{"id":3638,"date":"2020-01-28T11:08:07","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T16:08:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pawboost.com\/blog\/?p=3638"},"modified":"2024-01-26T13:15:44","modified_gmt":"2024-01-26T18:15:44","slug":"can-rabbits-and-dogs-be-best-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pawboost.com\/blog\/can-rabbits-and-dogs-be-best-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Dogs and Rabbits Get Along? Tips for Pet Friends"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This article is contributed by guest writer, <\/strong><\/em>Jackie B. (Writer of Flemish Giant Rabbit).<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dog and Rabbit Compatibility: Can They Get Along?<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Dogs are predators. Rabbits are prey. You may wonder if they can ever coexist peacefully, never mind be best friends. We see strange animal pairs all the time, but do they really happen in real life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer is yes. Your rabbit and dog can be best friends, you just need to learn how to help them get started. It is crucial to move slowly and not try to force the relationship. Let your rabbit and dog get to know each other and build a level of trust over time. Here\u2019s our expert advice on how to ensure that your furry and fluffy friends get along. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo Credit: JACLOU-DL via Pixabay<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How\nto introduce rabbits and dogs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The introduction is one of the most crucial aspects of the\nrabbit and dog relationship. As mentioned above, just as you cannot force two\ndogs to become friends, you cannot force a dog and a rabbit. The friendship\nwill take time to build.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When planning on introducing the cute new addition to the\nfamily to your existing pet, follow these guidelines: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Make sure both animals have visited a vet before they meet. Many illnesses or diseases can jump species<\/a>, so it essential that both dogs and rabbits are healthy. Plus, a sick animal is a stressed animal, and you don\u2019t want even more stress in the introduction. <\/li>
  2. Make sure that your dog is obedient and knows essential commands<\/a>: \u201cSit,\u201d \u201cLeave it,\u201d \u201cStay,\u201d and \u201cNo\u201d should be the minimum that your dog knows. Many locations, including vet offices and doggy daycare establishments, offer obedience classes. A well-trained dog is more likely to listen to you if the introduction to the rabbit goes wrong. <\/li>
  3. Introduce the two animals in a neutral location. If the rabbit is the newcomer, a dog can feel threatened by its presence in their home. Instead, you could take your dog to where you are picking your rabbit up from.<\/li>
  4. Keep your dog on a leash and let your new fluffy friend either on a leash or in their indoor rabbit hutch<\/a> or cage. Rabbits are prey animals<\/a>, and so are much more likely to bolt when they see the dog. <\/li>
  5. Introduce them slowly in a calm and secure environment. Do not just throw them together outside of your supervision. Watch the body language of both the rabbit and dog to gauge how the meeting is going. If one or both shows signs of stress or fear, back them off, and only continue the introduction once both animals have calmed down. <\/li>
  6. Keep the inactions supervised and short until you are completely sure that the friendship is going well. This stage may take weeks to months depending on the animals. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Breed\nmatters<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    As with any pet, breed matters in the rabbit and dog\nrelationship. Some dogs have a much stronger prey drive than others. And\nsimilarly, some rabbits are more likely to defend themselves or run away than\nothers. Although the breed is important for both rabbits and dogs, it is the\ndog\u2019s breed that will make the most difference. It is nearly impossible to try out\nwin a strong prey drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Obviously, every pet is unique, but their breed determines<\/a> many\nphysical and personality characteristics. Getting the right breed can set your\nrabbit and dog relationship up for success or, conversely, cause it to fail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The following dog breeds have a less strong prey drive<\/a>. They are more likely to leave your rabbit alone or play nice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n