rehoming Oliver

[Oliver21508]

Hiya

We are at the end of our tether with Oliver. If we can't get this bit sorted, we are rehoming him.

When he's with the rabbits, he starts barking at them. I can't just ignore him, so I go in and tell him off, which directs the barking onto me. I can't ignore this either as the barking upsets the rabbits. So I have to catch him and put him into his crate, but he thinks all the chasing is great fun and a game. I don't know what else to do.

I don't know what to do. He's too dominant and strong for us, and I think he'll be better with a stronger family.

[Harveypops]

Do you have pet rabbits?
I trained all the dogs we fostered to ignore the rabbit by walking past the hutch with the lead. I'd do some obedience training by the hutch with lots of favourite treats to keep their attention on me (I found toys got them a bit excited). The moment they start pulling and whining at the rabbit I quickly walked a away from the hutch- end of treats end of play.  They soon got the idea that it was more fun to concentrate on me than the rabbits. I don't know if this is the correct way- but it worked for me.

I'd definitely start by keeping himn calm whilst they're in the hutch first though as if the run away from him whilst in the garden it'll just become a game of chase. 
Hope this helps

[sarah25]

but he thinks all the chasing is great fun and a game. I don't know what else to do.

His a Gundog that what Gundogs do and he sounds like he just wants to play  
His still a puppy and still has plenty of time to be trained you have been working so hard with him it would be a shame if you gave up on Ollie

[Oliver21508]

When I stand next to the rabbits with a treat, he ignores them and concentrates on me, but if I don't have a treat, he goes for the rabbits. (the rabbits are contained in a run).

[Harveypops]

If you have lots of rabbits try just having one in the run at a time-less distractions. It is possible it just does take time. Try not to become disheartened!

[Tasha]

if your struggling and still not able to do this yourself look for someone that has a rabbit pen that can help you, its basic gundog training nothing is shot but it will help you resolve his interest in them, you could also try a behaviourist but please make sure they are registered and able to assist you with this specific problem.

All my dogs are worked on rabbit so they know when to leave and when not to but hare is another thing and much harder to train for but the rabbit pen training really does help.

With the weimaraner pups that I had recently one of them has gone into a home with pet rabbits that live in the house and wonder around freely he had has specific training and at 6 months is now very good with them in the house and knows the difference between pet and hunting rabbits.

Give your pup a chance in some respects he is doing his job, he's telling you that he has found prey and showing you where it is, under normal circumstances he'd be praised for this as its doing the job he was bred for which is putting food on your table.  certainly no reason to rehome a perfectly good dog that is just in need of a little training.

[supergirl]

It would be such a shame to give up now - both my dogs including my previous dog Indie were socialised with my rabbits from the very beginning, it also helped that my rabbits weren't scared of dogs, so didn't run away.

Below is a picture of my previous dog Indie when she was about 4 months getting to know Honey Bunny

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo60/littlebudha/019.jpg

Roly my youngest pup regularly gets into Honey's hutch and nicks her food, never pays her the slightest bit of notice.

[Harveypops]

That is the cutest pic.

[Oliver21508]

I have sent three emails to behaviourists, so I'll see what comes back from that.

[Tasha]

I'm catching up but how old is oliver??

[Oliver21508]

5 months

[Tasha]

ooooo he's a babe but ideal for training and he'll love it if he's keen, I don't work all mine but they all have basic gundog training using dummies (no guns or dead things involved) there are class around for most people locally.

[tiamaria]

Such a shame! Reuben is a nightmare with our cat, every time she goes to come in he chases her, when she does pluck up the courage to come in hes sat on her, and she has nowhere to jump as she cant move. My partner has said it is cruel and to see if we can rehome her (she is very much like a stray cat, who comes in to be fed and have a doze). Hes ripped wallpaper off to get at her when shes sat on the stairs too. Im hoping it gets better as he gets older. 

As for the barking at the guinea pigs, as soon as he starts, i let him see me at the door, then slightly shut it - he does come running back in - so now i just reward him when he looks in the hutch but doesnt bark. Not sure if its the right thing to do?

Hope you get some help. 

[Beth]

To be completely honest, with all the many problems you've posted about, it may be the best thing for him.

[fenn2006]

Please don't give up - he should get there eventually, he is young and everything is so new and exciting to him. 

When I first got my rabbits they were a year old, Fenn  1.5 yr.  At first she was absolutely fascinated and wouldn't leave them alone every time she went into the garden.  She is a gundog and used to bringing rabbits to my OH so I guess them being so near she could not understand why she wasn't supposed to get them for us.  The rabbits, even though used to cats, used to thump about in their hutch and run (she used to run round and round the run ) I really thought I would have to rehome the rabbits.  However over a few weeks, of telling Fenn 'No' and distracting her she now is fine with them, takes no notice of them in the hutch or run, again just sniffs them if they run about in the garden or when they come in the house, which is something at first I never thought would happen.  If she starts getting a little boistersous I again, just say 'No' and she will leave them alone, but the rabbits are now used to her too and just sit there if she comes over and has a sniff.  I don't fully trust Fenn if I'm not about, she probably would be fine, but I just wouldn't take the risk and leave them all together but they can learn to live in harmony and him being a baby you probably have more chance teaching him that, in my opinon, than say older dogs as they sometimes get set in their ways.

She still brings rabbits back for OH but seems to know that Ben and Jerry are off limits .

It does take time, but please stick with it....he should get the message...may take a bit longer because of his age but it can be done....and the novelty will wear off once he knows to leave them be.

I hope it works out x