[devotchkas]

We THINK that a rabbit had babies under our deck.. The other day my parents heard my dog digging and thought she found a toy because it was soft and 'squeaking' until she came and tried to play with it with us..she had killed a baby bunny. We were disgusted and didn't know what to do but we did not want her sleeping with us that night after it had happened so she slept in her kennel (which she has never had to do before). We've been keeping a close eye on her whenever we let her out and this morning she was digging next to the deck again but we put her inside before something else could happen. What should we do about this? We don't want to punish her because she doesn't know any better but it needs to stop.. We're also scared that the mommy rabbit might go after our little dog.

[Yogi]

What have you done to remove the rabbit and the bunnies? What breed of dog is this? You cannot blame the dog if in fact it may not have killed the bunny intentionally. Some pups play rough and not know they are harming an animal.
You need to gather the Rabbit and bunnies and put them in a safer place.

[devotchkas]

My dog is a shitzu yorkie. Where can we put them though?

[Yogi]

Yorkie's are terriers which is normal behavior. Try to locate a place in the yard out of the yard where the dog cannot get the rabbits and put them there.

[reeskujo]

My husky killed her first bunny when she was 6mths old...They used to run through our yard all the time....I myself was pretty upset but I didn't get mad or disgusted with her because with a lot of breeds that's simply their natural instinct...

When she was 2yr.s old she found four abandoned baby racoons...Hubby and I took them all and put them in a box with a nice warm blanket and then found a local wild life rescues that took all four of them....That may be something you can look into...

also remember that if she's never slept in her crate over night before and she did on that night that first of all if she wasn't placed in her crate until sometime after she got the rabbit she has no idea why she was in there and at the most all it did was confuse her and secondly they should never be placed in their crates as a form of punishment as that is supposed to be their safe place..

[Todd]

This is normal for dogs, especially high prey driven or playful dogs. I agree with removing the rabbits nest to a safe place the dog can't get to. Do the baby rabbits have fur? If not dont tough their skin because I believe the mother may leave them if you do so. If they have fur don't worry too much. Wear gloves to be safe either way. Don't punish the dog. As I said it's natural. NEVER use the dog's kennel or crate as punichment. you don't want him to associate the crate with negativity or punishment.

[lil mutt]

Dogs still have wild and hunting instincts and you can't blame you pup doing it. Just from now on avoid any animals especially weak and baby animals on from your dog's access.

[Cassie'sPet]

Originally Posted by reeskujo

also remember that if she's never slept in her crate over night before and she did on that night that first of all if she wasn't placed in her crate until sometime after she got the rabbit she has no idea why she was in there and at the most all it did was confuse her and secondly they should never be placed in their crates as a form of punishment as that is supposed to be their safe place..

Yeah this. Rupert considers his crate his safe place to go when he needs a time out for himself.......Cassie goes upstairs into our bedroom for her space where our girls are not allowed.

I am a firm believer that dogs are domesticated wolves, in part, and even my Cassie who is as gentle as a breeze would never pass up the opp to chase the resident bunnies in the big park next door where she runs. The rabbits have nothing to worry about but she has fun and it's in her nature. I agree with rehoming your rabbit family.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Cassie'sPet

Yeah this. Rupert considers his crate his safe place to go when he needs a time out for himself.......Cassie goes upstairs into our bedroom for her space where our girls are not allowed.

I am a firm believer that dogs are domesticated wolves, in part, and even my Cassie who is as gentle as a breeze would never pass up the opp to chase the resident bunnies in the big park next door where she runs. The rabbits have nothing to worry about but she has fun and it's in her nature. I agree with rehoming your rabbit family.

I am with you as far as the wolves go.