What should I do if my dog finds a baby rabbit?

According to Nancy Campbell, a registered Veterinary Technician: You should just leave it! If you or your dog happens to touch one of the baby bunnies, it’s okay. Rarely. It’s best to leave rabbits in their natural environment, and let nature play its course.

How do I stop my dog from hunting rabbits?

Distract him with the ‘look’ command, then reward him. Keeping the same distance from the rabbit, step to a new spot, and again get the dog’s attention. Reward him and then step away from the rabbit and give the dog lots of praise. The aim is to break the link between rabbits and chasing, and instead focus on you.

What happens if a dog kills a rabbit?

You shouldn’t punish him since his instincts caused him to kill the bunny. Make sure to have your vet check for internal parasites at your next visit. Rabbits are normal prey for dogs, ingestion should not cause any issues otherwise. If your dog ate a rabbit, in most cases there should be nothing to worry about.

Can my dog get sick from killing a baby rabbit?

Tularemia is a bacterial disease caused by Francisella tularensis and is often referred to as rabbit fever. Tularemia is an uncommon infection in dogs, but dogs can be exposed if they kill or eat an infected rabbit or rodent or through insect bites.

Why does my dog keep killing bunnies?

If your dog kills a baby rabbit, it’s because its hunting instinct is strong and it’s merely giving in to its natural behavior. While unpleasant and relatively uncommon in pets, it’s quite normal for dogs to eat baby rabbits.

How do I get my dog to stop barking at rabbits?

Exercise your dog so that he is tired and ready for quiet time. Expose your dog to your rabbit while your rabbit is in the cage on the floor. Praise calm behavior, correct aggressive or excited behavior. Once your dog is calm around your rabbit in the cage, have your dog lie down next to the cage door on his side.