rabbit and dog?

Question
Hello, it's my birthday soon, and I've been begging Mum and Dad to let me have a pet rabbit. However, they continually say no, and believe that, because we already have a pet dog (and cat), the rabbit might panic and die, or not get along with the dog. We have a very small border-collie cross kelpie, and she is always very friendly, even to small children. I thought that if we get the rabbit at a very young age, and gradually introduce it to the dog, that they would get along. What do you think? Cos I really want to get a pet rabbit!
Thanks for your help!

Answer
Hi Gemma,

well, the problem is that the dog and cat have to get along with the rabbit.  If one of them doesn't, it will cause problems.  Potentially fatal problems.

The saliva of cats is very dangerous to rabbits.  A bite or a scratch from claws (licked therefore saliva on claws) will cause infections in rabbits.  It is designed to do this.

Bottom line, it depends on your dog, your cat and the particular rabbit's personalities.  It is possible that it can work.  The cat must not be an outdoor cat or a cat that chases small animals, or has displayed a tendency to do so.  The dog MUST absolutely be trained to obey voice commands and obey them extremely well.  All it takes is a second.

Technically it can work.  My gut feeling however, is that you are a younger person with two animals to already look after, and now you want to mix a prey animal in with two predator animals.  I think this is too much for you to handle right now, and I would definitely say this is not the ideal environment to place a rabbit in, especially a young rabbit.

Sorry that this may not be the answer you want to hear.  I think you should wait to get a rabbit.  You really need to have your first rabbit I believe, on its own, so that you learn what a rabbit is all about without having predator animals around it.  Your first rabbit deserves an owner that can learn from him/her.  I can't explain it much clearer, butyou will know what I mean when the time is better.

Others may not agree, but you asked me, and that's my gut feel about it.  I think once you are an experienced rabbit owner, then you can go on to more advanced things as having a rabbit with a dog or cat.  Lee