Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think my friend should not get a staff

76 replies

Tamponlady · 15/01/2016 20:29

My friend had a boxer for about 10 years she wasn't working when she got him and towards the end she became a childminder

The dog died a few months ago she has now told me she is getting a staff now she is a proper dog person and will get dog on a course and what not what i am worried about is this may effect her buniness I think a lot of people wouldn't leave there child with somone who has a staff and her house is not very big

She is so nice and a fab childminder I don't want her to loose buniness I think her current parents won't mind but this may put off new parents I think the boxer was a Diffrent kettle of fish

OP posts:
Atthebottomofthegarden · 15/01/2016 21:13

No I wouldn't send my child to a CM with a dog either. And I would think anyone who sent a child to a CM with a staffy completely insane... So I think YANBU.

Shakey15000 · 15/01/2016 21:19

I wouldn't either.

Kreeshsheesh · 15/01/2016 21:21

I was attacked and scarred for life by a Staffordshire bull terrier when I was 11. It wasn't being provoked in any way, it just went for me. I would never leave my children at a house with dogs.

annandale · 15/01/2016 21:24

She'd do better to switch to dog walking, training and sitting IMO. A childminder with a dog would be an instant no from me.

Canyouforgiveher · 15/01/2016 21:27

Nothing wrong with staffies or any dog but I wouldn't use a childminder who had a dog. In fact my friend always wants to take my dog when we go on hols but I won't say yes because she is a childminder. I wouldn't want to take the risk of something happening (and my dog is a cuddly toy)

SuburbanRhonda · 15/01/2016 21:33

DD had three different CMs - all had well-behaved, loving family dogs (one Old English Sheepdog, two Labradors). I wouldn't have had it any other way.

diddl · 15/01/2016 21:35

Not just Staff, but any dog.

Unless it had it's own part of the house & garden, how would she be looking supervising the kids all the time.

When would it be walked?

carabos · 15/01/2016 21:35

I love staffies, love boxers more, but wouldn't use a CM who had a dog of any sort.

bettyberry · 15/01/2016 21:40

as a PPs said. I would not leave my child in the care of a childminder with a dog. Not because I think all dogs are vicious and dangerous but because I know my child and other children. They do kid things that tend to piss animals off then they react.

I'd be wary that the CM could keep an eye on all the kids in her care and the dog.

Whoknewitcouldbeso · 15/01/2016 21:43

No way would I use a childminder with a Staffordshire bull terrier in a small house. Sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen.

edwinbear · 15/01/2016 21:45

I wouldn't send my dc to a CM with any type of dog, it would be a definite nor for me.

fruitpastille · 15/01/2016 21:49

My CM has a dog but it is kept separate to the kids in a different part of the house and she has a bit of a dog run in the garden. I like dogs but would be wary about v young children having opportunity for contact. If we ever get a dog my youngest would have to be 6+ and if I was a childminder I wouldn't get one as you don't know how unpredictable kids can be.

StarkyTheDirewolf · 15/01/2016 21:50

Yes, I would. If the dog is even tempered/behaved and trained it makes no difference what kind of dog it is, its how it takes to new people and how it feels about children. I'd leave a child in the company of our staff, I wouldn't with the chihuahua. All dogs can turn.

Hairyfairy01 · 15/01/2016 21:52

A childminder with a dog would put me off. Boxer, staff, jack Russell, lab, Yorker etc wouldn't make any difference though.

Ohdearohdearme · 15/01/2016 21:53

YANBU. I would rule out any childminder with a dog, regardless of breed and how well that dog was cared for.

StarkyTheDirewolf · 15/01/2016 21:54

Pressed send before I ended post. I think though that it would be a daft idea and would probably affect (effect?) her chances of business.

Sparklycat · 15/01/2016 21:54

I would never send my toddler to a childminder with a dog bigger than a yorkie, let alone a staff.

JessicaRuby · 15/01/2016 21:56

My staffy is currently eating his food while wagging his tail at the two rabbits trying to get at it. So no I wouldn't rule out a childminder with a staffy (or any dog)

rockabella · 15/01/2016 21:57

The breed of dog is irrelevant, it's wether the dog is kept seperately from the children whilst she is working etc that is the issue.

It's a lot of responsibility to look after a dog, and children at the one time but it sounds like this lady is a very responsibly owner, and a good childminder too if parents didn't have an issue with her having a dog before hand.

I'm a staffy owner, he's a lovable, bouncy lump whereas my MIL chiuahaha would have your face off if you so much as looked at it the wrong way, to the point even my dog is scared of it.

It all depends on how well the situation is managed, but it sounds like this lady can do it no problem!

rockabella · 15/01/2016 21:58

Sparklycat smaller dogs are just as much a risk to a child as a larger one, potentially more so as they are quite quick and easily frightened etc.

CallMeDaisy · 15/01/2016 22:02

Personally, even as a massive dog lover (I have 2 very large dogs), I wouldn't use a cm with a dog at all. I know not everyone would feel that way though. I adore my dogs but I'm very careful with them and our 3 dc's. You can never trust a dog 100% so I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable with mine being there if that makes sense?
But if I was happy for them to go to someone with a dog, breed wouldn't matter to me all that much anyway. A Staffie is just as likely to turn as a Lab, GSD, Poodle, Schnauzer etc.

abbsismyhero · 15/01/2016 22:05

i think even ruling out the staffy part and discounting my sons wheezy reaction i still wouldn't send my child to a minder with a dog i feel its unfair on everyone the dog wont get the attention it needs and neither would the children they aren't toys that can be put on the shelf

and an old dog would be less needy than a young dog

it sounds like a recipe for disaster

Allthatnonsense · 15/01/2016 22:21

I would not send my child to a childminder who has a dog.

I be horrified to discover that a childminder had a Staffordshire, Mastiff, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Husky, Shar Pei or similar.

As for Cats, no Lions, Tigers, Leopards etc.

A dwarf rabbit with no teeth would be fine. A goldfish ideal.

hibbleddible · 15/01/2016 22:26

Some people would not use a Childminder who has a dog. I doubt whether this was a boxer or a staffie would make the blindest bit of difference.

I personally love dogs and wouldn't mind if my childminder had one. I know enough about dogs to know its not about the breed, but how they have been reared. I'm pretty sure that most who are happy with a dog setting would be the same.

theycallmemellojello · 15/01/2016 22:26

I agree that it is likely to be bad for business to get a dog like that.