Dog Community

Posted : 9/28/2006 8:00:06 PM

I know you can never get an instict out of a dog, but I feel that raising a puppy around the rabbits she would not be so obessed with the rabbits themselves and can be trained young what is the proper way to act around them (well around them caged, I just could never trust a dog and a rabbit together). I am sure this is not true in all cases, for there will always be a dog just obesessed the prey, but I feel I would have a better chance with a puppy of this then an adult dog.

I got my small, purebred puppy from the local Humane Society. She was born there. Like I said, in my last comment, she had the drive, from the beginning, and it's not something that could ever be trained out. If you do decide on a puppy, I hope that you decide to look at breeds other than terriers.

The news sounds good! A 30 day trial, UTD on everything, with training started is a fantastic deal. I hope that it works out, wonderfully, for you, whatever you choose.

agilebasenji

Posted : 9/28/2006 8:46:00 PM

And don't get a basenji!!! I love bunnies. I'd love to have one, but I came to the conclusion a long time ago that I could have a bunny OR I could have basenjis. So, I have my basenjis. I'm just not convinced there's any way to safely keep a bunny with a basenji around.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 9/28/2006 8:58:53 PM

I'd love to have one, but I came to the conclusion a long time ago that I could have a bunny OR I could have basenjis.

I forgot that your dogs (sighthounds in general, maybe???) are as idiotic about rabbits as terriers tend to be. Emma will smash, full speed, into a fence, if there's a bunny running through it (the little ones can usually make it through the chain link, or through the gap in the gate, if she's not sneaky enough).

Christine Langley

Posted : 9/29/2006 6:48:04 AM

Can a bunny really be totally safe around any dog? My sister and my daughter both had experiences with their dogs that make me wonder about that. Their dogs were totally fine with bunnies and always very gently but then one day, totally out of the blue and out of character they went after the bunny. Everything turned out fine but you can never be totally sure that any bunny will be totally safe around a dog or puppy even if they are raised together.

agilebasenji

Posted : 9/29/2006 10:52:11 AM

I forgot that your dogs (sighthounds in general, maybe???) are as idiotic about rabbits as terriers tend to be. Emma will smash, full speed, into a fence, if there's a bunny running through it (the little ones can usually make it through the chain link, or through the gap in the gate, if she's not sneaky enough).

I have heard about a retired Greyhound that caught a bunny, brought it inside, put it down and the bunny was alive and unharmed. The grey went and laid down contentedly. But basenjis definately have that "kill" part of the sequence (ala Coppengers, if you've read that book? worth reading). I have field fencing which the bunnies can go through. Even the jackrabbits can get through it, but it takes a little more effort for them. I will stand there watching my brindle chase the odd rabbit that comes into the dog or agility yard and yell "FENCE!" when the dog gets close. He has also run full tilt head first into the fence. I'm sure he'd be dead (broken spine) if it had been a solid fence.

I am falling in love, but complicated..