Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Worried about my baby's childminder having a dog

81 replies

Sweettreet · 20/09/2025 21:28

I am getting bit worried about my baby's childminder having a big dog. I don't know the breed yet. I saw the big dog in pictures in the same room as my baby and other toddlers and I have become concerned as I thought the dog wasn't allowed to come to the same space as kids.
My baby is only 11 months and other baby is 8 months and then there are toddlers who are 2 &3.
It's my first time using a childminder and I don't know what the norm is. Can you please help me figure out what to do and what to say to the childminder calmly as she's a lovely person but I am quite worried right now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sweettreet · 20/09/2025 22:11

I am checking about all the childminders near me and 4/5 have mentioned they have a pet dog. I am feeling really lost what to do.

OP posts:
Dodgethis · 20/09/2025 22:10

I wouldn’t use a childminder with a dog. I certainly wouldn’t use one who didn’t disclose their dog.

Original poster
Sweettreet · 20/09/2025 22:07

I am looking at the council website where the details of all childminders are listed and it says she has dogs and cats.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sweettreet · 20/09/2025 22:06

It's her dog for sure. I only saw it through pictures.

OP posts:
cbbo · 20/09/2025 22:05

She didn’t tell you she had a dog? Maybe she doesn’t and it was visiting with a family member. Just ask her.

KnitKnitKnitting · 20/09/2025 22:03

I used a childminder with a dog. But I knew this in advance, and when I visited she offered a whole load of information about the dog - where it would be, when it would be in the room, etc etc. Plus I met it myself.

I wouldn’t be at all happy with a dog I didn’t know about, and a childminder who had not gone out of their way to have good policies and explain them.

Original poster
Sweettreet · 20/09/2025 22:00

I didn't knew because the dog wasn't there in the room I was with when I visited and no sounds of the dog

OP posts:
ReplacementBusService · 20/09/2025 21:59

Have you not been in the childminder house? Why have you learned that she has a dog from pictures?

Apocketfilledwithposies · 20/09/2025 21:57

Sweettreet · 20/09/2025 21:39

I wasn't aware of the dog before starting. Only found out recently.
I haven't been made aware of the pet policy. I will ask her.

Show quote history

How was you not aware of the dog? Surely it was there when you visited and met the cm? When you signed contracts? And on settling in visits?

Youknowwhatright · 20/09/2025 21:55

Agree with pp, it’s a no to the dog and also her ratios are wrong - they’re only allowed one baby under 12 months. They can have 4 under 5s though as there’s some rules around “continuing provision” which are meant to be an exceptional circumstance but even my very excellent former childminder rated outstanding used to use that rule more than I thought would be appropriate.

DiscoBob · 20/09/2025 21:53

Well, you knew she had one presumably. The thing is, if you ask about the dog, she's hardly going to say it's absolutely vicious and has put several people in hospital. She's bound to say it's lovely, calm, friendly etc. Which it could well be. But obviously they are unpredictable.

If it's a deal-breaker you'll have to quit. It's not like she'll suddenly get rid of the dog on your say so.

Driftingawaynow · 20/09/2025 21:53

Asosbabe · 20/09/2025 21:48

What dog is it? Fantastic as far as getting kiddy immune system built up. Too clean is rubbish for their immune systems. Plenty of cases of dogs saving baby lives. I would want to meet the dog

Also plenty of cases of kids being bitten by dogs

Asosbabe · 20/09/2025 21:48

What dog is it? Fantastic as far as getting kiddy immune system built up. Too clean is rubbish for their immune systems. Plenty of cases of dogs saving baby lives. I would want to meet the dog

CinnamonBuns67 · 20/09/2025 21:46

If you aren't happy about it (which is understandable I wouldn't like my child around a dog I didn't know) then you need to find a different childminder that's all there is to it really as you can't do anything else.

Wordsmithery · 20/09/2025 21:44

Hard no from me.

LorelaiGilmorepoodles123 · 20/09/2025 21:42

I would find someone else. I would never leave my baby near a dog, especially one don't i don't know anything about. And honestly, I'm sure she's lovely, but most owners tend to think their own dog is fine, they'd never be aggressive blah blah blah.... i would find alternative childcare.

mrlistersgelfbride · 20/09/2025 21:40

I’d remove my child straight away and that would be it.
I’d just always be wary otherwise (I’m not a dog person at all though).

Original poster
Sweettreet · 20/09/2025 21:39

Apocketfilledwithposies · 20/09/2025 21:37

When you started with the childminder where you given all her policies and procedures? Most if they have a dog, or any pet have a pet policy.

Mine had a dog, a greyhound. It did go in the room with the kids sometimes but it was the most laid back, well trained dog ever. If the cm got up the dog followed her at her heel. I'd met the dog as well as the cm obviously and she was very very diligent of the dog and the kids. And had a pet policy that explained all this.

I think it depends on the dog and the childminder personally. I am a dog person but I am NOT a fan of dog owners that don't mitigate risk.

Also, What's with those ratios?! Two under one, and a total of four under five? Is she working alone??

I wasn't aware of the dog before starting. Only found out recently.
I haven't been made aware of the pet policy. I will ask her.

OP posts:
Apocketfilledwithposies · 20/09/2025 21:37

When you started with the childminder where you given all her policies and procedures? Most if they have a dog, or any pet have a pet policy.

Mine had a dog, a greyhound. It did go in the room with the kids sometimes but it was the most laid back, well trained dog ever. If the cm got up the dog followed her at her heel. I'd met the dog as well as the cm obviously and she was very very diligent of the dog and the kids. And had a pet policy that explained all this.

I think it depends on the dog and the childminder personally. I am a dog person but I am NOT a fan of dog owners that don't mitigate risk.

Also, What's with those ratios?! Two under one, and a total of four under five? Is she working alone??

JLou08 · 20/09/2025 21:37

Check her OFSTED report, the dog might have been risk assessed.

Amammai · 20/09/2025 21:34

Did you view the setting before your child started? Surely you must have know there was a dog?

Childminders are allowed dogs and this will be reviewed when they have an ofsted visit.

Our childminder had two dogs and I’ve never personally felt worried about them being around my children. Both dogs were small and well managed though.

If you are uncomfortable, then really you are going to have to seek alternative arrangements as the childminder is not suddenly going to remove her dog for you.

Angeldelight50 · 20/09/2025 21:34

I have a large breed dog and young children myself, but this would be a no from me.

x2boys · 20/09/2025 21:34

Sweettreet · 20/09/2025 21:28

I am getting bit worried about my baby's childminder having a big dog. I don't know the breed yet. I saw the big dog in pictures in the same room as my baby and other toddlers and I have become concerned as I thought the dog wasn't allowed to come to the same space as kids.
My baby is only 11 months and other baby is 8 months and then there are toddlers who are 2 &3.
It's my first time using a childminder and I don't know what the norm is. Can you please help me figure out what to do and what to say to the childminder calmly as she's a lovely person but I am quite worried right now.

I wouldn't risk it
You are paying the childminder to look after your baby ,it's not worth the hassle.

Caravaggiouch · 20/09/2025 21:33

Big no from me, I’d look for a different setting and potentially report to OFSTED if you’re not comfortable with her risk assessments and you weren’t made aware. Whatever the breed.

PlanetOtter · 20/09/2025 21:33

Nope. I wouldn’t be leaving my child there.