Can maltese dogs get along with domestic rabbits?
Posted on December 27th, 2009 by admin
We have 8 rabbits and are planning to get a maltese dog. what is the best way to inturduce them to each other and will they be friends? I have a Hotot rabbit (1 year)and a holland lop (1 year) with six babies. Thanks
I have a dwarf lop rabbit and a maltese they were intoduced as a 2yr old rabbit and 4yr old dog, and all my maltese wanted to do was lick my rabbit all over, now they tend to mind their own business and just check on each other from time to time, they both love attention so try to push the other one out if they are getting attention.
They both live in the house all though when no one is home the rabbit is shut it his own room.
Most of the time they are great together occasionally they chase each other dog after the rabbit or rabbit after the dog, my rabbit is very friendly but has got very defensive over food even the dogs food and has once or twice in the last year nipped the dog but has never caused any wounds (scratches or drawn blood).
Honestly i wouldnt leave them unattended even after a year becuase there is nothing to say that one day the dog might attack my rabbit, even though they have been living together happily for at least a year.
i would say give it a go but supervise them, introduce the dog to the rabbits with the cage wire between them and let them get used to each other once the dog ignores them, Get one rabbit out at a time and sit with your rabbit and let the dog come over and just keep an eye on them, after a while i’m sure you’ll know if they will be ok on the floor together.
I would suggest being more carefull with the baby ones.
Good Luck I hope it goes well, i shall be introducing a cat to the mix in a couple of months so i hope the 3 get on well.
December 27th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
get a maltese puppy that way he can be raised in the presence of rabbits and get used it
References :
December 27th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Just let the dog look at them while they are in the cage, it will be very interested in them for a few days but soon it will get over them.
(This happened with my maltese)
Also it would be better is it was a puppy, that way it would grow up with my rabbits and be used to them and not worry about them at all.
Hope i helped bye
References :
December 27th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
It has to be a puppy, or it will bark and chase them and try to kill them (natural dog instinct)
With a puppy it will get used to being around them.
introduce them through wire, let them smell each other.
Have puppy on a lead at all times when they meet face to face with no wire protection.
Good luck
References :
Rabbit + dog experiences
December 27th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I have a dwarf lop rabbit and a maltese they were intoduced as a 2yr old rabbit and 4yr old dog, and all my maltese wanted to do was lick my rabbit all over, now they tend to mind their own business and just check on each other from time to time, they both love attention so try to push the other one out if they are getting attention.
They both live in the house all though when no one is home the rabbit is shut it his own room.
Most of the time they are great together occasionally they chase each other dog after the rabbit or rabbit after the dog, my rabbit is very friendly but has got very defensive over food even the dogs food and has once or twice in the last year nipped the dog but has never caused any wounds (scratches or drawn blood).
Honestly i wouldnt leave them unattended even after a year becuase there is nothing to say that one day the dog might attack my rabbit, even though they have been living together happily for at least a year.
i would say give it a go but supervise them, introduce the dog to the rabbits with the cage wire between them and let them get used to each other once the dog ignores them, Get one rabbit out at a time and sit with your rabbit and let the dog come over and just keep an eye on them, after a while i’m sure you’ll know if they will be ok on the floor together.
I would suggest being more carefull with the baby ones.
Good Luck I hope it goes well, i shall be introducing a cat to the mix in a couple of months so i hope the 3 get on well.
References :
i have a rabbit and a maltese