Dog breads

You will find it difficult to find a dog that will accept a rabbit as it totally depends on the temperament of the individual. For example: my spaniel has no prey drive and is soft as muck and accepting with any animal. My chihuahua on the other hand cannot be trusted and chases anything with a pulse.

@Cheryl the rabbit will be in a cage that is the correct size for a rabbit so it won’t be completely freerome but will have a big enough cage so I just need a dog that won’t try and get her though the cage

I'd honestly wait until you're completely settled into your new place before making any decisions. Perhaps a large run for your rabbit so it can still roam but not be confined to a cage? Golden retrievers & Labradors make good family dogs.. Most dogs will chase small furrys regardless of the Breed you will have to train it.

Can’t advise on breed but I will recommend crate training the dog and separating the dog and rabbit when you aren’t home so the dog cannot get at the rabbit cage xx

Bulldogs don’t require much walking and are fantastic when raised with children. Please do make sure you do your research with this breed though and choose an ethical breeder to avoid overbreeding as some can have various health complications if not bred correctly!

@Charlotte yeah once I decide on a bread I will be checking rescues first and doing my research but I’m not really a fan on flat faced dogs

Can't go wrong with a golden retriever. Lovely temperament. Mine is so tolerant and gentle with my little girl. They'll be as lazy or active as you want them to be.

@Rhiannon I was thinking about a golden but then if they say I’m not allowed a big dog I don’t know what else I could look for

If you are going through a rescue, then they can match you with the right dog that can potentially live with small furries. Most bigger rescues do have restrictions on the age of children in the family and will probably require both to be a bit older before they will consider you for adoption (they have minimum age restriction for safety reasons as big or lively dogs can knock children over unintentionally or puppies are mouthy and bitey at certain stages and can cause injury or freighten young children) or if you look for a smaller rescue they may be more accommodating.

If you’re looking for a smaller dog I would consider a cavalier, they’re very gentle. Or possibly a small poodle or Bichon but you must be aware of the amount of grooming and the cost involved with those breeds (coming from a dog groomer!) Obviously avoid terriers with a rabbit around.

I would recommend going through your local charity/removing centre. They test dogs in all different situations and will know if they can live with kids and other animals. I live of breeds were originally hunting dogs for smaller breeds for mice and rats. But also dependant on your life style, will you have the time to a high energy breed or will you need something slower more of a lap dog, but lap dogs can be more anxious and need a quieter home life. Other things to consider are also how much you are willing to commit to grooming at home or take on the cost of grooming. That could determine whether you get long or short haired breeds.

(Part 1). The thing is, breed can be relevant to some extent but it's mainly about temperament. I have had bully breeds all my life, particularly staffies. Currently have an olde tyme english bulldogge (built more like a chunky staffie). We have 4 cats, a 10 year old and a 5 week old baby. We have a bearded dragon and a snake. My staffie recently passed at 13 years of age and was incredible with E V E R Y T H I N G. The cats, a rabbit we had, the lizard, the snake, pet rats, you name it. She was also incredible with any kid and any dog. My olde tyme is male, we got him at 10 months old, he tries to play with the cats but never hunts them. He would ignore the rabbit.. but he doesn't quite understand the concept of the lizard as has tried to mouth him before 🤦‍♀️ he's a clumsy big idiot but also really good with kids, loves them. Because you raise them around what you want them to be around. My dogs are also raw fed, which people have opinions about but 🤷‍♀️ doesn't make them anymore pray driven.

I have a Labrador and she is amazing with my nearly 8 month old LG! She is gentle and her temperament is amazing too! Shes not a very big lab either! Xx

(Part 2) My nan has a chihuahua/westie cross who we can't trust around anything because she's snappy. She's dominant and can be unpredictable. My mother in law has a Cockerpoo, snappy with other dogs, bit jumpy with children/people and chases cats (not been raised around them). If you rescue a young pup (ours was 10 months old when we fully took him on) and put in the work. You will be absolutely fine no matter the breed. Smaller terrier type dogs do seem to be more pray driven though, as they have been used for ratting (Jack Russell's etc). Here's a picture of our girl with the bunny and I'll attach of her with the cats too!

I have a cocker spaniel, he’s wild but amazing with my son. They’re the perfect family dog really. I would also consider cavalier King Charles spaniels as they’re truly the best dogs out there, super smart and loving. I grew up with them and owned two up until recently when they passed. I’m on the wait list for another as want a companion for my cocker xx

Cavaliers are spaniels so they have a scent drive....But there are some who are very laid back too

@annette you could say that about any dog though, we have always had cavaliers with cats in the house - I’ve had 5 now and not one has been interested in small animals, they just wanna sleep and that’s it 😂🤣 my cocker on the other hand, wild … maybe not the best breed with a rabbit as he loves to chase my cat around the house! X

I have a few friends with Cavaliers, one that’s had several, but so far a couple of the dogs are the type that go after critters. So probably just a small percentage.

I have an English bulldog and she adores my little boy x

Working in a vets I've found a wide range of temperaments across the same breed. For example I have a rescue dachshund , not prey driven and very quiet. The same can't be said for so many I see. Cavaliers like others have suggested - never met a "nasty" one and make lovely pets but unfortunately they suffer with heart conditions 💔. I would say if you're thinking getting a pedigree do your research of what health problems are common with the breed. Also worth looking into insurance cost - different breeds cost different amounts. Regardless, any dog and breed needs alot of time etc to train and settle

If you are happy to wait I would strongly recommend going to Crufts and visiting the Discover Dogs stands. You will get to meet lots of breeds and ask as many questions as you want to their owners. You might find something that you would never have considered otherwise ☺️