Advice please - terrier dog and toddler

[FireOverBabylon]

My mum is getting divorced and will be moving in with us in about 6 weeks' time. She'll eventually be moving on to her own house but there's nothing decent for sale in our village in her price bracket at present, so she could be with us for a few months. She's getting custody of their dog in the divorce - a rescue Jack Russell / Corgi cross.

The dog has been to visit us before, for a few days at a time. She's quiet and docile, and we've taught DS to stroke her gently with the back of his hand, leave her alone when she's eating and to stand still and crouch down to get her to come to him to be stroked rather than for him to follow her around. Because the dog is a rescue, we never leave them alone together. She's never shown any sign of agression and rarely barks but we have no real idea of her background except knowing that it wasn't good .

DS is 2, nearly 3, and I'm aware that DM and dog living with us isnt the same as staying with us for a couple of days and then going home to recover from v early starts and a high octaine toddler. I haven't had a dog since I was a teenager so I'm a bit rusty on dogs generally - any tips on how to safely have dogs and toddlers together and maybe things they can do together - could we get DS to help with her grooming for example?

Sorry, I hadn't intended on this being an opus, many thanks if you've read this far. I just didn't want to drip feed information.

There shouldn't really be any problems as long as you keep up with reminding DS to be calm and careful with the dog.

The dog needs a safe space. Put its bed in the corner and DS must know that when ever the dog is on the bed he must stay away. As long as the dog can get to the safe space, it can get away from your DS should he be too much for her.

He can join in all activities. My DD is 21 months and comes on walks (off road so its easier to keep track of everyone). He helps grooming, she plays with them. Dog+small child+ball in garden = nicely worn out cog and child .

Of course supervision is the key and never leave them alone together, just as common sense really.

And teach DS that if he is uncomfortable with anything, like if the dog gets over excited and is jumping at him, he is to stand still and say no. When little people get het up and start flapping hands around and hitting or pushing, is when things can go wrong with a dog (they might think they are being hit, or are under attack). Usually a dog will retreat but if it is trapped and frightened it only has one weapon.

Never corner the dog, or trap her.

Thats about it really, terriers are pretty friendly dogs by nature and as this dog is known to be placid and docile I wouldn't worry, just teach your DS good practice (which you have on previous visits) and all should go well.

fire I think that you and Oreo have it covered. I hope it all goes smoothly. You sound very clued up on it all already. We got a rescue terrier mix just over a month ago, and I think there may be corgi in him too. Do you have a photo of him?

assumpta I've put a photo of her on my profile. I had to crop it to remove DM, STBEH and my DS from the photo, hence the rather odd background around her. She's a lovely dog, and we think was originally from Ireland but was handed over to a rescue centre representative at a motorway service station and had to be fostered in a home because she didn't cope with kennels.

I was just glad of Oreo's tips to give her some way of hiding / getting space from DS. We have had some issues with DS trying to climb into her bed with her to give her a hug, so I'll know to be firmer about her having private space.

How funny, ours is from Ireland too, from a rescue centre in east Sussex. Can I get on your profile to see/compare him? How do I do this?

assumpta I was going to say that you just click on my name in the blue bar at the top of one of my posts, but now I've tried it on someone else's name, I can't get that to work. i've done it before, I'll go off and have a play to see how you get on!

Right, I now know that I have to set up a public profile page and add a gallery of photios to it. Doggie's photo is there along with dashing pink lead.

fire ahh he is lovely. Ours has definately got the same ears, and same colour but he is a real shaggy boy. He has stolen two jam sandwiches off the table this week; up on the chair, then onto the table and scoff! I watched him trying for a third this morning and discovered how he was doing it. Bread roll also stolen quick as lightening from school bag this afternoon. He is definately finding his feet!

Just wanted to say be 100% on the ball with DS. I have a dd age 5 & I've caught her pulling dog backwards by the legs -not causing pain - to make her follow dd into the room. Took dd at least 3 times to get through to her not to do this.

I always advise my dd's to call her first, not to touch her from behind or surprise her & make her jump.