[EdlynsMom]

Im still new at this kid thing!!!

DD loves our dog Harper and wants to be near her if at all possible. She has been wanting to join Harper on her big pillow: is this a problem? I know that Dh and I have the right to be there with no problem (we typically dont though); when/if DD does go sit on her pillow, Harper doesnt do anything. If she doesnt want to be petted by DD at the moment, she will get up and go somewhere else and DD is not allowed to bug her. If she were ever to make a movement towards DD that I didnt like, Harper would be told off and made to move elsewhere. This has happened before, very minor incidents, quick head movements, that sort of thing. Im always watching DD when Harper is around, obviously, and I want her to respect Harpers needs to be alone if thats the case. Im wondering mostly about how she (DD) is viewed as a pack member, since I know the animals see her as a youngster. I dont want to foster anything in Harper that would confuse her as far as where DD ranks. I dont know how clear this all is, havent had my coffee yet!!! Basically, is it ok if DD sits on Harpers pillow occasionally or should this be totally off limits to her?

 

[shannon0218]

The big question is does Harper have any other spot that is her's alone--as in where does she run if dd is bugging her?

 

[EdlynsMom]

Hm. For now I have the main room closed off with baby gates for DD, and Harper usually wants to be with me so we are all together. She does sometimes ask to go into the kitchen, say, and I will close the gate after her to keep DD out, so she hangs out in there alone for awhile. But, no, I guess there really isnt a space where DD physically cant get to her that Harper can access herself. I wonder if I should bring out her kennel again and make that a strictly non-baby space? Or just be more diligent about enforcing the pillow as Harpers only....

 

[EdlynsMom]

Also let me add that when DD does sit on Harpers pillow she isnt doing anything to Harper, just sitting there looking at a book or toy, occasionally trying to share it with Harper but not always. Ive got another area set up for her with pillows, but she prefers Harpers. I understand about the dog needing her own space though.

 

[shannon0218]

Basically, yeah, the dog needs ONE place that is her's and her's alone. If you decide it's the crate, that will totally work (but a warning, Molly thinks crates are FABULOUS--the couple times I attempted to put her in a pack and play she freaked and climbed out, but a dog crate--she gets mad that she can't lock it from the inside!)
Can you put a floor pillow beside Harper's pillow for your dd??

 

[EdlynsMom]

So if Eddy had a pillow right near Harpers, that would be fine, as far as Harpers space issues go? Assuming I strictly keep Eddy off of the dog pillow of course... I can totally see E in the dog crate, or on top of it!!!, so I dont think it would work anyway!

 

[shannon0218]

Yep, just enforce no touching and try to have the pillow not touching either--I woudlnt' do this with a dog that was currently having problems with a child but for your's it seems fine.