I have always been a firm believer that multiple species can co-exist in peace. Animals, like people have the ability to adapt and form bonds and friendships with others. This is what allows them to bond with us and us with them.
I have a rule in my home, that every person or animal that is introduced in my home as Friend or Family shall not be met with aggression. I am the leader among the four legged children of my house and they follow my rules. Not because I bully them, abuse them or command them; but because they respect me and want to please me. I provide them with safety, food, shelter and companionship: in return they provide my family with companionship and love.
With great care, patience and persistance most animals can be taught to co-exist. Our boxer Laila came to us from a situation where she was not socialized nor had she been very well cared for. We soon found out that she thought everything smaller than her was on the menu from chickens, cats to rabbits. On her second day living with us she broke into one of our outdoor rabbit hutches and killed one of my favorite rabbits. I did not beat her as that would have only taught her to fear me- she did what came naturally to her. The incident was very upsetting to me and the behavior was completely unacceptable. After that I decided to take advantage of her natural motherly instinct and her desire to protect. We very carefully introduced her to each of our rabbits (through a dog crate) until she only showed interest. Laila is a stubborn girl and has a naturally high prey drive, it has taken several years to reach the point we are at now. She is the guardian of all that is introduced to her as a "baby". She is possesive of our cats and they know no harm will come to them in her presence (she will of course chase them a short distance from time to time- just because and the cats have learned if they don't run away she won't chase.
Our chickens free range during the day and they now have nothing to fear of Laila as she has taken them under her protection. Our rabbits can climb on her and hop and play in the same room as her and she simply observes and occasionally gives them a complete and thorough bath. But part of being responsible for the animals under your care is to acknowledge what each of them is: Laila is a dog. She can not be expected to be anything other. In knowing this I never leave her unsupervised with any un-caged rabbit. Rabbits are a prey animal and it is natural for a dog- even a well trained one- to occasionally have their instincts overcome training. Because of this basic understanding we have not had any harm come from one of our animals to another of our animals in many years.
We all serve a purpose in life, even if we do not yet know that purpose. Each of our animals also serves a purpose and has a place in both our home and our hearts. I take the responsibility of owning an animal very seriously and I expect those who get an animal from us to do the same.
I have a rule in my home, that every person or animal that is introduced in my home as Friend or Family shall not be met with aggression. I am the leader among the four legged children of my house and they follow my rules. Not because I bully them, abuse them or command them; but because they respect me and want to please me. I provide them with safety, food, shelter and companionship: in return they provide my family with companionship and love.
With great care, patience and persistance most animals can be taught to co-exist. Our boxer Laila came to us from a situation where she was not socialized nor had she been very well cared for. We soon found out that she thought everything smaller than her was on the menu from chickens, cats to rabbits. On her second day living with us she broke into one of our outdoor rabbit hutches and killed one of my favorite rabbits. I did not beat her as that would have only taught her to fear me- she did what came naturally to her. The incident was very upsetting to me and the behavior was completely unacceptable. After that I decided to take advantage of her natural motherly instinct and her desire to protect. We very carefully introduced her to each of our rabbits (through a dog crate) until she only showed interest. Laila is a stubborn girl and has a naturally high prey drive, it has taken several years to reach the point we are at now. She is the guardian of all that is introduced to her as a "baby". She is possesive of our cats and they know no harm will come to them in her presence (she will of course chase them a short distance from time to time- just because and the cats have learned if they don't run away she won't chase.
Our chickens free range during the day and they now have nothing to fear of Laila as she has taken them under her protection. Our rabbits can climb on her and hop and play in the same room as her and she simply observes and occasionally gives them a complete and thorough bath. But part of being responsible for the animals under your care is to acknowledge what each of them is: Laila is a dog. She can not be expected to be anything other. In knowing this I never leave her unsupervised with any un-caged rabbit. Rabbits are a prey animal and it is natural for a dog- even a well trained one- to occasionally have their instincts overcome training. Because of this basic understanding we have not had any harm come from one of our animals to another of our animals in many years.
We all serve a purpose in life, even if we do not yet know that purpose. Each of our animals also serves a purpose and has a place in both our home and our hearts. I take the responsibility of owning an animal very seriously and I expect those who get an animal from us to do the same.
