My dog went for my 18 month old

[tobytoes]

I have two Bichon Frise both have been spolit since ive had them,one is 8 and the other 7. Since having my baby they have been okay with her,just curious but never showed any sign of aggression atall. Now my daughter is getting older and has found her feet she has also realised we have the two dogs and will not leave them alone,she pulls their ears hits them all sorts,everytime I tell her off and I have showed her countless times how to stroke them nicely. Today she grabbed the older dog by his ears and would not let go I was shouting and trying to get her hands off him and the dog went for her just as she released her grip,I managed to pull her up as i already had hold of her hands. My question is what do i do? This is not my dogs fault and my husband is all up for shipping them off to his mums to live. What would you do?

You keep her away from the dogs.

Thus far neither you or your dh have done ANYTHING to protect your dogs or child other than rely on your dogs, frankly amazing control.

Don't encourage her to stroke the dogs at all.

Give the dogs safe places where they can get the hell away.

She is a baby, she cannot be expected to know how to handle dogs.

Stair gates are a must as is lots of positive reinforcement to undo the harm you have caused.

Get some expert advice as this situation is intolerable - the dogs can't be being hit and having their ears/tails pulled all the time, of course they will react - and do it quickly, and follow everything you're told

Choose between your dogs and your child.

Buy stairgates and a playpen with mesh sides to pop the toddler in every single time you have to leave the room. Keep the dogs in the kitchen away from the toddler.

I have an 18 month old and both our parents have 3 dogs each and we would not allow the dogs anywhere near him despite us both (dh and I) being brought up around these dogs.

Dogs and toddlers generally don't mix. I know others will disagree but I really don't think you can be too careful however well you think you know the dogs.

Everything HoneyDragon said. They have to be kept apart. If the dog missed, it meant to. Next time it might mean to connect. The dog is only trying to defend itself.

We used a stairgate like HoneyDragon suggested. It gives our wee border terrier a safe haven from kids. Our vet suggested a muzzle but we never needed it as the stairgate works a treat. When kids are that age it's very difficult to stop them annoying the dog so like said before keep them separated, never take a chance.

If your MIL is happy to have them and would give them a good home I'd let her take them as they don't sound like they're going to have too much fun with your dd.

You can't show an 18 month old how to handle dogs and expect her to remember.
You can't let your dogs be tormented by a toddler and expect them to do nothing.

It's very simple. You keep your toddler away from the dogs. You do not let her stroke, pat, hit, pull the dogs.

Quite frankly I'm amazed you haven't thought of that already.

What would I do? I would put my child before my dogs. It's not your 18 month old's fault, either.

What would I do? I would rehome the dogs.

Floralnomad has a point. Your dogs sound like they've been incredibly patient but if either of them did go for the small, annoying creature that keeps hurting them, it would definitely not be their fault.

Thanks all. I know this is all my fault,I shouldnt let her near the dogs. Tomorrow I intend to buy a big crate so the dogs have got somewhere to go away from my daughter,i feel so sorry for them.

Keep them apart, why are you leaving them unsupervised together?

Your poor dogs. I would suggest putting them behind safety gates so they get can time away from your child, until she understands that they get upset when she treats them like that. For her safety as much as theirs. I hate to say it but your daughter needs to learn that that is not acceptable behaviour.

how was the dog afterwards? did he/she seem at all upset?

I am amazed at your dogs, they must be wonderful the amount of abuse they have taken, and still only a warning snap.

Dogs and children can co exist happily, with careful management. It's not anything difficult, and won't cause problems.

Crate is not an instant soloution, you'll need to crate train them and get them used to the crate, which takes time and focus.

What's the lay out of your house like? Where are the dogs allowed to go and where is your dd allowed to go?

A crate isn't enough! You need to create proper areas for the dogs and toddler so they do not mix. At all. Neither can be trusted with the other..

I know my daughter wont remember how to pet the dogs,stupid thing to write but I wrote this quickly in a panic. I totally deserve to be shouted at here because it is my fault and Im thankful for all the advice

What stops your dd going in the crate though ?

I have to say I never had any issues with my dog and my dc's. Ever. He didn't really like them and used to bugger off if they came in the same room.

Your poor dogs. They've had a stress free life for years and suddenly there's this tormenting little person that won't leave them alone. They have put up with it for so long, now they are beginning to tell you that they've had enough. They will bite because that is what dogs do. That's how they communicate with each other.

If you don't want your dogs being blamed for their own natural behaviour, and your child being bitten, please keep them separate. It really isn't difficult. Baby gates and separate rooms. And don't let your dh rehome any of them.

Just a note my daughter is never unsupervised with the dogs shes just very quick at hrabbing when they walk past

A crate is no good - you're basically saying your solution is to put the dogs in a cage whenever your dd is awake. Not an answer. There must be a room you can fence off with a stairgate?

Grabbing rathet

My house is quite small downstairs,kitchen and front room :-/

I'd get rid of the dogs, your daughter is more important.