rabbit and dog?

[westieworld]

hi i have a westie who's 11 years old and was i wondering could i possibly get 2 dutch rabbits or would Charlie (the dog) try to hurt them i mean even if they were in a secure hutch and run (outdoor rabbits)would he bark at them and frighten them or would they just get used to each other? if anyone owns rabbits and dogs could you please tell me how they get on because i just want whats best for both animals i don't want the rabbits to live in terrror all their lives would this be the case?

[lankeela]

Provided you introduce him to them in a sensible way then he should get used to them. Do you know anyone else with rabbits that you could take him to see and then see what he does? Make sure he is on a lead and under complete control. Make him sit and if he behaves give him a reward.
Obviously you would not want to just let him out when they were loose or if he showed any signs of trying to break into their hutch but I don't see why he shouldn't get used to them if done properly. If the rabbits are bought as babies they will soon get used to him being around.

[westieworld]

ok thanks yeah i took him to the local pet store and he stood on his hind legs and looked curious but then he started scratching the cage and i didn't know if i let him know this is bad will this be ok?

[notasyoungasiwas]

I've had dogs and rabbits together and they all got on great, one little rabbit used to love cuddling up to my Tara, bless her. But, not all dogs are like this. It sounds like you're little dog is curious, so best to keep any rabbits away from him at first in their own pen until they all get to know one another. Rabbits are lovely and make smashing pets, so many of them are forgotten in hutches at the bottom of the garden, so good homes for rabbits are definitley needed!

[carmalee]

westieworld - just a note of caution - WHWT are bred to be tough little dogs and as the name suggests they are terriers - that's the important bit - think they were originally bred to flush out foxes and badgers so it is in their make up to hunt - obviously not all dogs have the same degree of instinct but just be a bit careful. Having said that, the comment about bunnies deserving good homes is very, very true so hope it works out.

[Tezzabell]

I have a whippet and a rabbit....our dog is interested and obviously I wouldn't let them alone, uncaged and unattended together...however, I do not feel my rabbbit lives in terror at all...when my dog goes upto the hutch, my rabbit is there, nose to nose (bless his igornace). I'm sure you'd be fine if you were sensible (which you clearly are for even asking the question). Go get your rabbits and give them the lovely home they deserve :) xxx

[westieworld]

OK thank you all very much for your help. a few last questions would be, if i did get older rabbits from a sanctuary and not the local pet store would this be a bad idea seeing as they wouldn't really have been brought up together unlike kittens? since these are going to be outdoor rabbits would my dog feel threatened, because i planned on taking a section of the garden and just fencing it off and leaving one of the doors of the hutch open all day so they could wander about a bit of secure grassy outdoors would he be upset, because he used to have the whole run of the garden? in the winter i planned to bring them indoors and get an indoor cage instead of just an insulated cover for the hutch but should i just get a cover instead f taking away a bit of the house as well because i'd probably, kind of throw him out of the room if the rabbits were in there even in their cage just in case they felt frightened?