Ok now why is it Fudge couldn't give a hoot, yet Cookie has gone all obsessive over our pet bunny?
She sits for ages looking at the cage, she can be distracted with a game or food, but then returns back to cage watching.
Should I worry, move bunny, get rid of bunny (sob) or just ignor it?

Angel was just over 2yrs when i inherited a large rex bunny, to be honest i thought she would never leave it alone! I put bunny in a large run and put an empty card board box in as well. Angel spent hours running around the run, the bunny could if she wanted go into the box when she got fed up. I had to do this for weeks. On the whole angel ignores bunny - unless im feeding them - then Angel gets a little of whatever bunny is getting - be it spring greens or a bit off pellet food!

If cookie is just watching and you are sure the rabbits are secure, i wouldn't worry too much. does your rabbit seem anxious?

I have 2 dogs and a very large french lop who all live in the house. Prior to the arrival of Charlie 3.5 weeks ago Jim and Bosley lived together happily in the kitchen and despite having their own bedding frequently shared

Bosley is currently living in the back bedroom whilst Charlie gets used to him and hopefully in time we'll all go back to the kitchen arrangement (can't rush this so it could be a very long time!).

I don't think you need to get rid of the bunny or be too worried if the cage is secure, I'm guessing Cookie is just curious and interested in the cool thing in a cage that smells good (bunny poo is so attractive to dogs!). If your bunny isn't stressed by the dogs presence let the dog sniff the bunny through the cage (presuming it's secure) and hopefully over time she'll accept that the bunny lives there, isn't too exciting and will stop obsessing over it?

I find food distractions and praise when they ignore the bunny works quite well and once they've sniffed to say hi a few times it all becomes way less exciting anyway.

Good luck
Becca

If you can clicker train calm behaviour around the bunny (whilst bunny is in cage) that'd be the way to go

I had this with my chickens (three rescue birds) who are in a little run to keep Mr. Fox at bay.
Moxie did get used to them, and I can now let them out when I am about and she doesn't harm them. They got used to her being around the cage and when they are out they are not spooked by her. I think this helps.
I wouldn't try it with the bunny unless you have got her calm first.
The clicker idea sounds great.

Ceasar had this porblem on his programme with a dog and a bunny. He sat with the rabbit and made sure the dog was ignoring it. When the dog was calm he gave it affection.
Mind you, they didn't show the out takes!

Racer is the same with our chickens. Everytime he's let in the garden, he runs straight down to their run. They stand up to him, but I can't let them out in the garden at the same time.

I'm really hoping he will get bored with them.

I would move bunny or not leave doggie unattended. Without wanting to rake up bad memories for her Daisy&Missy would be able to tell you first hand what can happen but I'm sure you can probably guess.

I should have said that I, too had a bad experience with Moxie and a wild bunny. I think it had mixamatosis, but it was still not a nice experience. I think that with the chickens she came to see that they were part of the family. At first she was very interested, but as I said, I can now let them out with me or OH supervising.

The difference between the wild bunny and the hens is also linked to training. She is now very good on the "No" command. When poor flopsy met its end we had only had Moxie a couple of weeks.


Racer hopefully will get bored in the end. As I said in the earlier post, our hens are not at all spooked by Moxie. Infact, I have seen one giving her a peck when she got a bit close!