Why not (safely for the bun!) try it and see how it goes?
Maybe you will be pleasantly surprised. It is amazing what dogs can figure out once they realize that the bun is family - yours - and not to be messed with.
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I agree. Protect the bunny but give it a try. If introduced as a house pet it may not āregisterā as prey to the dog. Especially if it has never hunted and killed a rabbit before. My dogs have had that experience and because of that, I think they would have a hard time ignoring it.
But I know people who own a variety of animals with sporting breeds and do just fine.
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Oh, long story short I ended up rescuing a hand raised mallard that was scared of bodies of water larger than a wheel barrow. I thought my Springer might want to snack on her but the duck was the bully and kept pulling at my dogs ears. Sheād also stand on top of the poor dog sometimes when sheād try to nap. The neighbor had a cat that would hunt large birds and they were also worried but the duck ran the cat off too! So, thereās hope for the bunny and dog.
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If a JRT can learn āDonāt eat the CAT!ā a spaniel should be able to master āDonāt eat the bunny!ā
S1969 - you made me much happier about rolling over on giant pipe cleaner or a regular size brought on the bed in the middle of the night. Iāll stick with the cat.
The young dog versus a cat = the cat won.
Young dog versus craw dad = Iāll give it to the craw dad, she was SO offended by him. That one was really really funny.
The middle aged dog versus a crippled and VERY angry pheasant = the young dog won, but was VERY bloody.
Groundhogs = itās a draw. They all walk away bloody. Once my two dogs ended up fighting and the groudhog got away. Iād rather they found anything else.
My (now almost 4) year old as an 8 week old puppy battling a spoon. You decide:
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Groundhogs, raccoons, and weāve seen some badgers as roadkill - my god what a mess that would be.
The spoon is hilarious - I hate to say it, Iām giving it to the spoon! 
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Hmmmm. I will send her a text and see what she says.
This bunny is not a tolerator of BS. A guest dog started barking at him and he started boxing back and growling. People try and pet him in not the absolutely correct way and they get hit. (it is kind of hysterical to watch). He stamps his little foot at me if I donāt hustle with his little morning banana slice, which of course, makes go slower to see if he will do it twice.
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I am going to need video proof of his stampy-tude.
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I will try.
Honestly, the rabitude on this guy is something. He is VERY bossy.
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Well, he might scare the dog which could be good to keep it away. But - definitely be careful. I know my dogs would find a stomping, growling rabbit to be a threat and would take immediate action. If it was calmly sitting, they would be curious and confused about it being in the house, but might stand down an attack if I warned them to stop.
Is it a free-roaming rabbit, or only when youāre supervising?
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It could be worth trying a controlled introduction.
My dog has always had a very strong prey drive, with a history of chasing cats. When my sister got a kitten we did a controlled introduction to see how things would go. Kitten was totally oblivious, curled up napping, climbing up his little tower, generally ignored the dog and didnāt see her as a threat. My dog spent the 30 minute visit with her eyes glazed over, ready to pounce at any moment. It was very obvious that it would never be safe to have them together.
Bunnies would also be a hard no. Even at eleven with arthritis sheāll attempt to chase wild bunnies.
However, sheās never had a strong drive towards birds, just fur. So she has little interest in bothering my chickens.
Cautionary tale though. My in-laws had a shepherd cross who was always aloof towards the cat (cat was there first), but never chased her or anything like that. They lived together in the house for several years until one day the dog decided it was game over.
He is only free roam under supervision.
His predecessor who was an angel until she turned 8 shredded the couch when I went upstairs one day.
Thanks for my morning giggle
