Dog Community

Multi-pet homes??

Posted : 3/31/2006 12:19:13 PM

Hi-- I was wondering if anyone here on the forum has other pets besides just your dogs. And I don't mean dogs and cats-- as they have a closely woven history with one another. Rather, does anyone have any other small pets? My wife has a bunny, Charlie, who has free reign of our tv room. He is a lop ear-angora-mini holland. He's great fun and very easy to get along with. He's even potty trained! Thank God. We haven't let my dog and her bunny interact outside of her being in her kennel and allowing Charlie to "walk up" to the kennel sniffing. At first he was terrified and did his classic alarm "thump!" sound on the floor and hid. Over time he wasn't so alarmed and wouldn't go running unless Lucy made the mistake of barking at him. She's very curious of Charlie and will sniff like mad, too. She doesn't know NOT to bark so we don't punish her but I try to sit with her petting her and calmly telling her it is ok. When I do that the interaction usually goes without incident. Once when I left to do errands Lucy got out of her kennel by unzipping the darn thing and was able to go from her downstairs doggy door to the upstairs where she stays. She didn't do anything to Charlie and he sat there completely uncaring-- so that tells me so far so good. I've searched on the net about bunny-dog interactions and found one such case where a PITBULL of all types was able to get along and not hurt a bunny. Thats my aim, because Lucy really wants to be with us in the TV room sometimes and roam around and all she can do is sit on my lap, go outside, or stay in her kennel.

Anyway-- go any ideas? I think slow and steady is the best process but any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

Lindsay- Bernie's Mom

Posted : 3/31/2006 12:58:07 PM

Hi!!

I have a dog, cat and rabbit that all get along in relative peacefulness. My rabbit however, does not have free roam of a room. She lives in a very large two level cage where her litter box is. She does get supervised play time out of her cage. The cat and rabbit get along really well. Berning, my dog, is pretty clumsy- I don't think I could ever trust them together. He is 50 pounds, she is 3 pounds, even if they are both comfortable with each other the odds are in his favor. But, Bernie will calmy stay in a down stay while the rabbit is out playing. She is even brave enough to come up to him on occasion. I just remind Bernie to stay. Each of these exercises had decreased Bernie's interest in the rabbit. He never even gives her a second glance when she is in her cage anymore. I would just take it slow and keep everything supervised. Maybe use a leash on your dog for the beginning interactions. Make sure he has a very strong 'leave it' command.

I'd love to see a picture of your rabbit. You describe is as a lope eared angora mini holland. That sounds exactly like my breed of rabbit which is technically called an American Fuzzy Lop!! I have attached a picture of her as an adult. Do they look similar?

Lindsay- Bernie's Mom

Posted : 3/31/2006 1:00:30 PM

I forgot to say... I have had rabbits for years. About 6 years ago I had a West Highland Terrier. Though he loved to chase squirrels, he knew my rabbits and parrot were off limits. When I would allow the rabbits free roam of the outdoor patio, my westie would leave them alone. I think this may be the exception rather than the rule for terriers and most breeds- but wanted to let you know it is possible. He used to let the babies climb over him when he was laying down, and my parrot often hitched rides on his back. [

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Ryan Finkbiner

Posted : 3/31/2006 1:26:31 PM

I do have a pic of Charlie (our rabbit) but only as a baby and its on my ipod which is upstairs and I just got back from a run so.... I'll post it later :-)

Your bunny looks very similar to our bunny except ours is tawny-brown color with slight dark gray lines outlining his face and sides. Do you find it very difficult to keep knots out of your rabbits hair? Charlie gets the scissors taken to his fur more often than not because he'll get these awful knots. But the poor thing hates it when we touch him around his hind quarters where they are the worst.

My pup is a cockapoo and she's in high puppy phase so even if she meant no harm she'd probably bite Charlie and then my wife would probably send Lucy across the room and then I'd have to comfort a puppy, a bunny and my wife at the same time and lets face it, no man is capable of that. :-)

I'll post a pic soon.

Firestorm

Posted : 3/31/2006 1:47:00 PM

Here is proof that dogs and bunnies can get along! Although my dog is alot smaller then a pitbull. My Shih Tzu and Netherland Dwarf Rabbit love to play together![

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Ryan Finkbiner

Posted : 3/31/2006 2:08:15 PM

Sweet! Thats good to see. Cockapoos don't get very big, either-- so i'm hoping Lucy and Charlie eventually at least co-exist.

Kate

Posted : 3/31/2006 2:52:57 PM

We have 2 dogs, a hamster, and a cockatiel. The cockatiel is allowed to walk around the house if she chooses and the dogs and cockatiel coexist happily. The hamster at times gets to run around too but only with the cockatiel and Lana. The other dog is a little too rough with the hamster.

Renee

Posted : 4/1/2006 11:54:38 AM

Hi! I was so glad to see all the house bunnies out there because I also have a housebun!! I have black mini lop, and he can roam the house while I'm home. I do supervise my dogs, altho they don't bother him, and in fact my Cavalier seems to love him, while my toy Poodle seems a bit afraid of Ebony (my bun). Here is a photo of Ebony, he is the love of my life, and is litter box trained, and likes to follow me around the house with the dogs!

Renee

bamaeskie

Posted : 4/1/2006 1:43:43 PM

More proof:

Renee

Posted : 4/2/2006 11:23:10 AM

Unbelievably cute! Like I always say, there is just nothing "cuter" than a bunny!

Renee