Help please! 15 month old repeatedly hurting pets!

[mummatoJ]

I have a 15 month old (first child) and a dog and a cat. Both pets are very tolerant, and from day one we have always tried to stop the LO climbing on/pulling/pinching the pets.

HOWEVER, from time to time we she will place her cheek against them and say 'cuddle' - we allow this and praise her for being gentle. But 90% of the time she will run to them, grab a chunk of fur and pull. We are very fortunate our pets do not retaliate (and i have worked with aggression in dogs so i know all trigger signs) but this is clearly not acceptable.

I am fine with working with the pets to minimise damage/stress/risk, but need help with the toddler! How do i stop her???

I have tried - demonstrating 'stroke' everytime we see the pets (cat ususally out, lurcher usually in bed!) and she will copy. I have tried a positive redirect to another toy but this doesn't stop the initial try to grab. I have tried saying no firmly and removing from situation then engage in something else. I have tried a smack on the hand (only a couple of times, i hate myself for it and it makes no difference to her, but id rather a smack from me than being clawed by the cat).
I feel like ive tried everything - she will sometimes actively seek them to grab and pull fur.

Maybe its an attention seeking thing? Even being told off only results in giggles and seemingly no difference made to her behaviour

thanks if you read this far!!! id rather not shut dog out of room but that might be my only option until she is old enough to understand concepts like Time Out etc

:)

It isn't attention seeking, she isn't capable of that kind of thought nor is she understanding of being told off (and 'time out' won't be meaningful for years yet). Oh and they don't have any impulse control either

All you can do is keep them separate and supervise contact.

It does get better, DS and small dog have a very loving relationship now, mostly at 2.2 but I still always keep an eye.

ok thank you. Im glad you said that. lots of people have recommend telling her off, and it is my first instinct, but i do feel bad about doing it. i will just give dog lots of enrichement while he is seperated x

There's no point telling her off, she just isn't capable of making the link!

My two are now pretty good at removing themselves when they've had enough (or they and DS gang up on the adults)