dog is licking our new rabbit! WTHeck?!

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frankenchick

frankenchick

Crowing
15 Years
Apr 20, 2007
671
29
306
Benton Twp., Michigan
We brought home Snowball, DD's Netherland Dwarf, on Sat. We introduced him to our 4 y/o Lab/Pit dog today, with DH holding him. Dog was wagging her tail like crazy and kept sniffing and licking the rabbit. Rabbit didn't seem to mind, but then he's only 6 mo. old and I don't know if he knows any better.

Dog Pepper is a fanatic about chasing/killing rabbits. Has she figured out that this house bunny is different? He certainly doesn't look like the rabbits she usually chases. Or was she tasting him?
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Our boxers do the same thing to our house rabbit. They've never seen any other type of rabbit...so, I couldn't say if they are "tasting" it. I'd make sure to let them get to know each other supervised. I'd never leave them alone together just to be sure.
 
I agree to not leave them alone unattended.

BUT, it is possible that your dog has recognized your house rabbit as "YOURS" and off limits to them. But I'd still not risk it. Make sure the dog can't get to the rabbit if you're not around.

I never ever have to worry about brooding in the house. My dogs have never touched my chicks in the house. But then again, they don't bother the chickens outside either. But rabbits and dogs are natural enemies. If you're able to teach your dog to leave what's yours alone, that's great. But some dogs don't get that. It depends on the dog.
 
Funny you should ask that one, we have a Standard Poodle who will bark and bark at our rabbits who are in the low cages or if they are out in their playpen for a while. She is not aggressive toward them, it is more like a play bark. Then when she has the opportunity to get close enough, she licks them. I have also wondered if she is tasting or if she is licking but really wants to sink her teeth into them? I won't give her the chance though. However, we had one doe that got out and we didn't know it, the kids left her cage unlatched when doing chores. We heard the dog barking outside and went to investigate. She was barking at it, but was not after it, almost guardian like. I wish she would be that way with all the furry and feathered critters. I did see one of our Dark Cornish hens give her a chase today, probably in retaliation for the harassment she has been giving them since they came here.
 
When I was a kid our bunnies unexpectedly multiplied. A neighbor of ours already had a huge hutch so they took 5 of the babies. Their dogs licked them to death. We never let our bunnies out when the dogs were around.
 
I have two rabbits that I have given free run of my property. My dog who is kept on a long chain run durring the day is wild to eat them when she sees them out. When they are in the house visiting though she could care less. I still would not trust her though. All it would take is one fast movement on the rabbits part and her prey drive could kick in and bye bye bunny.
 
My beagle used to lick our cat so much that her ears were wet with slobber. The cat just purred.

I think that in our case, there was some interspecies love going on.
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the cat would also get on the counter and knock food down to our beagle.
 

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