Dog anxiety and rabbits
Discussion
Hi
We have rescued a Yorkie who was previously allowed to run free and wild and sat on his previous owners lap all day long. He does have some separation anxiety but is certainly getting better and training is going well.
Our real issue is we have two rabbits in the garden (they live in what I can only describe as a rabbit palace, its massive!) and while the rabbits don't seem bothered by the dog, the Yorkie goes crazy. He starts crying, whimpering and sometimes he barks at them. It doesnt seem aggressive but he cant leave them alone to the point we cant have him loose in the garden. When we have taken him in the garden on return to the house he is very hyperactive and snappy.
The rabbits come up to the steel mesh to have a look so they seem fine about the whole affair
Any advice on how we get him to ignore the rabbits?
We have rescued a Yorkie who was previously allowed to run free and wild and sat on his previous owners lap all day long. He does have some separation anxiety but is certainly getting better and training is going well.
Our real issue is we have two rabbits in the garden (they live in what I can only describe as a rabbit palace, its massive!) and while the rabbits don't seem bothered by the dog, the Yorkie goes crazy. He starts crying, whimpering and sometimes he barks at them. It doesnt seem aggressive but he cant leave them alone to the point we cant have him loose in the garden. When we have taken him in the garden on return to the house he is very hyperactive and snappy.
The rabbits come up to the steel mesh to have a look so they seem fine about the whole affair
Any advice on how we get him to ignore the rabbits?
Edited by Badvok on Sunday 1st October 09:50
I don't have experience of terriers and rabbits, but I do have experience of sighthounds and rabbits, including retired racing greyhounds and ex-working lurchers.
You do need to recognise that there are breed traits in terriers which can make them predisposed to being obsessed with small furry things!
We didn't do anything very special, it was more a case of the dogs getting used to the rabbits being around. After a period of time, they became less obsessed/interested, but never to the point that I would have trusted them alone together. What you can do is spend some time with the dog on a lead near the rabbits and try to teach him to 'leave' and reward when he does. In the meantime, you may have to consider some sort of additional barrier, so that the dog cannot get too near.
My rabbits have never been bothered by the dogs, either, which seems to frustrate the dogs even more!
Best of luck and well done for rescuing
You do need to recognise that there are breed traits in terriers which can make them predisposed to being obsessed with small furry things!
We didn't do anything very special, it was more a case of the dogs getting used to the rabbits being around. After a period of time, they became less obsessed/interested, but never to the point that I would have trusted them alone together. What you can do is spend some time with the dog on a lead near the rabbits and try to teach him to 'leave' and reward when he does. In the meantime, you may have to consider some sort of additional barrier, so that the dog cannot get too near.
My rabbits have never been bothered by the dogs, either, which seems to frustrate the dogs even more!
Best of luck and well done for rescuing
Pics of bunnies needed in the "Runny Babbits" thread please
I have been trying to explain to the other half about terriers and rabbits not being the best combination but he is insistent on the dog type he wants so I may have this issue myself shortly.
My buns are house rabbits, I lived in a flat previously and they were free range. My best friends Cavachon will not relax around them, she watches constantly, she once tried to chase them so I cant leave her alone with them now unfortunately.
My Mum and Dad's dog Molly (Black Lab) lets the buns climb all over her haha
I have been trying to explain to the other half about terriers and rabbits not being the best combination but he is insistent on the dog type he wants so I may have this issue myself shortly.
My buns are house rabbits, I lived in a flat previously and they were free range. My best friends Cavachon will not relax around them, she watches constantly, she once tried to chase them so I cant leave her alone with them now unfortunately.
My Mum and Dad's dog Molly (Black Lab) lets the buns climb all over her haha
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff