My two yr old keeps kicking and hitting the dogs, what can I do?

[MummytoJosh]

Joshua was 2 in September. He is normally a good boy, well, he is now after reading new toddler taming! BUT, he keps kicking and hitting our 2 Jack Russell dogs. They are very good about it, dont bite or growl at him, as yet that is, but we both want this to stop. We have tried shouting, but to no avail. Tried telling him it is naughty but he carries on. We need help please!!

My ds does this occasionally, when he does I stop him and get him to tickle them instead which often leads to play.

I think that's a good idea, Joe. My boys can be a bit excitable around their Nan's cat but she's always been really good about showing them the "right" way to handle him- ie gentle pats and strokes and quiet voices. Seems to have sunk in, though the cat plays it safe and runs like the wind if he sees them coming!

Hi! This is just an idea, please don't take this the wrong way, but when you "discipline" your dogs, do you ever give them a tap with your hand or push them away with your foot? I'm not suggesting for a moment that you abuse your dogs so please don't take offence, but I just remember a friend telling me that she hadn't even realised she used to do it (push the dog away with her foot at the door etc) until she found her dd "copying" her. Of course they don't do it as gently as we grown-ups do, but may see it as a way of imitating a grown-up behaviour.

Apart from that I can only echo what has been suggested, and to show him how to gently pat and cuddle (maybe with a stuffed toy or teddy) and explain animals have feelings like us (although my guess is you've already tried that ). HTH & good luck!

Is he trying to get your attention, if so try ignoring him.
If it really is becoming a problem do you have a naughty chair, corner or room, or give him time-out.
As a mum who is now onto the follow up book "Beyond Toddlerdom", sounds like the terrible twos to me!!!!

My dd (2) tried this with our two cats - I told her that she had frightened them, they were upset and scared now and she must be gentle if she wanted them to love her, seems to have done the trick ! I also held her hand and showed her how to stroke their "lovely soft fur" which you can't feel if you bash them, and she liked that a lot.

I remember in that Robert Winston programme they said that little ones - even as old as 6 or 7 couldn't distinguish between living and non-living animals, so encouraging gentleness with teddies should also help.

Mine doesn't seem to know how hard she is hitting either !

Mollipops has a point - my ds regularly screams at our cats "get off the table". Have no idea where he gets it from.