Don't feel bad, I don't think you are overreacting at all. I would feel the same! I hope you get the chance to talk to your cousin and let her know how you feel. She needs to address the issue. Your baby is just as important as her child is to her so she should understand your concerns. Plus, what if she visits someone else that has a dog and her child tries to do the same thing and in return gets bitten! That would be terrible, so it's best to address the situation now to avoid any future problems. I hope your baby is resting and feeling better. :)

You make very good points! The only thing I would add is OP, talk to your cousin when you're calm. Sometimes emotions get in the way and the message gets lost.

I don't think you are over reacting at all. I would probably have scolded the child myself if my cousin didn't do it properly. If you hang out that much together you would be close enough that your cousin wouldn't get mad if you did so. And she would know how much Princess means to you. But that's just me. I hope you got to talk to her and all turns out well. I also have a cousin that is like my best friend.

If the kid had kicked a 6 month old baby, would the friend have reacted differently?

If you had a 6 month old and the baby crawled and you were cooking, would you either put the baby in a playpen or put up a gate to keep the baby out of the kitchen and out of harms way??

I would definitely approach the cousin. My house, my rules and if you don't like it, STAY HOME!

I had a HUGE fight with one of my best friends over me scolding her child for grabbing and pulling my dog's hair.

She felt I should have let her handle it, that my dog should be well enough trained to tolerate a grabby child, I felt she should have handled it and that her child should be trained to respect and act properly round animals.

She left my house saying she'd not return until I apologized or if she did it would be without her child.

Well a week later she called; apologized, her child went to grandpa's pulled grandma's dog's tail and got bit...she was so glad my dog was so well trained and didn't bite, she'd start working on training her child...so her child would be allowed back at my and grandma's house.

She called tonight & I didn't take it, I was still so mad but I'm coming around. It may be touchy to say it, but when I do call I'm going to tell her I'm not comfortable with him being here at all until he's old enough to understand he shouldn't deliberately hurt living things esp. I know each child is different but my dd never intentionally hurt an animal at any age.

I'm not going to walk around on egg shells trying to keep tabs on Princess every second in her own house & sadly I don't think I can count on her to enforce any rules regarding her. She knows what Princess means to me. The reason she comes over here is because I don't like to leave her home alone when I could be with her.

As for how she would react if it was a human baby, sadly I don't think the outcome would've been much different. Regarding me not putting Princess up in the first place, it hasn't been an issue with him, ever, and an adult & my teen were in the same room. We were probably 8 feet away in the kitchen. After not ever seeing this, then him casually walking up to her I don't think many people would've been on high alert & expected it. My bff & dd wouldn't stand for any mistreating of her in their presence.

I'll talk to her tomorrow & hopefully get this off my mind.

Good luck. Glad princess is okay!

I agree with everyone else. You're not overreacting. The only thing I'd add is that if the child returns, spend some time with him yourself to teach him the right way to interract with a dog. I wouldn't leave them alone without your supervision, though, until he proves he can be trusted.

I don't think you over reacted. I also think you need to talk to your cousin or this will grow into something that could cause you two not being friends anymore.

I think the 2 year old needed DISCIPLINE, she need to be taught how to act around small animals. The 2 year old did not really know what she did was wrong, they really don't have empathy at that age and it is up to her mom to teach her what is acceptable. 2 year olds also imitate what they see around them... that makes you think!!!

As to crating or separating your baby, it is better than her being hurt again. If she nips your cousins baby the cousin will be all mad and blame you.. without thinking why she nipped. So for now, the 2 year old and your baby do not need to be together without you there.... period:) imo

Good luck, keep us posted

I very much believe you were in the right!
I had a kind of same thing happen but Sakura wasn't kicked. My cousin and her little 3 yr old were over and my cousin where over. Sakura loves playing with the 3 yr old and the two of them are constantly playing together. And while I'm not saying the child is bad but she will pull things with her mom that she would never pull on me when I watch her. Well that day she grabbed a good chunk of Sakura's fur on the top of her head and pulled it out. Sakura cried and I when over and picked her up and saw the fist full of hair in the child's hand and when into teacher mode. I worked as a teachers aide for almost 6 years. I made her sit on the couch and after about a minute I made her say sorry to Sakura and they played the rest of the day with Sakura keeping a eye on the child. My cousin, who doesn't like any kind of animal but she tolerates Sakura the most, didn't say a word. But I don't thinks she is too happy with me at the moment. But I did what I had to to make sure my puppy wasn't going to be hurt again.

Totally agree:thumbup:

I have to tell you, I have always put Zhoie in her house (cage) when little ones are around unless I'm holding her and I let them pet her. If I'm up and busy she is in her house.

Well, my grandson about 3yrs came to visit (they don't come ofter with the distance) immediately he ran to her house and grab it. stomping it up and down on the floor. I had to take Zhoie out and quite her.

But the sad part is prior to this, she loved kids....now she depises them. Especially toddlers and I don't know how to help her overcome it.

I hope your sweetie still likes being around small ones.

When it comes to my babies I don't care whose feelings I hurt. If somebody's child ever hurt my any one of my babies they would be thrown out. In a few weeks my friend's two nieces are coming for the day. One is 3 and the other is almost 2. You can be sure my dogs will be put into their coralle for the day. I don't trust any child around dogs.

I have a small child (8) and her friends frequent our house. Troy really likes kids and seeks them out when he has the opportunity. Especially babies.

Point 1: The child should have had a talking to. Either it was from you or his mom. I understand where the child's mom is coming from with her soft tone, but a time out or something similiar.

Point 2: I don't think it's fairfor you to not want him in your home. He's 2 and although it was intentional, he wouldn't know how to treat an animal unless he's taught. This is where you and his mom can work together to ensure he treats animals properly.

Additionally as it comes to Princess. You're doing right by assuring her and trying to comfort her. She will also need mending so she doesn't become more fearful of children. This is a learning opportunity for both you, the child, his mom and for your yorkie baby.

I agree that it may not be fair to exclude the child from coming here. At the same time I'm not going to lock Princess in the bedroom or something either. And for them to be in a common area together I think that would cause both Princess & I a lot of stress. I agree he does need to know the correct way to treat an animal but it seems I cannot rely on his mom to teach & enforce it. Since I am still fuming pretty good 4 days later I don't think I'd be of the calmest mind to address it myself. I don't know how much he would learn just being told now when the situation's not right there. IMO I just don't think they can be around each other at all. I'm hoping to discuss this with her today.

I understand how you feel. My little Cricket loved children until one day a friend of mine brought her young son to my house. Cricket was excited to see him and they were playing together. Out of the blue, he grabbed his bottle and started hitting my dog (it was sort of like a large sippy cup). I thought his mother would be as horrified as I was and step in and stop it, but she did not. I had to step in and grab my dog bc she didn't do ANYTHING. Ever since then, Cricket was afraid of children. She never shook it the rest of her life.

You have to protect your dog. The child is too young not to be closely supervised w a pet, and obviously his mother is not providing that supervision. I think I would tell her you do not want your dog to become fearful of children, since she is such a good-natured girl, and that you think there needs to be closer supervision bc of his age - not bc he is not a nice boy. If she will not provide the supervision, you will have to step in and she will have to be ok w it or maybe until he gets a little older and more reliable the two of you should stick to lunch w grownups - no children or pups.