*****VERY UPSET CHILDMINDER HADLEIGH*****

Oh and men stink dont you think? maybe I should chuck out dp!

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LOL seriously?? yeah I admit some do, but I PROMISE you mine does not, she has a bath regularly and my house does not smell either.
Sweeping generalistions me thinks......

cos they stink

cos it gets everywhere.

I have dog but not want dd going to cm with dog cos I would not know enough about the dog to make an ojective decision.
One point though, why are so many people against dog smells and dog hair?
You know I think one of the reasons todays little dd/ds have so much asthma and ecxema etc is becasue they are not exposed to such things. My concern would be the safety not that dogs may sniff me or leave a slight smell. Children should have contact with animals imo so they learn responsability and respect for other creatures.
P.S I hated dogs till I got my own now I love them!!!!!!!

well it isn't really OTT though is it ? the OP says that:
"people have been telling friends not to use me as I have a dog". Therefore we can deduce from this that people do not want to use a childminder who owns a dog, or feel there are risks attached.

Not exactly rocket science.

The reason I don't like DS1 near animals is not because they smell. It's because he kisses them (or tries to) on the mouth. Until he's big enough to understand that this isn't a great plan, I'll only let him near dogs when I'm with him.

bit ott there donnie!
lmof,i do sympathise with you and i do see it from the other side too.
im a cm and personally dont have or would have a dog but thats my personal choice,as is yours to own a dog.
i think the point here is that gossip mongers are putting people off using you because of your dog and that is not fair.

sorry for the mistakes... did it fast as I should be out shopping right now...

although I have and love dogs and cats I'd understand why someone would not choose a CM with pets. Especially dogs.

But I find it a shame that some parents do not letting their children near animals because they smell or they're etc.

haven't read entire thread but I would NOT put a child of mine with a childminder who owns a dog, end of. In fact I am mildly annoyed that this is even allowed by OFSTED.

No offence, but I can't believe you are so indignant, TBH lovingmumof1. You may well like your dog but why should other people ? what about allergies, asthma,dog hair, the smell, dog licks, the risk of attacks plus the fact that a child may well be frightened? get real please! as for the chance to learn how to look after a dog, that's not why the children are in your care though is it?

both dd and I love dogs, but I would think twice about a childminder with a dog- not primarily because of worries over safety, but because dd has allergies. Don't know if she is allergic to dogs, but don't want to risk it.

Do you ahve a local cm coordinator you could talk to? TBH- I doubt if there's anything you can do about people being wary of dogs at the moment, that's life. Even if you are right that people have been putting off friends by mentioning the dog, I suspect that anyone who hadn't heard, came to visit, and then hsaw the dog, would be put off then (if they were the typr to be put off, IYSWIM)

Sorry, silly as it might sound, because I am sure he's perfectly lovely and well-trained, I'd be scared of your dog. There is no way I'd consider a childminder with a dog.

They are handsome beasts - my cousin had one. Just don't feel they mix with small, not very familiar children.

Oh. Sorry. Didn't see that. I think they are lovely dogs, but I suspect a small fluffy mongrel would be more enticing to clients - even most pro-dog clients!

It's a pointer, blu. Big gun dog

I don't think I'd mind my CM having a dog. It'll have to depend on many factors of course.
we have a dog and a cat. i like DD to be around animals, not to be scared of them but also to be respectful and knowing how to handle them.

when we take our small old dog out it's the kids who've never been aroud dogs, those who are afraid who always do things wrong, like screaming and jumping all over and around her, touching her where they shouldn't, even throwing sticks at her, that cause the dog to be agitated.

I grew up with dogs and cats and I think it's the best things for kids. I've also been bitten by a dog, a guard dog though.

Sorry, but I also would not choose a childcarer (be that CM or nursery) with a dog.

I think there is a big difference between a cat and a dog TBH. A cat I wouldn't mind omce I had been there and visited.

Not had time to read all the posts but I definitely wouldn't choose a childminder with a dog.

Another Dog Refusenik here!

I thnk you need to get to the bottom of your facts here. Is there anyone you could ask to talk to directly, rather than hearing it all through the grapevine? I don't mean call them and accuse them of gossip, I mean ask for constructive feedback. "I'm not getting many clients - someone mentioned it could be the dog, do you have a view on that, or any other reason why I'm not full yet?". I wouldn't choose a dog owner as my first choice, but I wouldn't tell other people not to.
Not unless the house reeked of dog and the dog slobbered all over the food and the dog-ness was in any other way particularly noticable.
Is it a breed against which people tend to be prejudiced?

Otherwise advertise in a dog magazine! then dog lovers will use you!!

I'dthink twice about using a childminder with a dog too. It would depend on supply and demand and other factors. If there were few other choices, and I liked you and your approach, I might say 'yes' but it would be in spite of the dog - not because of.

As well as the unpredictability of the dog and my childtogether, I would worry that the dog might take attention away from my child, expecially at crisis moments.

Sorry!

I wouldn't leave my DS with someone has a dog (apart from the grandparents who visit us without their dog). I am a dog lover and consider getting a dog when he is older.
I think this is just people's opinions, sure someone would like find a cm with a nice dog.

True...I even have puppy spray to make mine smell nice.

Not sure which smells worse though

They will smell that you have a dog, even if they don't see it. Even the cleanest of doggy households have that distinctive whiff.