Introducing new pup to our rabbit? Suggestions?

[i-need-a-martini]

We are about to get a new pup. She is a 9 months old (failed show dog)  Bassett Hound with what seems a very placid temperment.

But we will need to get her used to our rabbit.

Bassetts aren't a rabbit eating variety but given our previous experience with Bassetts suspect it will take a while before she gets used to seeing a white fluffy thing running around every where without barking like mad.

The rabbit is an inside pet and the Bassett will be an outside dog so we COULD keep them separated although not sure how long we can keep that up for. But I'd rather they became friends anyway.

Anyone experienced with rabbit/dog meetings?

[gleee58]

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

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@*lady*godiva* wrote:

I was just reading about rabbits.

OK, I was wondering if they could be house trained or if they just hopped around pooing everywhere.

I found this link about bonding rabbits with other rabbits, but I think some of it might be able to be applied to other pets too.

http://rabbit.org/faq-bonding-multiple-rabbits/

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Thanks for this. There are some good tips there.

Rabbits are like cats - they poo in a kitty litter. Ours didn't have to be trained so it must be instinctive.

On saying that he does pop them out when he gets excited or even when he is relaxed. Luckily they are hard little pellets so can be scooped up and thrown away. Sometimes he goes back and eats them but that's anothet story.

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They eat some of the poops because they don't digest all the nutrients first cycle or something like that. They only eat the dry pale looking ones afaik.

Question: Is My Rabbit Supposed to Eat His Feces?

Answer: Yes - well some of them anyway. Rabbits produce 2 types of feces, the harder pelleted feces normally found in a rabbit cage, and the soft, greenish, mucous covered feces. These softer feces are actually called cecotropes. The cecotropes usually won't be found in the cage, as the rabbit normally eats these as they are produced. As gross as it sounds, cecotropes are quite nutritious being high in some vitamins, etc. In fact, the production of cecotropes is a very important and significant part of the digestive sytem function of rabbits. Proper function of the digestive system (and a proper diet) will ensure that rabbits get optimal nutrition from their diet and the production of these cecotropes.