dog made a deal with the rabbits
When Maddie was young she loved to chase small game like squirrels and rabbits. It was always a chasing game for her.
As she got older and her HD got worse the chase became much harder for her. So, she made a deal with the rabbits. She pretends to chase them and they pretend to run. It was really amusing to watch. She would take several quick steps towards them with her head down and eyes focussed. The rabbits would hop a few times to the edge of the yard. Then both Maddie and the rabbits went about their respective businesses while ignoring each other. Both parties understood the terms of the deal that was struck.
Those same rabbits run like heck when the neighbor's standard Poodle shows up. He chases for keeps. I once saw him gobble down a baby rabbit he caught right in front of me.