I get a little paintbrush and paint the leaves of each dandelion with round-up - that ends up killing them but largely leaving other plants alone.
How is this easier than pulling the plant out of the soil?
I did much the same, but with a hypodermic syringe, on knotweed many years ago.
Yours is so much more.. tender though. Poor dandelions, but at least you made it personal!
I learned to appreciate the dandelions.