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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Childminder and dogs

12 replies

Antoniacaenis · 30/08/2017 14:58

My DCs have been going to a lovely childminder for several years. She has always had a dog and I was very pleased for the DCs to have the dog around as we don't plan to get one but think it is good for Kids to get to know about dogs.

However the setting has a couple of childminders working together ( which is great for flexibility etc) and another childminder has also started 'babysitting' dogs. AIBU to be uncomfortable with her bringing these dogs into the childcare setting? I am ok with her own dog but I am worried that visiting dogs may not be as reliable (or able to cope with lots of lively children). Also some of the doggy behaviour has been pretty poor lately with one Toddler being knocked over by exuberant dogs playing.

I don't want to find a new childminder but I am not sure I can continue as it is? AIBU to ask that they don't invite visiting dogs while the DCs are there?

OP posts:

MsVestibule · 30/08/2017 15:05

I would definitely be expressing my concerns! It's one thing seeing the dog your child will be spending time with on a regular basis but quite another for random dogs to be coming in and out.

hibbledobble · 30/08/2017 15:12

Yanbu

I love dogs but would not be comfortable with this.

Absolutely talk to the childminder about this.

Booboostwo · 30/08/2017 15:13

That is a very bizarre thing to do. A known dog can be risk assessed, I.e.stable temperament, friendly, not fearful towards noise or movement, etc, but she won't know any of this about random dogs she looks after. In addition more than one dogs will interact in novel and unexpected ways so each new doggie relationship would also need to be risk assessed.

Pigoon · 30/08/2017 15:15

I'd be amazed if OFSTED were OK with this.
Bringing in dogs who may or may not be used to small children and other dogs is a disaster waiting to happen.

MummySnot · 30/08/2017 15:15

I'm a dog owner and would be very concerned about this! YANBU at all!

goldensyrupisshit · 30/08/2017 15:19

As a cm myself it isn't something I would ever dream of doing as it's far too risky. No issues with the cm having a dog I have one but to be bringing in strange dogs that's asking for trouble. How is she planning on separating them ? I would definitely recommend speaking to her and airing your concerns also worth asking her if she's risk assessed all aspects.

fuzzyfozzy · 30/08/2017 15:20

I'm a childminder, and I don't think ofsted would be happy. Have you asked to see their policy about running a doggy day care from the same address.

ZoeWashburne · 30/08/2017 15:21

YANBU! I love dogs, but would never have a dog around my child who is not used to children. Especially young children. Young children are very demanding on dogs and don't recognise the 'you need to move away' and 'i need space' body language and growls dogs give. Young children also tend to grab and be rough with dogs. This is a recipe for an incident- and all it takes is 2 seconds. Read about all the stories online about the family dog going after the baby with cataustraphic results. All of them say 'but he was such a friendly dog' and 'it happened so fast'. I am an absolute dog person, but part of raising a child that is good with pets is boundaries and teaching them how to approach them.

Glumglowworm · 30/08/2017 15:23

I love dogs but this is a stupid situation for the CM to create. One dog that is used to children and who she knows to be safe and trustworthy is fine. Multiple dogs that she doesn't know and who aren't used to children is potentially dangerous.

Yanbu at all. I'd be concerned from both child and dog owner perspective tbh, because god forbid a dog did get wound up and hurt a child, it would likely be put to sleep. Which could be avoided by not putting the dogs and children in that situation together.

PollyFlint · 30/08/2017 15:25

YANBU.

My mum was a childminder for about 20 years and had two dogs - obviously all the parents who sent their kids to her were absolutely fine with this and, like you, some said how nice they thought it was for their kids to get to spend time around them. But she would never have taken on other people's dogs while also minding kids! At the very least, your childminder should have checked that it was OK with you.

It's not possible to know how good someone else's dog is with children and if there are big, bouncy dogs playing around toddlers in a way that can get a toddler knocked over, that's not great to be honest. I know a few people who own big dogs and have small kids, but if the dogs are playing like that either the dogs are let out into the garden or the toddler is taken out of the way.

To be honest, I wouldn't want my dog going to a dog-sitter who had lots of small kids running around either! Many dogs will patiently tolerate small kids' behaviour but that doesn't mean they actually like it.

deadringer · 30/08/2017 16:23

That is absolutely nuts! I am a cm and dog owner and cannot comprehend why any sensible person would allow 'strange' dogs into a childcare setting. I would not be happy about this at all and would tell them so post haste.

Mia1415 · 30/08/2017 16:28

YANBU and I say this as someone with a large dog, and who has sent DS to child-minders all with dogs!

I'd ask to see their policy. Ofsted wouldn't be happy with this, and to be honest I doubt the dog owners would be that happy either.

My dog is great with DS as he has known him from a baby, however I wouldn't be at all comfortable with him suddenly being around a lot of unknown children.

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