Whilst the weather was nice yesterday, I decided to sit in the garden with my dog, (18 month old patterdale, although I've only had her 6 months).  She isn't usually allowed in the garden off the lead due to having 2 rabbits.  Anyway I thought yesterday I would let her into the garden off lead to see how she behaves, as it would be nice to be in the garden with her over the summer.  At first she was wonderful, playful, lying down on the grass generally enjoying herself.  Then she caught sight of my rabbits.  Basically, I live in a detached  house and the rabbits are kept along the side of the house as this gives them quite a big run, which is fenced off by chickenwire.   I made sure they were locked in the hutch so she couldn't see them, but she must have heard them and went beserk.   I told her off, and carried her back inside, and then let her out again, 3 times she went mad, ignoring my commands to leave them alone, and she even managed to force her way past the chickenwire fence straight up to the hutch.  Do you have any advice as to how to stop her from going for them?  Will perserverence help, if I keep letting her out and then telling her off and taking her back indoors each time she tries to get to them.  Or am I to resign myself to the fact that her breeding instinct takes over and this is something that I'm never going to gain control over.

I think trying to get a working-type terrier to even tolerate the presence of its prey is doomed to failure, and will only cause endless stress and unhappiness to you, the dog and the rabbits. :-(

Agree with Jeangenie. Unfortunately this is one of the reasons why Patterdales are not generally suitable as pets imo. My friend's patterdale (almost 15 now) will kill anything he can get hold of, nothing is too big for him to take on (including my Dobermann!).

That's interesting as Bess is a big softie, and when we meet other dogs on her walks, she always lies down in a submissive position, hoping that they will say hello to her.  But regarding the rabbitts, I think you are probably right as it is in her breeding to hunt small animals.  I've had my rabbits for 3 years now, but got Bess as she needed rehoming and I had heard that they make good family pets, and so far she's been wonderful with my 8 yr old son and his friends.  Up until yesterday she didn't know that the rabbits existed as she is only allowed in the garden for 10 mins or so on a chain (at the other end of the garden) and apart from that she is taken for long walks to burn off her energy. 

Hi

Don't give up on your Patterdale.  Yes hunting small furries is her natural instinct but no more so than herding joggers or kids is in a Border Collies instinct. 

The usual techniques used to teach dogs to ignore specific things should be followed.  I am sure that more experienced people will be along shortly but first of all part of my recommendation would be to have her on a lead or a long line.  Start quite a bit away from the rabbits pen and re-directing her attention onto you with food or a toy.  Only when you have her attention should you attempt to move any closer.  It could take a little time but with summer on it's way it would be well worth it.  She may never totally ignore them but she should be able to be close to their pen without causing distress either to herself or the rabbits.  If you can get her interested in chasing a toy you can allow her to express her hunting and killing instinct in a way that is more acceptable to you.  Contrary to popular belief Patterdales are very smart little dogs and soon learn on what side their bread is buttered.

A lady up my road stopped to speak to me today and her Patterdale,who we thought kept wanting to come in my garden to see Stanley, had caught her neighbours cat and killed it outright, the poor cat was 17 years old,,but thinking about it know he must have chased Oliver pusskins that morning when we could not get him out of the garden ..Oh blimey

Sorry to hear that everyone thinks your Bess is a mad rabbit killer. She needs to realise that rabbits are not something to "have" . So longs as you are in the garden with her and she can not bit her way through the wire mesh of the rabbit run I wouldn't worry to much. I do know of stories that a staff torn the screen of a hutch to get to rabbits before but of course no people were there to correct this attitude and the dog just happened to go in the poor persons garden it didn't live there. Her being much smaller that a staff I sure that would not happen just make sure you are there as I said before.
Hiding your bunnies away will bring only more excitement and frustration to her, she needs to see them . To become desensitized from them.
She will at first get very silly,go on attack mode even, but ignore her! she can not hurt your rabbits and I'm sure the rabbits will have to get used to her too.  Ignore her silliness and when shes gets fed up nothing is actually happening, she will come over to you- to tell you all about it I reckon ! play ball with her and give her a treat be as uninterested as you can about the rabbits in her garden! The more you pick her up and take her away the more she will do the attack behaviour. Don't shout at her, as she will see that you joining in the game of "Get the rabbit". Make sure you weight down their run- have a few bricks so she can't accidentally knock it over in her first charge's at the rabbits. The more you seem uninterested about something the more she will get used to them.
You can only recondition her not be be on attack mode, most probably she will eventually just sit and watch them in a fixated way . Its not as if you will ever get them in the garden all free and lying together. I got my BT used to a friends rabbit the first time it was in her front room she held the bunny I held snoops collar and he did sniff then open his jaws but I pulled him back said "A" "A" in a calm voice and let him sniff the rabbit again, it can be done in the end he would follow the rabbit while it hopped around the lounge he would be right on his tail just sniffing it.

Has your girl ever been near a cat as they have the same fur but smell very different?

>no more so than herding joggers or kids is in a Border Collies instinct.

Difference being that a BC is exceptionally highly trainable and the herding/chasing behaviour can usually quite easily be transferred onto a toy. To try to completely quench the instinct of a working type terrier is often met with a case of "the lights are on but nobody's home".

From here: "He does not kill to eat. He does so from some basic instinct which tells him that he must destroy this creature which stands before him. He must, he can do no other, for this is what he was bred for."

Bit dramatic :-D True enough though, in my experience anyway and that of Patterdale owners I've known. I am sure that there must be some that live happily with small furries, though the younger the dog is accustomed to them the greater the chance of success obviously.

Will be interested to hear how you get on kboyle111. You can but try! :-)

> Will be interested to hear how you get on kboyle111. You can but try! :-)

But to be practical I would make your fence to where the bunnies are Patterdale proof, no point in tempting fate.

when I had bunnies my Elkhounds were pretty good about ignoring them, but I wouldn't' have given much for their chances if they were loose!  On the other hand my friends Welsh Springers tried to suck them down their noses through the mesh of the hutches, and just would not leave them alone, keeping up a constant salivating watch on them.

The long line is an excelent way fo controlling the reaction to the situation re the over the top excitement, as you can call away and enforce this, and reward for calm and quiet behaviour.

Patterdales are bred for hunting, if it didn't hunt, I would call it a failed breeding and not true to purpose. I would myself, find somewhere safer for the rabbits, possibly up high in a hutch?

Please keep a very strong fence between your bunnies and your dog. Speaking from experience here when I was 12 I had 6 of my rabbits killed by a neighbours jack russell Woke up at 10pm to rabbits screaming (horrific experience for me and my 8 year old sister) we were too late and the dog had broken into the 3 high bank of hutches mauled 3 and 3 died later of shock. A friend had one of her 2 bunnies killed in similar circumstances last week. I'm sure you would like to spare your son this experience. I can to this day still hear that sound. Training cannot give you a 100% reassurance that your dogs instinct is overridden and your bunnies shouldn't pay the price. JMHO
Angela

>Woke up at 10pm to rabbits screaming

I saw this many years ago as a teenager.  The dog concerned wasn't a terrier, supposedly a retriever, huge, black, long flat coat, looked like a flat coat but more newfie sized.  It jumped 6 fences to get to the rabbits and just killed them in the cage.  I will never forget the screaming, ever :(

Personally I wouldn't even try to desensitise a patterdale to rabbits, you will only lull yourself into a false sense of security, then one day the dog will do what it was bred for :(  With such a strong hunting instinct it's more a matter of when rather than if ;)  In your position I'd rehome the rabbits, could grandparents help out?

In response to Majica ''have a few bricks so she can't accidentally knock it over in her first charge's at the rabbits. The more you seem uninterested about something the more she will get used to them. ''

OMG What about the terrified rabbits???

Of course the area would have to be safe so the rabbits couldn't be got at.  Maybe a little box upside down so they have somewhere to hide to.

The rabbits would be fine they might get a little scared at first but they'll learn and realise too that the dog can't physically get to them ?

The dog is still young enough to train to be OK with the rabbits..

They're all in the same family now.. so its a case of them all going through a rough patch the first couple of times, until there all friends.

We are talking about domesticated pets here are we not ?? 

Patterdales are very trainable if enough effort is put into it.  My Patterdale competed for the first time in a Championship agility class at the weekend and did very well.  I also handle a GSD cross and Border Collies.  Emma, the Patterdale, is by far the easiest dog I have trained as she transfers her terrier fire into an insatiable appetite for work.  She is not a product of failed breeding, in fact I was lucky to get her as her breeder specialises in breeding for working homes.  There are quite a few Patterdales in agility due to the fact that they are trainable and also they are fast.  I used to have a house rabbit that lived in a large pen rather than a hutch and Emma was perfectly safe with him.  I do however agree with the other posters you must ensure that your rabbits are perfectly safe before doing any form of introduction.  Good luck and keep us posted.

Personally I wouldn't even try to desensitise a patterdale to rabbits

Completely agree, rabbits are it's prey and a terrier on top who are very determined little dogs, (it's like trying to tell my hubby he can't have the steak cooking on the barbie :-D ) little or no chance, certainly I would never trust no matter what. Re-homing may well be best advised but if you wish to keep your rabbits you need to make more of a completley secure area for them, I would personally build a brick run around the hutch with a metal bared roof fixed with screws to the brick.

Dogs will dig and chew almost anything to get to a rabbit if so inclined. Brick and thick metal bars are the only things that I would feel secure with against a dog.

I have read all your comments and they have given me something to think about. Before yesterday I would agree with the comments about trying to train her to get used to them.  But have changed my mind since what happened yesterday.  I left Bess in the garden only for about 10 mins on a chain, next thing that happens is I hear a thud, and she had pulled so hard that the metal loop on her collar had straightened out allowing her to run away, and she had pushed her way into the rabbit area and was close to getting one of them.  So I know that I can't even do that with her any more.  Still she is a well walked dog and is more than happy in the house, she is such a cutie and well behaved with people and other dogs.  I had talked to my 9 yr old son about re-homing the rabbits but they were a christmas present for him a few years ago and he was really upset at the idea, and also they were from an animal shelter so I want to continue taking care of them as they are really happy where they are.  I reckon that they only have about 3 yrs or so left to live, and Bess is only 18 months so will have many more years in which to enjoy the garden.  Thanks for your advice.

I reckon that they only have about 3 yrs or so left to live, and Bess is only 18 months so will have many more years in which to enjoy the garden.

Just to say, it isn't unusual these days for rabbits to live for 12 years unless they are giant breeds.

I do agree it is best to keep them totally separate. I don't know a lot about Patterdales, but when a dog has been bred to do something, it would be very difficult indeed to train it NOT to. A simple example: I couldn't imagine ever training a Golden Retriever to NOT retrieve. It's just against their nature. Likewise, I keep birds and I have cats, so I always have to make sure I have a room for the birds which is totally cat free and safe. It's just one of these things to learn to cope with. :) Good luck!

Yes they are domesticated but they still have natural instinct and allowing a dog to barge up to a rabbit contained is cruelty.(prob more so than if the rabbit was free to flee!!)
I wouldn't let my cat harrass my bird and don't allow my dogs to harass my rabbits.
The rabbits and dog don't think 'were all in the same family now we must get along' they are animals, they have no choice in who acquired them and they have a right to live out their lives in peace. not harrassed as it suits their owner.
We all love our dogs but they are dogs, rabbits are rabbits, not people in little furry suits that we can reason with. I think this is the reason that people have so many problems with their dogs. I frequently hear it in the park when a large unruly dog coming flying up to us and owner says 'he is only playing' maybe so but I and my dogs have a right to a peaceful walk. Rant over!
by the way my eldest rabbit died in the winter she was 13! (a record?)
Angela

I don't think it desireable or right to restrict yoru dog to being chained when in the garden.

It should be easy enough to construct safe quarters for the Rabbits that the dog cannot get into.  Buying  small shed might be cheaper and then the door coudo be locked and windows have weldmesh inserts fixed so that they can be kept open for air, and a strong mesh inner door made for extra ventialtion in warm weather

You can never train a cat not to hunt that is the unique thing about cats tame inside but wild as soon as they go outside.

Dogs are very different and can learn that attacking anything is not allowed.
It would not be cruel to let the dog see the rabbits while they are safe in there normal home- rather than holding them on your lap to introduce a dog to them, the rabbit could suddenly jump out of your arms. A dog seeing something run is far more of a harder thing to stop than a rabbit in its cage. The poor rabbit then would be running for its life so far more a stressful situation for a rabbit I'm sure ?
I think it is far more tempting fate to segregate them so the dog never gets to learn that they are part of the family too.

It would only take a silly accident that the dog gets out and sees the rabbits for the first time for all hell to break loose.

Far better to introduce them in a controlled way for the dog to learn.. obviously if the dog was causing too much alarm like being manic for 10 minutes to take the dog calmly and say in a firm voice lie down or sit. That would make them realise how there behaving is wrong for the rabbits. 10 minutes once a week and I'm sure the excitement would finally die down. 

It is far better for the dog to be used to the Rabbits presence, but for them to always be safely out of reach.

You can never train a cat not to hunt that is the unique thing about cats tame inside but wild as soon as they go outside.

Dogs are very different and can learn that attacking anything is not allowed.

I think it would be pretty unfair to try to train away an instinct that has been deliberately bred into a breed for generation after generation........ Better to instead get a breed that doesn't HAVE the instinct you don't want -or make sure the wrong scenarios never happen. I'd never dream of training my Goldens to not retrieve or my Malinois to not guard the house.

I;d never dream of training my Golden to not retrieve or my Malinois to not guard the house.

The trouble here is that what harm is there in letting your dog retrieve a ball.
Or having your dog be a watch dog for your home against strangers

The People that own Bess would like her to run about the garden with the rabbit in a hutch. As she is a family pet and not a working terrier you train your pet how you want them to be .
She might not be trainable, but all dogs have different personalities so its worth a try at least rather than not even going there with her.
I know a shooting guy who brought a supposedly top springer spaniel gun dog to be told he was lazy and would never be a gun dog even after being sent to gun dog school.
How can that be unfair on the dog to not let it follow its natural instinct which in this case is to allow their dog to kill there other pets?

All dogs have certain traits which are inherited but that's what training them is all about. A dog is a dog at the end of the day ?
People and books told me on no uncertain terms I could not have a multi pet house hold or definitely no cats and my dog has been fine.

The trouble here is that what harm is there in letting your dog retrieve a ball.
Or having your dog be a watch dog for your home against strangers

Think you're misunderstanding me -that isn't the point I'm making. The point is it is an awful lot more difficult to train a dog to NOT do something that it has been bred TO do -and certainly with many breed traits, it is so strong in the dog the dog would be unhappy at not being able to express it. They are BORN wanting to do it.

And you'd be surprised at the number of pet owners who hate their Goldens carrying stuff about and don't want it to happen and think they can get a Malinois and train it to not guard the house. :(

Crikey could not understand the harm in letting a dog carry things about and I thought every dog is a natural guard dog ?

Well I think if a dog owner gets cross with their dog doing doggy normal stuff they shouldn't own one?

Just thought that's all the sorts of things you have with owning a dog isn't it?... I could think of much worse traits than that !!

I don't have a Patterdale but I do have a Portuguese Podengo who have been bred specifically to kill rabbits. I also have 2 rabbits (who have no fear of dogs) when I first got the podengo he was obssessed with the rabbits and used to watch them and paw at the hutch, this got him nowhere (the hutch is very secure and he was not allowed unattended in the garden) I have had him 9 months and he is now happy to ignore the rabbits. It would be a different story if I let them out in the garden as he chases rabbits when out but has learnt not to harrass the rabbits in their hutch. I also have 6 rats and 4 guinea pigs who live in cages in the house and he totally ignores these as do the other dogs including the terrier cross.
So it can be done all 4 of my dogs ignore the little animals but with all of them it has taken time. Don't give up but do make sure your rabbits can hide away from the dog looking at them if they get worried.

I think a very important fact to this is that the dog has not been raised with the rabbits from a pup. My girl was raised with rabbits and guinea-pigs never bothered them she would infact lick them, and made no attempt to hurt them, until my mothers pack came over they were then viewed as game by her just the same as them, she would quite happily have chased and shaken them along with the others and would become excited at the fact the other dogs were wishing to get into them and join in the hunt.  A dog is always a dog! It only needs a little reminder of it's own instincts, they never go away.

To a certain extent I could possibly have trusted my girl if she had never had interference from other dogs with the rabbits/guinea-pigs but only due to the fact she was introduced as a little 8 week pup.

An 18 month dog is totally different, it has no, for a better word 'pack' bonding with the rabbits at all.

One of the big differences with your Patterdale compared to some of the other examples mentioned on here is that you did not have the dog from puppyhood but at a year old. It is much easier to teach good behaviour right from the word go than to try and train out an undesirable behaviour. Your dog's behaviour towards the rabbits may well have been learnt in it's previous home, or even encouraged, and that makes it even harder to try and train against a breed trait.

Our rescue terrier had no socialisation at all before we had him and he is such hard work to train - taking on someone else's mistakes is never easy :) He is not the first rescue we have had but it would seem that his breed type coupled with his poor start in life will set us challenges for a long time to come :)

I would not risk an encounter between the rabbits and the dog and any attempts to introduce them to each other, IMHO, would need to be done over a long period of time.

I think a very important fact to this is that the dog has not been raised with the rabbits from a pup.
You were quicker at posting than I was :)

An 18 month dog is totally different, it has no, for a better word 'pack' bonding with the rabbits at all.

VERY true. Malinois are NOT known for being good with cats. People are always amazed at mine with my cats -I've had bitches have cats in the whelping box whilst giving birth, quite happily. But they have been used to cats since young pups.

Then I got a dog back that I'd bred, aged 18 months, he had NOT been used to cats after being sold. He caught one of mine, shook her like a toy, punctured her chest (the hole actually let air into the chest cavity), broke two of her ribs, would have killed her had I not been there to get her off him quickly. I would NEVER trust him around cats again, ever. It's not worth the risk. He's got to live with the fact now that he is only allowed in one part of the house -kitchen and dining room, which we have made cat proof with a strong wire door.  Interestingly he is a LOT happier and SO much more relaxed since he has been kept apart from the cats. Before he was never able to relax, he was staring at the cats all the time. All the other dogs could be asleep, he would stare at the cats for hours. I hardly ever saw him lay down let alone sleep. He never gained any weight and was really stressed out. He's like a different dog now, because the stress element is gone -he can no longer see the cats.

I think that I would buy a shed for the rabbits, or build an enclosed area that your dog could not get in to. Its better to be safe than sorry.

i couldnt get my terriers to leave my rabbit alone, they wont leave the ferrets alone, we used to breed and show canaries and they wouldnt leave them alone either. in fact anything that moves they go for

Don't give up, I had been advised not to get a Patterdale as I have got two cats! However they have been fine and she shows a lot of affection for the cats.

I think it might also have something to do with whether the parents/grandparents were working dogs or pets. We got our Patterdale pup from a lady who had the mother as a pet and the grandparents were also pets. All are great tempered dogs. Crystal is active and a bit fiesty but nothing more than the usual puppy behaviour.

I am sure with persistance you will be able to train you Pat to ignore the rabbits. Good luck and let me know how you get on.

We have had a few scraps in our house but cats stand up against pup!

I have recently taken on a 2 year old patterdale dog, who before coming to me was an only dog, in a "no other animal" house. He was mostly left on his own. This is why he ended up with a new home as his owner was working more and more and was home less and less.
I have 2 cats, which are used to dogs, and have met countless dogs over the years. However it has taken them all a while to settle down. Little Archie just becomes totally transfixed with the cats, and all outside stimuli is totally un effective. So calling him, tugging his collar, treats toys. Nothing will distract him. He does not go for the cats, he just likes to sniff them and be near them. All is fine if the cats are slow to move and allow him to have a sniff. The other day Archie and the cats where even sharing some chicken together. However if the cats move fast, Archie goes nuts and chases them.  I have loads of areas the cats can go to , that Archie can not get to, so they can get away from him. They have calmed down a lot, however if we meet other cats on a walk out he is terrible.

He also likes anything furry like cuddly toys, and destroys them if given the chance.
I admit to being a bit ignorant, and not doing my homework on the breed before I got Archie. I don't know much about his breeding the home I got him off got him as a pup but did not really bother to find out much.

I think any dog can be potentially bad with small animals, I would not trust any breed 100%, although I have seen some very strong bonds between dogs and other animals before.

My dogs are used to cats and they are bred to be a tracking dog so smells are it for them not the snap and part bite of hunting.

Yesterday I heard the quick scuffle of paws when a dog runs out the back door at speed, then what sounded like a squawking bird.

Remember this is four Elkhounds and an Elkhound Husky cross rushing out and not a peep.

Me very suspicious.  Though flip one of them has got a bird.

What do I find my nearly five year old in season bitch with her jaws around the middle of a squawking grey squirrel.

The others are looking on curiously.

I go up to her so she puts it gently on the ground (it's squawking on it's back), but straight away picks it up again before it tries to get away.

So as she was near the back gate I said leave it, so she reluctantly put it down and I shoved a toe under it to get it right way up and it crawled under the gap.

There's me thinking I will have to get gardening gloves and a heavy implement to kill it.  Run round to front door (the other side of back gate, and the Tree Rat has legged it, so would seem that it was as undamaged as it looked.  She didn't have a mark on her either.

Mine have ignored the Squirrels due to my training them not to react, as I have lots of trees that they can use to get around on, but instinct is instinct, and I think one came down onto the four foot partition fence across the garden and that was it quick as a flash she had him.

If this had been one of next doors terriers it would have been dead with one bite, they have in fact killed several rats.

Terriers are bred to hunt and efficiently kill vermin.  This would include historically fox, Rabbit and Rat.  The instinct would be expected to be especially strong in the Patterdale which as far as I am aware is bred for work, not for a Pet.  The reason for it's existence is that the working traits have become dulled in some of the pedigree Terriers.  Those who have created this type of terrier would be most put out that anyone would be trying to breed out the very reason for their being.

Of course they make excellent companions too, but are for the owner who accepts and embraces the whoel package of what it is.

Bravo Brainless, well said.

just out of interest, would you guys who think that a Patterdale as one example should be allowed to 'do' what it is bred to do think the same of a Staffordshire bull terrier for example?
I'm not looking for an argument, but just think that when it comes to some terrier breeds, hunting indeed comes naturally, but some aspects of their temperament is frowned upon.
sorry for hijacking the thread, but I'd really be interested in opinions.. :-)

The task for which a Patterdale was designed is legal, so a 'good' Patterdales (capable of doing the job) are still required.

The task for which the Staffy was originally designed is no longer legal, so it's probably best if this aspect of their character was watered down.

Funnily, today in our little street there was a bit of a comotion as the elderly lady in the house opposite to us(who owns the field across)demanded the blood of a little Border Terrier from the other end of our street because he had been at her chickens again and 2 of them were missing. Now I know this dog and he's brill, just as he should be and has been bred for, a real terror of a terrier who loves to hunt and should really be running around a farm yard somewhere.
Anyway, the owner was dragged from his DIY and tried in vain to find the little guy, who in my opinion, was hiding. 30 mins later he's in our lane looking at me through the kitchen window, his neck is covered in dandylion clocks and greenery and he looks like he's had a great time. Luckily I was able to catch him by sitting near him and then take him home to the waiting and loving arms of his family. They are worried sick as they cannot keep him in and he races all over the fields looking for vermin and fun and they are sure he will be shot soon.
As a working bred dog, he's fantastic and in the right enviroment would be a great boon to a rat laden farmyard, but as a pet who is dressed in a fur coat in the winter and walked quietly around on a lead, he's nothing but trouble.
You have to ask yourself if is he a criminal, or if the hunting trait should be bred out?

Or should everyone take care they buy/take in the dog that is suited to their environment.

If only they would! That would put an end to the frustration of flat-dwelling collies who get a half-hour walk every morning and evening.

EXACTLY!

> Or should everyone take care they buy/take in the dog that is suited to their environment.

Got it in one, or alternatively be willing to provide for suitable/alternative outlet these inbred traits, not expect to be able to suppress them, control and redirect to some extent maybe.

My 10 month old Patterdale was bred from good working stock, and she is "semi" working - i.e she goes to work with my husband every day and has free run of 50 acres (paddocks, gardens, stables, barns and some wooded areas).  She doesn't have a job as such, but is useful at keeping the estate rat free, and as she gets older she may even help to keep the rabbit population down.

Other than that, she is a pet.  I have just cancelled a weekend away at my brothers, as he and his girlfriend have a cat - I had explained a number of times that if we couldn't get a dog sitter (we couldn't), Nell would have to come with us, and that there would have to be measures to keep her and the cat apart.  He dismissed all my concerns, insisted it would all be fine, and that the cat would simply "run away" from her if they "didn't get on".  I assured him Nellie would have no interest in being mates with the cat, and that it wouldn't be running anywhere for long once she saw it.  He also told me that they had just installed a run of brand new chickens in their garden.

I figured we best not take my killer Patterdale, it probably wouldn't help family relations would it!

We have a rabbit and guinea pigs when they are in the hutches the dogs will sniff and lick them as though it is quite normal (always supervised of course). but once we put them into the run then the dogs chase around and bark at them. we also have chickens and at first we had no problems as the chickens would see the dogs off, eventually however the dogs learnt that if they worked together then they could catch a chicken. luckily or possibly cluckily for the chicken I heard the commotion before any damage could be done. we treat our dogs as pets and as such try to train them with regards to other animals but ultimately as proved last night whilst out on a walk the instict is strong and they will hunt, often finding hedgehogs or chasing rabbits whilst out walking or digging for rats (something I have encouraged after finding holes around the chicken run).
we deal with this by restricting them to one area of the garden and only letting them out supervised. this is strictly enforced after one of our previous dogs (GSD/Lab cross) got through the gate and killed two rabbits in the hutch.
The cats that we have are also an issue we have an older cat that stands her ground when the dogs go near and they seem to respect her, on the other hand our younger cat runs and so they give chase.
Both of our dogs are from working stock and perhaps this has heightened that natural instinct but with a few modifications to the way we deal with the other animals we have found them to be very rewarding.

Glen

I have two Patterdales, they are working dogs, and as we live on a smallholding we have had to train them not to kill family pets/livestock.

True it is in their instinct to hunt, but they can be trained out killing family pets, consider that just because your Patty learns not to kill your rabbit doesn't mean it won't kill others... it's more a case of these animals are family, not food! Other animals are game I am affraid!

We don't have rabbits, but heres how we trained ours not to kill our chickens, ducks and geese (which are free range).
Take your Patterdale to the rabbit as many times a day as possible, on her lead, order her to sit near the rabbit, and use whatever command she might understand, such as No, be gentle, leave it etc. When she sits calmly, praise her and reward her. Repeat this often, until she does it automatically (sits calmly).

Next allow her to roam off the lead, close to the rabbits (though preferably when they are contained) and follow the same rules as above, rewarding her when she does as she is told.

If the dog tries to attack or go for the rabbit, tell her off VERY firmly, remove her from the area, and go back to normal training as above later. Keep repeating it, until eventually, the dog will mostly ignore the rabbit or at least sit calmy when near.

I should add, that our poultry is all free range, and we lost quite a few to the dogs before they got the idea, now they sunbathe next to them without batting an eyelid! The point being, you probably don't want to keep replacing your beloved pet rabbits until the dog gets the idea, so you will have to be very consistent in your training, and please, at least, make sure your rabbit run is dog proof! (dog a 1inch wide and 8inch deep trend around the run and bury chicken wire to stop the dog digging underneath).

Good Luck!