Those with pets and toddlers...
So we have gone through various stages with Sarah and our pets (2 cats and a dog).
1) The infant stage where they all ignored each other
2) The older infant stage where Sarah liked watching the pets, but wasn't mobile and couldn't get to them
3) The mobile baby stage which was AWFUL and we had three incidents where our dog bit Sarah
And now....the toddler stage where Sarah HATES our pets and is totally jealous of them!
If a cat sits in my lap to get patted, she runs over and HITS the cat to get them out of my lap. If the dog is lying on my feet, she runs over a yells at the dog to get her to move.
Is this typical? I have tried from a very, very young age to impress on Sarah that we are always nice to the pets, we touch them gently, etc. but she really just seems to hate them at this point. I correct this behavior, but nothing seems to work.
The dislike is pretty mutual though. The poor dog now runs when she comes near and the cats, never particularly enamored of her are now actively avoiding her.
Any thoughts? When will she outgrow this?
Beth, mom to older DD (8/01) and younger DD (10/06) and always missing Leah (4/22 - 5/1/05)