Bunny and dog bonding?

[Bam]

My rabbit has of late decided it’s time he and my dog became aquainted in a more hands-on fashion. I’ve had the rabbit for 14 months ( a stray) and he has been vey quiet and calm, never ventured out of the living-room but spent most of his time flopped under the coffea-table. He hasn’t needed a cage since he’s been so well behaved. The dog and he have kept their distance, but now Bam is dead set on bonding or sth with the dog, and he absolutely pesters her. He follows her everywhere, he runs in circles around her and jumps over her and tries to climb up on her and lick her face. She is very patient but I can see it’s bothering her.

 Have anyone here experienced something like this? Any tips on how to facilitate this bonding? I see they’re having difficulties communicating, which probably is due to them being of different species. She will try to lick the rabbit’s butt and the rabbit tries to invite her to play (or maybe he is courting her?) by running around her in circles.

 

I can’t keep them in different rooms because the dog gets seriously hurt if I shut her out of the livingroom. I don’t want to keep the rabbit in his cage all the time, although he has to spend his nights there for now.

The pic is not a very good one, the little black lump is the rabbit. The dog does look a bit pleading, or what do you say?

 

 

[peppypoo]

Is your rabbit neutered? The circling definitely sounds like courting behavior – I encourage you to have him neutered. If the dog is starting to be irritated, I would definitely be concerned, since all it takes is a moment for injury to occur with a slightly peeved dog. Though dogs and rabbits can be friendly, we recommend that they never be left alone since accidental injury can be so easy between the two species.

[Bam]

My rabbit was neutered 3 weeks ago, I guess his hormones haven’t died down yet.

He doesn’t seem to try any humping.

 

I keep him in his cage when I can’t supervise them. I didn’t before since they weren’t interested in each other at all, but now I feel I have to.

[LBJ10]

It sounds to me like your bunny has found himself a new love. If your dog doesn’t appreciate the attention, then perhaps it would be best to have them separated for awhile. Let your bun calm down and then see how things go between them.

[Bam]

=)

Yes, that description seems to fit, she really is his new love. The dog isn’t really bothered, more puzzled, it seems. When he gets too intense I pick him up and remove him, but I don’t want to keep him in his cage all the time because that’s no life for a rabbit. (I don’t have the space for a really big cage).
I feel a bit neglected, I was rather getting used to our cuddling-sessions, they were so perfect when watching tv. Now he cuddles with the dog. I can’t really blame him, she is much more adorable than I, of course =) And a great deal more furry. I think fur matters with rabbits.

[MoveDiagonally]

You could try using a x-pen as a barrier or something like that. You could put it up to give your pup a break. Otherwise I would be vigilant and supervise 100% of the time. It’s too easy for one to accidentally injure the other.

[Elrohwen]

I would let them interact only when you can fully supervise them. Never leave them alone!

It sounds like your dog is pretty tolerant and easy going, so I’d try to work on it, rather than separating them completely. Do you do any training with her? You can start rewarding her with a “yes” and a treat whenever the bunny approaches so she’ll start to associate him with positive things, instead of being annoyed. Once she is annoyed, I would give her a break, as others suggested, by putting the bunny in a pen or putting up some other barrier so they can be in the same room, but the bunny can’t bother her.

It will probably help when his hormones die down. There’s often a surge of hormonal behavior a couple weeks post neuter, but it eventually dies down.

[DUSTBUNNY-CLYDE]

how sweet!!! I think that is his new little friend!!

[Bam]

Goodness I hope it’s a hormonal surge! Because he’s getting worse, he’s never sprayed urine before and now he does. I’ve confined him to the bathroom for now, because his behaviour towards the dog seems positively compulsive.

She is a very good dog and we’ve done obedience-training all her life. I praise and reward her when she’s calm and gentle with the rabbit so she will know how to behave around him, and she is responding well. But now he just can’t leave her alone for one second, which of course isn’t fair to her, so I’ve had to separate them. Sad though, becuse I know Bam likes company and my bathroom is very small, I can’t really spend much time in there with him.

[Elrohwen]

Definitely sounds like hormones with the spraying. Hopefully he’s more laid back with her after the neuter! She sounds like a great dog. I’m trying to get my puppy comfortable with the rabbits, but he still gets way too excited. They love him though and try to touch noses through the gate.

[Bam]

The situation seems to be improving. Now the rabbit just circles the dog occasionally, in the evenings. When he does, I put him in his cage. They seem much more relaxed togeather now. Here’s a pic from this morning:

[Elrohwen]

How sweet! I wish my dog could be that calm around the rabbits.

[Sarita]

Cute picture! Is your dog a German Shepherd? She’s so pretty.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

CUTE!!!! I love it

Are you looking to faciliate the dogs interest in your bunny? Do you clicker train? That would be what I would do-make it really positive when the bunny is around, give lots of treats and pets, click when the dog shows interest and drop a treat.

[Bam]

Thanks for your replies!

My dog is a German shepherd. She’s interested in the rabbit in a good way now, when he’s no longer pursuing her with intense courtship. His litter-box habits have also improved with the neuter, so I’m very grateful to you all for your advice! Now they can actually lie down and relax floppy-like (rabbit flopping, dog doing the dog-equivalent of floppying) togeather, which is seriously cute. I’m trying to take a pic of them like that, but the flash always startles them =/

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