding breeds can be ok, but if they have a strong herding drive they may try to herd the buns and get on their nerves.

Many hunting dogs (other than terriers) are actually great with rabbits. Their job is typically to find the animals for the hunter, not kill the animals. Dog liks labs, golden retrievers, pointers, etc can be great with small pets. Terriers are trained to hunt *and* kill small animals like rats and rabbits, which is why their prey drive is so much higher. Labradors (and similar dogs) don't kill anything - they just retrieve and track which makes them pretty docile.

I like really little dogs (like yorkies) or really big dogs for rabbits. I find that big dogs are often more mellow than small or medium sized dogs and can do great with a bunny. Many mixed breed medium sized dogs tend to have high energy and may have a terrier background, which is why I think they can be the hardest to work with (that's a generalization, of course). I would rather have a rottweiler or great dane around my bunnies than a schnauzer or herding dog.