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A black and white mixed-breed dog sitting outside a barn door while a small brown bunny peeks out from inside. 5 / 23

The Rescue Dog Waited Patiently While Something Peeked From the Barn

AI imagerescue dogbunnybarn door

The barn door hangs open just enough for a small visitor to look out. Seated in the grass in front of it is a black mixed-breed dog with a white chest and a green collar, gazing at the opening with calm brown eyes, and from the shadows inside a little brown bunny is peering back with its ears pricked. Weathered gray boards, a leaning fence post and a few pots of flowers fill in the rest of the yard.

Mixed-breed rescue dogs come in every shape and temperament. Many are gentle and grateful, and some are surprisingly good at being calm around small animals. It helps to learn a rescue dog's history and habits before introducing him to a rabbit, and to take it slowly. A sitting, relaxed dog like this one is showing exactly the sort of calm behavior you want to see.

A barn can be a safe, quiet hiding spot for a rabbit, but it also has hazards like loose nails, tools and gaps where small animals might get stuck. Make sure the floor is clear and there are no open gaps, and give the rabbit a covered hiding spot she can use when she feels uneasy.

The dog is not moving, and the bunny is not hiding. For now, it looks like the start of a very polite friendship.

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