Browse ›
A black and white Boston Terrier sits on grass facing a small brown rabbit with upright ears. 12 / 35

Two Neighbors Met on the Lawn. Neither One Moved a Muscle.

AI imageboston terrierrabbitbackyard lawn

The grass is still bright and short in the backyard, and two new acquaintances are sizing each other up. A black and white Boston Terrier sits with his front paws neatly together, ears perked and head tilted slightly. A few feet away, Clover the little brown rabbit sits upright with her own ears straight up and her whiskers working. Neither one moves. A wooden fence and a few leafy bushes frame the scene.

First meetings between a dog and a rabbit go best when they are calm and slow. Keep the dog on a leash or a safe distance away at first, let the rabbit sit where she feels secure, and reward the dog for staying relaxed. Rabbits are prey animals, so a dog that stares or lunges may frighten her badly, even if the dog is only curious. Boston Terriers are generally friendly, affectionate dogs with a lot of personality, which can help, but every dog is different. Short, supervised visits are better than long ones. If you are planning an introduction, your vet can give you tips for your own pets.

This moment captures the quiet before a friendship, when each one is deciding what to make of the other. The Boston looks like he is trying to be polite. Clover looks like she is making a mental note. There is no rush, and the lawn has plenty of room. By the time the sun moves a little across the grass, they might have worked out a way to share it.

More from this collection

All 35 →
A black and white mixed-breed dog looks toward a small brown rabbit sitting on a sunny windowsill.A Rescue Dog Turned Slowly Toward the Little Rabbit on the SillA black and tan German Shepherd leans toward a small brown rabbit beside a wooden farm fence in warm evening light.The German Shepherd Walked the Fence. A Small Rabbit Fell In Step.
A chocolate brown Chihuahua sleeps curled against a small brown rabbit in a wicker basket of warm towels.Somebody Left a Basket of Warm Towels. Two Sleepers Moved Right In.A blue and tan Yorkshire Terrier sleeps on a knitted blanket beside a small brown rabbit in front of a wood stove.The Fire Burned Low, and a Tiny Yorkie Fell Asleep on CloverA Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sits in a pile of orange autumn leaves facing a small brown rabbit.The Spaniel Sat in the Leaf Pile. Clover Hopped Right Into It.A red and white Beagle lies on a wooden floor beside a small brown rabbit in a patch of sunlight.The Beagle Followed the Sunbeam Across the Floor. So Did a Bunny.