Many people I meet ask me what it's like for a lop eared rabbit to be raised with a dog. I usually just tell it to them straight: I don't much mind it. As long as I get my quality one on one time.
My life was pretty golden as far as a lop eared rabbit's life is concerned through May of 2013. Like Kody, I was adopted by Hand One while she was in college. I was the center of attention for the most part and even got to dress up for the occasional Halloween party (as pictured right: I went as Exercise Barbie).
The world was my oyster back in those days. I was set to roam free around the house and had little rules or restrictions. My favorite activities were to chew wires and lounge around the house.
Then we moved around a few times and with each move came more restrictions. I was kept in my crate a lot more and my wiring chewing days were few and far between. I tried to pick up a few more hobbies, but the one I became most passionate about was the guitar. Or rather, LISTENING to the guitar while Hand Two would play it around the house.
While preparing for our more recent move to Boston, however, I became increasingly aware of the the Hands' dialog as it gravitated more towards wanting a dog. They even went to far as to only look for homes that allowed them to own a dog, let alone little old me.
I gave them three very important criteria a dog must have when looking to adopt into a home with lop eared rabbits:
1. The dog must be calm when introduced to new animals (dogs, cats and rabbits alike).
2. A dog that can be raised with rabbits must not be territorial or posessive.
3. Dogs have a tendency to want to chase small creatures. Because of this, the right dog to adopt will be easily trained to obey basic commands such as sit, stay and lay down.
When the big day came and my owners brought home the new addition to the family, I have to admit; they did a pretty good job. Kody was calm and very sensative to my personal space. She didn't make me feel threatened and I never became skittish when she came near me.
And my owners were very conscious of the fact that I needed some "me" time. They still continue to make sure that I get my own time to roam without her around. And more importantly, they make sure they give me one on one attention so that I don't feel left out.
The important thing to remember when getting a new dog while owning a rabbit is to make sure that the dog has a calm disposition. If a dog is not calm and is easily excited by new creatures, then this is not a suitable match for your rabbit.
