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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you use a childminder with a dog?

279 replies

PashunFroot · 08/06/2022 22:02

Just that really. We want to use a childminder rather than a nursery, purely for logistical reasons as they can collect older child from school. However all the childminders locally have dogs. I’m not a dog person, and I’m quite wary of them. I know they will be kept shut away from the children but would I always be worrying about it while I’m at work?

aibu for even being worried about it?

OP posts:
LibrariesGiveUsPower · 08/06/2022 22:20

Very young children- no way.

older children- it would depend on dog, childminder, setup, and the general behaviour of said children.

Blueshimmer · 08/06/2022 22:20

No chance. Partly because I’m allergic to cats and dogs and I don’t want my kid coming home wearing clothes with animal fur on, but mostly because I wouldn’t want the risk of child getting hurt. Freely admit I’m as far from a “dog person” as it is possible to be.

tothemoonandbackbuses · 08/06/2022 22:22

Depends on the dog. A chilled out dog of certain breeds I’d be fine with. I do leave my lab with the kids when I leave the room. He’s so calm that he never reacts to anything they do and they don’t bother him because he’s just part of the furniture. If he wants to he can jump the stair gate or wander into the garden.
kind but lively dogs can be a risk from knocking children over. Tails that are being enthusiastically wagged really hurt children if the children get in the way, claws can be sharp when dogs are waving their legs in the air. Not all dogs are really gentle at taking food off small children (and small children do share their food) so that’s another hazard.

bagelsandcheese · 08/06/2022 22:24

I wouldn't be worried

If anything I'd be more likely to choose them. I think it's great for kids to be round dogs and other animals

Newusername3kidss · 08/06/2022 22:26

No

Chickychoccyegg · 08/06/2022 22:27

I'm a childminder, I have 2 dogs, thinking about it now, all the other childminders I know also have dogs.
It's a great way for children to learn how to behave around dogs and how to care for them.
You'll know when you've found the right childminder for you and your family, and part of that will be how they reassure you with their pet policy.
For the person who mentioned it upthread, there's no obligation to tell minded families you're going to get a dog or any pet, it's the childminders home at the end of the day, and the only thing minded families can do is leave if their not happy with that.

DinosaursEatMan · 08/06/2022 22:28

Absolutely not.

whippetwoman · 08/06/2022 22:29

Yes I would. It wouldn't bother me. Our brilliant childminder had a dog and we have dogs. For me it was a bonus.

Katjolo · 08/06/2022 22:29

No way

Meadowland · 08/06/2022 22:29

Wouldn't bother me at all.

NoFitStateMum · 08/06/2022 22:31

No. I wouldn't and didn't use one CM for this reason, along with others (cleanliness being another.)

The dog she had had young puppies and was being kept behind a gate under the stairs when I went to visit.

Thismummyrunstheshow · 08/06/2022 22:32

Yes, ours got a puppy a few years ago and a lovely dog he is. The children adore him.

Bunnycat101 · 08/06/2022 22:32

Nope but I have never been keen on the childminder model anyway.

keeptalkinghappytalk · 08/06/2022 22:32

No.

ThatsRoughBuddy · 08/06/2022 22:34

Never

RedRec · 08/06/2022 22:35

Absolutely no way.

Blueshimmer · 08/06/2022 22:35

Chickychoccyegg · 08/06/2022 22:27

I'm a childminder, I have 2 dogs, thinking about it now, all the other childminders I know also have dogs.
It's a great way for children to learn how to behave around dogs and how to care for them.
You'll know when you've found the right childminder for you and your family, and part of that will be how they reassure you with their pet policy.
For the person who mentioned it upthread, there's no obligation to tell minded families you're going to get a dog or any pet, it's the childminders home at the end of the day, and the only thing minded families can do is leave if their not happy with that.

I certainly don’t think you should ask permission to get a dog, as you say it’s your home, but I’d be furious if I discovered my childminder had got a dog and didn’t have the courtesy to tell me so I could give notice and make other arrangements.

Meem321 · 08/06/2022 22:35

Yes, our children went yo a minder with a dog from 18mths & 6mths respectively. Can be therapy for anxious little ones.

SingingWaffleDoggy · 08/06/2022 22:36

Our wonderful childminder wanted a dog and asked our permission first (although I’m not sure what would have happened if we said no!) but was very clear that the dog wasn’t generally allowed in with the children. Also, it was a puppy that would grow up in the environment rather than a rehomed dog with issues. They do play in the garden together while being closely supervised, throwing the ball etc, and go out on long walks.
It gets them walking more, learning about responsibility, and teaches them empathy.
I’m not a dog person at all but am
glad that the kids get all of the benefits without having one in my own home

Mummyoflittledragon · 08/06/2022 22:37

DD’s childminder had a dog. I didn’t know about this for some time as the dog stayed upstairs. This was for after school care. I would be making enquiries on how this works.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 08/06/2022 22:37

No I wouldn’t - the risks outweigh any potential benefits IMO

Bonsaiplant · 08/06/2022 22:42

If you have a good CM, then they should have it all covered in their policies, procedures and legal documents. If they don't, then be wary.

Personally, both CM I have used had dogs. One kept them entirely 100% outside when the kids were there. One had the dog in the house with the kids. I thought it was good to help my kids build their confidence around dogs. Despite not being a dog person, I still think it's important for children to learn how to behave around animals. Mainly for their own safety than anything else.

The only problem was I am allergic to dogs and the kids clothes always came home covered in fur.

CheshireCats · 08/06/2022 22:42

Never again. CM had a puppy when we started with her. DD's bottle came home chewed /pierced and CM apparently hadn't even noticed- had put the bottle back in DD's bag.
It begged the questions of how the puppy had got the bottle and chewed it without her noticing and then how she had then put it in our bag, again without noticing.

BiscoffSundae · 08/06/2022 22:43

No but I don’t like dogs.

PatchworkElmer · 08/06/2022 22:44

No way. I’d be on edge!