Book about being nice to animals?

Sorry to read about your difficulties. I am glad that you are, for the most part, keeping your son separated from the pets. While he may not understand that he is being abusive, allowing him to harm them simply isn't fair. In fact, it's cruel.

Also, rehoming your pets isn't fair, either. After all, they have done nothing wrong. I hope you can work this situation out so that everyone can co-exist happily and safely.

I found a book titled, "Tails Are NOT For Pulling!". Perhaps you can check it out for your son.

Best of luck to you.

http://www.amazon.com/Tails-Are-Pulling-Best-Behav...

Here's another: http://www.amazon.com/Tails-Are-Pulling-Best-Behav...

This is not a sales pitch but there is a company called www.personalchildstories.com that will create a book with pics of your child and the story line that you want about anything for any age. In fact, the owner, Shara, does have a book about the very topic that you are asking about, that is why I mention it. One of her friends needed the same type fo story and she created it, then the mom read it to the child and it totally modified the child's behavior. Shara has a lot of experience with special needs kids and her books are designed with specific needs in mind. I highly receommend checking out her site and emailing her to ask her any questions you have. I hope this helps - the books are great and indestructible! Good Luck,

Lisa Smith

Owner/CEO - Regionz Kidz

www.regionzkidz.com

Not sure on books. I would suggest some work on the pet front. My son will at times pull at our dog (our cats also avoid him since after getting over pulling at them he now gets in their face and yells "hi kitty how you today" and will give them unwanted hugs). I started seperating them any time he pulled and would say "gentle hands on Katie" and then show him by rubbing his arm. Sometimes he and I would sit on the couch and rub her head or tummy-I told him "she will stay with us if we use our gentle hands". As he started to show that he "got" gentle hands I would enforce a time out if he pulled or hit and make him tell her he was sorry if he pulled hair. About 6 months ago he started to understand "hurt" and now you can tell him that hurt mommy (if he is pulling hair or the like) and he will stop so we do that with Katie "pulling on Katie hurts her and we don't hurt friends".

With Katie-I taught her the leave it command. The thought being if he pulled I could yell Leave and she would hopefully walk off. We are luckiy in that she has never shown any aggression to his toddler hands. She will sit and get a pull and not flinch or move-if he is being very bad she will get up and move away. The dog is a dream. But still, no reason for her to be tormented in her home. Something else that has helped the two bond is that my son now helps with her. He is able to feed her (I tell her to sit and wait while he gets her bowl ready-I started her as a pup with eating with my hand in her bowl, holding my son while sitting by the bowl, and taking the food up and giving it back after she sat for me so she has never had a food aggression issue-I would not allow a child to feed the dog if there is any sign of food aggression). He helps give her a bath. He loves to make her do tricks for a treat-his fave is "high five" kind of a paw to hand. He gives her a treat when she listens-he thinks it is great that she will do stuff for him, the trick was teaching her some hand signals so if he says a command I can signal her to the correct action. It also helped him with speech since I could say "Katie can't understand that, you have to use your big words". And finally we moved Katie's crate to his room so she sleeps in his room. He sees her more as a friend now so he is much nicer to her. It also helps with her seeing him as a leader since she sees him doing things like feeding and giving commands. Kind of a win-win.

The book idea is good but you have to work to build a relationship that allows him to see the dog as another being with feelings. Encouraging positive interaction is key-and the dog should be rewarded too for being good with your son. It takes a little time but it can be done. Good luck.