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Full Version: Rabbit obsession with dog! help!
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Mr.Bunny wont leave my dog alone! I have a 10 year old rat terrier dog & Mr.Bunny (a Dutch rabbit) in the house. Mr.Bunny is almost a year old and has only been a "inside pet" for about 3 months now. Hes doing great indoors but I have to keep him & the dog separated at all times since he wont leave the dog alone! I could understand him being curious for a while, but he wont stop. Every time the dog is near & the rabbit is in his cage he does everything to get the dogs attention-sticking his nose through the cage, following the dog, showing off. His newest thing is "thumping" his feet and running laps around the cage whenever the dog is within 3 feet of his cage.

I'd like to get them to get along so they can both be "loose" in the house together, but I fear Mr.Bunny is going to bother the dog and push her too far. The dog seems to accept the rabbit, she doesnt show any aggression towards him & ignores him for the most part.

I know the rabbit has never seen a dog before, only this one. Wild rabbits used to gather around his pen when he was an outside rabbit but that would be the only other animals hes had closeness to. Thier color markings are very similiar, am I crazy thinking that maybe Mr.Bunny thinks the dog is another rabbit? I dont know how to read the rabbits actions-is it fear, dominance, play?
put one of them in a inside puppt pen or something
Nick,

You're rabbit thumping means one of 2 things. Either he's scared and he's sending a warning or the thumping can also be showing dominence. He knows his cage is HIS territory and he's letting the dog know not to cross that line.
Rabbits are territorial and they like to run the show, so to speak.
I've known people who had a pet rabbit who ran the house (dog included), LOL!

Hope this helps.
Pat
http://www.carrollshalfpints.weebly.com
No problem guys.Rabbit is so cute and lovely pets.They never harm anybody.
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