Dog and Rabbit Households

It is common to think dogs and rabbits cannot coexist peacefully since dogs possess the predatory nature while rabbits the prey. However, with time and training most rabbits and dogs can form health relationships that lead to peaceful coexistence in the home.

Before You Begin

Make sure everyone is happy and healthy. It is best if your dog is spayed or neutered, has all their shots and is on a regular flea treatment. Your rabbit should be vaccinated for RHDV. Additionally ensuring your dog receives adequate exercise and has outlets for their instinctual needs is important to this process.

The dog’s age, temperament, and breed will determine how you go about introducing your rabbit to them and how you train your dog to respect your rabbit as a member of your family. Puppies are more primied for training, because they are learning everything. Older dogs are less likely to try to engage with a rabbit. Some breeds will exhibit characteristics that you will need to work around.

There has to be a foundation of trust to begin this training journey. Your rabbit has to trust you as their parent to keep them safe and trust the dog. You as the parent must be in control of the dog at all times. The goal is to have the dog be calm and gentle around the rabbit.

Setting Up For Success

Start with using x-pens and baby gates to teach your dog to respect the rabbit’s space. You will teach your dog to not get too close to the x-pens when just starting out. As you feel more confident that the dog understands the concept of a respective distance, you can allow the dog to get closer. Look for calm respectful behavior such as loose body posture, relaxed ears, slow tail wags, soft eyes, and gentle movements. Reward your dog for any positive behaviors they exhibit around the rabbit with either food or pets.

Training

  1. Encourage the dog to ignore the rabbit and redirect them to other activities (like a tennis ball or chew treat) if the dogs get too interested in the rabbit. Common rabbit behaviors, like binkies, zoomies, etc., can excite a dog and activate their instincts to chase. 

  2. It is important to teach the dog to not want to chase the rabbit. Chasing is instinctual for dogs and once you remove that element, it is easier for the rabbit to trust the dog. Over time, the dog will be desensitized to the rabbit’s happy behaviors and realize it means nothing. This is a sign you can try to let them get closer. 

  3. Let the rabbit come to the dog and meet them on their own terms. You can use a leash on the dog at this stage, but it will depend on the dog and what the leash means to the individual dog. For some dogs, the leash equals excitement, and the tool will become detrimental to your efforts. It is best to find a handling tool that will allow for you to feel comfortable and confident about the introduction. 

  4. Practice allowing the rabbit to approach the dog and reward your dog for not reacting to the rabbit. With time, the dog will learn that the rabbit can approach them, and they are not to chase the rabbit in return. 

  5. Let the rabbit explore and participate in family downtime. Keep your eyes on the dog and remind the dog to allow the rabbit space while the rabbit hops around. These may be gentle reminders, or a more stern warning if needed. Give your dog something to do during family time like chewing on a bully stick, or enjoying a good belly rub that will reinforce a calm state.

  6. Continue to encourage your dog to stay calm and relaxed around the rabbit. Be mindful of your feelings and energy as you are doing these training exercises, stay calm and in control. The dog will then associate the rabbit with being in a relaxed state of mind. Keep any fencing and barriers up when not at home until you feel comfortable with the dog’s ability to coexist peacefully with the rabbit.

Both dogs and rabbits are vulnerable to certain parasites: fleas, ticks, worms, and mites. All are easily treatable with prescription medications available through a veterinarian. It is possible dogs can act as a fomite and transfer RHDV to a rabbit. To help decrease the risk of expose, be sure to clean muddy paws before allowing your dog back into the house.

Health Considerations

The timeline for this training will depend on your dog’s age, temperament, breed, and lifestyle. It will require you to be in tune with your dog. Dogs naturally want to please us and were domesticated for their ability to connect with humans and help humans with tasks. Given this history, we know dogs are capable of happy cohabitation with all members of their family, including small animals.