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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About a childminder with Staffordshire terriers

295 replies

chilled7up · 13/07/2012 21:05

I thought I found the perfect childminder for my son until I realised that she has 2 staffs at home. They were friendly but now I'm worried and confused. What would you do?

OP posts:
msrantsalot · 15/07/2012 21:03

He does get walked by my teenager, well he is her dog really. I just can't bring myself to get rid of him, he makes me feel safe during the night time, he would alert me to anyone trying to get in, and as a single parent I like that security. I am just shocked and stunned to the amount of people that say they would not send their child here because of him, I had honestly no idea that people felt this way.

FallenCaryatid · 15/07/2012 21:04

Now I feel sorry for your dog, mrsrantsalot, doesn't sound like much of a day for it to have.
Unless you only childmind after school for a couple of hours.

SecretPlace · 15/07/2012 21:06

Mrsrants I don't mean to offend you but why do you have the dog then? Dogs are pack animals and need company. Shoving him outside isn't giving him what he needs. Poor thing n

msrantsalot · 15/07/2012 21:08

Yes i do only childmind part time

pigletmania · 15/07/2012 21:11

well yes mrsrants you are a bit naive in your thinking. A dog however safe you are adds that element of risk, its every parents right to refuse a cm with a dog if they do not feel comfortable about it. I would rather you be offended than to worry each time i send my child to you or any cm with a dog. There are parents with kids who are happy to send them to a cm with a dog, but thre are that are not. like someone says humans can make mistakes and it can take one momentary lapse for an accident to happen.

pigletmania · 15/07/2012 21:12

It does not mean i hate dogs that is not true, we hope to get a dog in the future, but it would be a breed that we want

msrantsalot · 15/07/2012 21:13

When I began child minding I did want to get rid of him but DD1 went mental, he is her dog. Now you guys have got me thinking about it again, and I don't know what to do. There are a lot of positives to having him, but I don't want to think that people are put off because of him. He is walked and well cared for by DD1 and she loves him dearly. I don't know what to do for the best. She will be going off to college next year, I don't know if I can keep him after that anyway.

Cheriefroufrou · 15/07/2012 21:14

Look mrsrantsalot, I sent my DS to a childminder who lived in an upstairs flat.. that would instantly rule her out for many others, some wouldn't consider a CM who didn't have a garden! (but she was full)

its about finding a good match, you wont be everyone's match, why does this surprize you?

pigletmania · 15/07/2012 21:15

of course mrsrants its up to you, and we are not saying that you should not have a dog when you are cm, there are lots of parents who would not mind one bit, but there are those that do. When i was 5 i was bitten very hard by my half brothers dog on the lip as i went to near. The experience has made me a little wary

mindosa · 15/07/2012 21:16

I wouldnt employ a cm with a dog at all, but particularly not that breed. I find people who put dogs needs before children nauseous and I would never compromise the health of my child

SecretPlace · 15/07/2012 21:26

mrsrantsalot positives to having him? Positives for yourself I'm assuming you mean. Because a life stuck outside isnt a brilliant life for a dog :(

msrantsalot · 15/07/2012 21:29

I'm just shocked. I think if one or two people had said no, then I wouldn't have been so bothered. The fact that the majority of people are so against it, really really against it, under no circumstances no matter what the policy was and what safety measures are in place has really really shocked me.

Lucyellensmum99 · 15/07/2012 21:29

You want to keep him because he makes you feel secure at night? Hmm what sort of dog is he?? Please tell me he doesn't have to live out at night too

Lucyellensmum99 · 15/07/2012 21:31

But i am assuming mrsrantsalot that your mindees parents don't have a problem with it? So whats the problem? I personally woudlnt send my children to a CM wiht a dog, others it would seem are quite happy to do so. No one is saying you should get rid of your dog, just that it is not ideal and what you describe is not an ideal life for him either.

msrantsalot · 15/07/2012 21:31

@secret, he is able to tell me if he wants in/out. He yips a certain way. He is beloved to DD1 he is well cared for believe me.

msrantsalot · 15/07/2012 21:33

Because I have spaces I need to fill and I need to know if its the dog that is the problem. I am the only CM in my village.

Lucyellensmum99 · 15/07/2012 21:35

What sort of dog is he?

msrantsalot · 15/07/2012 21:38

He is a wee mongrel. I only took him cos my pals bitch got caught and she needed homes for the puppies. My DD's were desperate. He's a lovely wee thing but I wouldnt let him near my childminding kids just in case.

FallenCaryatid · 15/07/2012 21:42

Would your DD1 forgive you though?
A dog is a commitment, he should have a home with you for life.

Lucyellensmum99 · 15/07/2012 21:48

Could you maybe let him stay with your friend during the day? As this solves all the issues, you do sound really nice but i would be worried about the dog. Im sure he is lovely too. Don't rehome him, that would be awful - for you and him. Its not IDEAL but it seems to be working, think about sending him to a dog minder Grin only half joking of course, but if you helped your friend out by taking him then she may well be more than happy to have him over. I assume she has now had her bitch speyed!

FreudianSlipper · 15/07/2012 21:49

i would find another childminder i would not even consider her. i am very surprised she is allowed them being a cm, i would question this

as nice as staffies can be as we shall be reminded again and again there have been a number of very serious attacks on children from these dogs and some of these dogs were also nice family dogs, no one can really answer why they attack like they do(when they have been treated and trained well) but they were breed to bait bears originally and are very very powerful a young child would not stand a chance

frustratedpants · 15/07/2012 21:58

mrsrantsalot is your dog known in your village? perhaps taking him out around where he will be fussed over met, and people can see what a sweetie he is? If he is a sweetie that is
I posted early on in this thread. But just remembered that dd2s current CM has 3 large dogs by large I mean bigger than a border collie but not huge that I completely forgot about. I think it's because they are familiar to me. They are around the children all day, although they are shut away at meal times.

Cheriefroufrou · 15/07/2012 21:59

doggy day care? that's what friends of mine do if they work and can't give the god a good life during the day at home!

Cheriefroufrou · 15/07/2012 21:59

the DOG! not their GOD!

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