my dog and toddlers

Question
My 2 year old half cocker, half ? is very jealous of my 2 year old twin grandchildren.  She acts very aggressive and growls and snaps at them when they come to get up in my lap.  At Xmas when the twins were here, I had to send Molly to my daughters so I could relax and enjoy their visit.  Now I am to keep the twins for 4 days in May and don't know how to handle Molly.  There are no small children in the neighborhood, so how can I acclimate Molly to behave around the twins.  Molly is the alpha dog of her litter, but is normally a really sweet dog.  She barks at strangers, but soon becomes friends, if the person is patient.  Is there anything I can do?


Answer
Its not at all unusual for a dog who hasn't been around small children to find them scary - they move differently from adults, they are fast, and they tend to invade the dog's space. I would see if a local trainer (who can see what is going on) could work with you on this, but honestly... if you are going to have the two toddlers for four days, you are going have your hands full. Supervising two fast-moving two year olds around a dog who has already show you that she reacts badly to them is more than most people would be able to handle. I would work with Molly on obedience, setting some rules and boundaries, etc. But while the grandchildren are there - for the sake of safety, I would find a good kennel with indoor/outdoor runs and board her. It's possible that the twins' parents would help you with the boarding costs, since it's to keep their children safe. Sandy Case BFA MEd CPDT www.positivelycanine.com