My son is 2 years old and a rather well behaved child except when it comes to the family pets. We have two dogs and we cannot have them in the house when our son is awake because he is so mean to them (pinching, pulling ears, etc...). Any advice?
That's tough. Maybe it would help, if you would start by having your son help put food/water out for the dog or other doggy tasks. Slowly starting bringing the dogs in. Give a lot of positive re-inforcement for good behavior with the dog. It's probably a bit over whelming with two dogs (I have two dogs and an 11 month old boy). Just takes time and a lot of patients! Good Luck!
Make it very clear that his behaviour is not okay, the first sign of ear pulling or pinching put him right into time out or whatever means of discipline you use. And if all else fails and you have nothing else to try you could always use the "bite Back" method, you not the dogs.
Unfortunately for them, pets are the very best way to teach kindness to animals. I went to school in Early Childhood Education with my emphasis on infants and toddlers. They talked a lot about how great pets are for that. You just have to stay right on top of him when they are inside and help him practice petting the nice way and such. Also, when he does sneak past you and hurt the dog, help him "fi" the problem by apologiing and helping her feel better and finding a nice toy for the dog. That helps them move past that stage faster. Remember, if you teach a hurt for a hurt with a toddler, it is very confusing for them. It will take longer for him to "get it". Even if he does stop right away in fear of being hurt, he won't understand the base and will not have that foundation of kindness towards animals for the rest of his life. Good luck!
What are you doing to teach your son this is not how to treat an animal? Don't just make you pets stay outside when he is awake because that is punishment to the animal and not to the child. Exspecially if they were indoor pets before the child came along. I like the advice that said if the child pinches or pulls the dogs ears, do it back.
With my little one, now 3, I try very hard to help him see that if he doesn't like to be pulled on, or pinched, or yelled at or scared, others won't like it either. Any time he's caught, he gets a time out. Now, he really hates losing his playtime. So, after his timeout, I have told him something like, "Do you like to be hit/pulled/scared? (No) How does that make you feel? (sad) Then don't do it to (Fluffy). When you do what happens? (I don't get to play)."
Or, something like that. Sometimes I just take away something he really enjoys.
Sometimes it works. Sometimes he's after the animal whenever she's around.
He's also made the connection with Max in the book "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. Max got sent to his room without supper because he was being mean and chasing the dog (not explained in words, but you can see it in the picture).
Hope this helps!
