Bichon Frise and SN Toddler

[soverytiredofthis]

We are going to get (hopefully) a Bichon Frise in a few weeks time. We know that it will be chaos with a toddler and puppy but was just wondering if anyone has any experience with them.

Or in general experience of toddlers and puppies.

Ds2 has coped with us getting two puppies one of which is a bischon.

Interestingly both dogs treat ds2 completely differently to the two children who are nt, giving him more room and approaching him more gently.
Ds2 loves the dogs even though it is on his terms.

Having said that the bischon is a pain in the arse. But that is who he is rather than puppy/SN issues.

Our 1 year old chihuahua is brilliant with my 3 year old son who has special needs. He has the mental age of 18 months (my son- not the dog!!).

Our dog gives Ds a wide birth when he's flapping his hands about or having a tantrum, but when Ds is snuggled down watching Mr Tumble, then the dog will come up for a cuddle, but keeps an eye out in case the arms start whizzing!

Should say, that getting a dog has transformed Ds's life. He spoke his first phrase the day after we got her, 'Where my Bobbie gone?' and learnt to walk through walking the dog. His coordination has improved by learning to stroke her gently and we often hear him jabbering away to the dog, trying out new words.

I am much more relaxed as I get time to myself when walking the dog and she encourages me to sit down and relax and cuddle her in the evenings!!!

Our dog is amazing and we feel so lucky.

Will say both my dds (4 and 2) love our dog. However, it's very hard work. We didn't know when we got our dog how reactive she was, therefore I don't trust her around the kids. I am forever stopping to check where my toddler is and the dog. Even Nipping to the loo is now not a quick process!
Please crate train. It has been a godsend for us and a very visual marker for when our dog needs to be left alone. Even my 2 year old knows not to disturb her when she is in her crate.

I have no experience of SN toddlers and dogs but just wanted to say I would expect a puppy and toddler to be extremely hard work.

Young puppies go through a stage of being like pirhanas. Ours brought me to tears at times and ds who is 7 daily. He also ripped lots of his clothes. He is a terrier so not huge either. I was on a puppy thread here at yhe time and seemed pretty universal tale as it also was at puppy class.

The couple of times my friend visited was enough to bring me to the edge of a nervous breakdown. I have found my pup very laid back and easy really but at 7 months it is still hard work when toddlers visit. They just gravitate towards each other!

Thanks so much for the responses :)

We are going to meet puppy on Friday and see how DD and pup get on. I have heard only positive things about dogs and SN toddlers so hoping its all true!!!

I know it will be really hard work but we thought long and hard about bringing a dog into our home, its taken 2 years really to get to the stage of having one.

We do plan on crate training as Imsosorryalan has suggested as we need to make sure that when DD having meltdown that pup has someone to go that is his space. We basically want dog to be part of family and hopefully best friend to DD as time goes on. So roll on Friday ! :)