My dog and Granddaughter

Two year olds and dogs and cats just don't mix. One of our cats still vanishes over the fence whenever he hears the grandsons arrive and they are way past tail pulling now. The two boys who have their own cat have always been quite good with ours. The one who hasn't got a cat was always rather overenthusiastic with them. If they retaliated he would go very quiet because he knew it was his own fault if he got scratched.

I would not recommend puppy pads as you train a puppy to go to toilet on them , then you have to train pup to go outside, the way i tell puppy owners at training club is , take puppy outside at least every hour, as soon as puppy goes to the toilet say whatever word you are going to use (i use the word "tiddles) when pup goes to the toilet say the word and make a fuss of pup, this way pup learns what the word means and also remembers they get praise for going outside, if pup goes indoors dont scold pup , just take outside untill pup goes toilet there, then say the word and praise ,xx

Thank you all for your kind advice. Our GD know to be gentle, as she says when cuddling our dog " be gentle". She does love our dog and gets so excited about being around her but as mentioned she is too young to reason with at the moment.
I'll take the advice given and put our dog in another room with the baby gate up at the doorway.
We have been leaving our dog with a dog sitter when we go to visit GD as it's been too stressful to constantly watch them both.
I'm really hoping this will improve in time.
Thank you again, everyone.

I agree with Anya , we used to talk about and show our GC 'gentle hands' and watch them like hawks. We also trained our little dog so he understands the need to be patient for a hug , to not be possessive about toys and food.

Illtellhim we had a behavouirst come in to help us give our dog Sam better habits as he was over enthusiastic with visitors. His suggestion was before you let visitors in , you put the dog in a different room and you give hi 10 mins in there. That allows him to hear and smell the visitors.

When you let him out if he rushes in and jumps up, cross your arms and refuse eye contact. When he's 4 paws on the floor, softly and calmly stroke and say good boy. Don't do the whole ( as we did) 'what a good boy' in a high voice. The idea is to keep it calm .

If you touch or speak to him while he's being excited you're rewarding that behaviour.

We've taught all 4 little one now to do the same and the difference is amazing. Try it and see if it works for you .

At the age of 2 your GD should know the word NO and it said in a stern voice, if she continues even after being told NO, i would remove her from the room not the dog, maybe put a stair gate on the doorway, and only let her in the room when she can come in and leave your dog alone, the fact that she is kicking and pulling your dog about she must learn asap that this is wrong, in a way its no different from teaching a toddler that bites ,that its wrong and not acceptable,xx

Did you see the BBC2 programme about puppies? In one, a little girl just wouldn't leave the poor dog alone. I was shouting at the TV as it wasnt the poor wee dog that needed to be trained! Eventually a specialist trainer who had small children of her own came along to help. She was very good and offered practical advice : a child gate to close off a small area for the dog where the child couldn't get at it when the mum was busy. It was the dogs refuge. It also had a sleeping cage and an area by the fire which were absolute no go areas for the little bratty girl. The wee dog calmed right down and no more incidents.
I'm absolutely sure the OP's GD isnt a little brat btw but she can learn about dogs and start her off on a lifetimes relationship with them.

Dogs and toddlers not a good mix both are unreliable when it comes to behaviour. Why would you risk it with a precious grandchild?

Beautiful puppy illtellhim

I agree with Iam64 toddlers are unreliable and for her safety and that of your dog keep them apart. Talk to your granddaughter about being kind and gentle etc. Later let them play supervised for a few minutes before putting the dog in a safe place. When you visit your family leave the dog at home.

I spent so long typing I cross posted with Anya.

You're right to be afraid your dog may bite your granddaughter. At two, your granddaughter is at an age where reasoning with her won't always result in her stopping an unwanted behaviour.
My dogs have their meals and sleep in an area off the kitchen. I put a safety gate up there before our grandchildren arrived, so the dogs were used to spending time there. Our toddler grandchildren don't kick or pull the dogs hair, though they do often smack or push each other. I find it easier to keep the dogs and toddlers apart from each other most of the time. The toddlers are just too young to be totally reliable around the dogs and the dogs are good natured, well behaved but they're dogs and may react if one of the toddlers grabs a tail or goes to hug/kiss a dogs face. I'm sure you've explained to your granddaughter that she isn't to be unkind /tease/torment the dog but she's too young to be totally reliable isn't she.

I understand why crating your dog keeps things safe but could the dog be in a bigger space with a safety gate until your granddaughter's behaviour is more appropriate.

Never run a dogs nose in 'it' ?

If you want to learn about training a puppy then start a new thread.

PS when she's older and/or more reliable then you can rebuild the relationship with the dog and go back to offering treats, cuddles and walks together.

We've got the same problem, but the other way around, we quite literally have to take the puppy away and lose her outside.

has a bye and bye how do you toilet train the pup ?
years ago you just rubbed her nose in it and that done the trick, but, now we've been told to use puppy pads.

You need to nip this in the bud. At 2 she is capable of being told ' No!' firmly. You need to watch her all the time she's near the dog and train her.

I'm talking from experience as I've childminder my own grandchildren alongside two dogs, one of which would nip if mishandled.

As soon as it looks like she's about to touch the dog, be it for cuddles or whatever, tell her 'NO' and if she disobeys remove her first and plonk her down well away from your dog. Then gently put your dog away.

She'll get the message.