Fixation

Msmart · 12-18-2011, 01:03 AM

Hello,
I just joined this forum with the main purpose of asking this question (however I found a lot of good information here). Here is the back story. I have a 11m old gs puppy a 1 year old English lab and a 13 week old English mastiff ( all get along fine) however yeasterday I bought my daughter a rabbit for Christmas and my gs seems to be fixating on her even when she is in the cage. All she seems to do is pace and cry. She gets her exercise as well as training sessions with me throughout the day. In the past she has been amazing with the training but since yesterday all she seems to want to do is be inside with the rabbit. Any suggestions or useful information will be greatly appreciated thank you.

Courtney · 12-18-2011, 09:26 AM

Welcome

I would put the rabbit in a area away from the dogs. I have had rabbits before (not while owing a dog) and they can get spooked in their cages pretty quick and start flipping all around...that will cause your dogs to really be interested then.

If you get to the point where the dogs don't fixate on the rabbit don't ever leave the rabbit out of the cage around the dogs.

Good luck..I'm sure other will chime in.

Msmart · 12-18-2011, 10:20 AM

Thank you for your response. I think that's what were going to do today. Can't be good for the dog to constantly be worked up like this. Thanks again.

**DFrost** · 12-18-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Msmart

Hello,
I bought my daughter a rabbit for Christmas and my gs seems to be fixating on her even when she is in the cage. All she seems to do is pace and cry. .

Prey driven animal and prey. hmm imagine that. Like a cat, it can be worked out, but take it slow. The dog just needs to realize that "prey" is just part of the package and off the table, so to speak.

msvette2u · 12-18-2011, 11:37 AM

We have dachshunds and I'd never get an indoor rabbit. It would be toast within a day.
We did have a ferret and our last gsd was afraid of her after she bit his nose!

Msmart · 12-18-2011, 11:42 AM

She seems to be a little better today. Still focused on the rabbit but not so much fixated. Thanks everyone for the useful information.

pets4life · 12-18-2011, 02:04 PM

should be easy with your mastiff and maybe your lab give it time with your gsd hopefully it will work out just make sure the rabbit is not stressed when they thump their feet they are scared as ****

problem with rabbits and other small animals unlike cats they have trouble putting a dog in its place when its being bad they might just panic and run while a tempermantal cat will just start smacking the dog and remind it that it is not a toy lol Rabbits are very delicate creatures i use to keep a bunch.

catz · 12-18-2011, 06:47 PM

I have rats, hamsters and a ferret in our sitting room and we had to teach our GSD Rio a good "Leave it" before she would keep her nose away from the cages. We kept her on a leash in the room so we could move her away from the cage when asked and gave her lots of treats and toys when she lay next to us. It didnt take her long to get the idea and now she ignores the fuzzies completely.

12-18-2011, 01:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
Msmart Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Cape cod Mass Posts: 108	Fixation Hello, I just joined this forum with the main purpose of asking this question (however I found a lot of good information here). Here is the back story. I have a 11m old gs puppy a 1 year old English lab and a 13 week old English mastiff ( all get along fine) however yeasterday I bought my daughter a rabbit for Christmas and my gs seems to be fixating on her even when she is in the cage. All she seems to do is pace and cry. She gets her exercise as well as training sessions with me throughout the day. In the past she has been amazing with the training but since yesterday all she seems to want to do is be inside with the rabbit. Any suggestions or useful information will be greatly appreciated thank you.

12-18-2011, 09:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
Courtney Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,922	Welcome I would put the rabbit in a area away from the dogs. I have had rabbits before (not while owing a dog) and they can get spooked in their cages pretty quick and start flipping all around...that will cause your dogs to really be interested then. If you get to the point where the dogs don't fixate on the rabbit don't ever leave the rabbit out of the cage around the dogs. Good luck..I'm sure other will chime in.

12-18-2011, 10:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
Msmart Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Cape cod Mass Posts: 108	Thank you for your response. I think that's what were going to do today. Can't be good for the dog to constantly be worked up like this. Thanks again.

12-18-2011, 11:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,530	We have dachshunds and I'd never get an indoor rabbit. It would be toast within a day. We did have a ferret and our last gsd was afraid of her after she bit his nose!

12-18-2011, 11:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
Msmart Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Cape cod Mass Posts: 108	She seems to be a little better today. Still focused on the rabbit but not so much fixated. Thanks everyone for the useful information.

12-18-2011, 02:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
pets4life Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 465	should be easy with your mastiff and maybe your lab give it time with your gsd hopefully it will work out just make sure the rabbit is not stressed when they thump their feet they are scared as **** problem with rabbits and other small animals unlike cats they have trouble putting a dog in its place when its being bad they might just panic and run while a tempermantal cat will just start smacking the dog and remind it that it is not a toy lol Rabbits are very delicate creatures i use to keep a bunch.

12-18-2011, 06:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
catz Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ireland, Kilkenny Posts: 444	I have rats, hamsters and a ferret in our sitting room and we had to teach our GSD Rio a good "Leave it" before she would keep her nose away from the cages. We kept her on a leash in the room so we could move her away from the cage when asked and gave her lots of treats and toys when she lay next to us. It didnt take her long to get the idea and now she ignores the fuzzies completely.

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