Would you use a childminder with a dog?

[PashunFroot]

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?

I wouldn’t, no.

No.

Yes, that would be a huge bonus for me. I’d want to meet the dog properly though first.

I’ve always been brought up around dogs so it depends on your own background I think what your views on dogs are. Personally I don’t think a house is a home without a dog and if your child minder is trustworthy she will have a sensible dog and won’t allow it near your child where it could cause any harm. There are these extremely rare cases where dogs attack children but unfortunately many of these dogs have been mistreated for years and then possibly even been backed into a corner by so many children over the years having ears pulled etc and not doing anything about it. There’s obviously no excuse for a dog attacking a young child but the blame is on the owner for causing that situation to come about in my view. I have two big dogs and a baby. I could trust them with my life but will still not allow them near my baby unless I have a hold of them as he’s still new to them.

Theres nothing worse though than a child who haven’t been raised around dogs making a big song and dance about a dog being near them 🤦🏼‍♀️ We were at my friends house and she had to lead her dog into the other room while we were in the living room. My little boy was buzzing at seeing her dog, while my friends little girl (who doesn’t have a dog) screamed the second the dog walked in the room. She had a massive over reaction to a dog just walking past and her mum sort of encouraged it in a way I would say. I was just so glad my little boy will never be that child 🙈

I am a childminder and have a dog, I think before you judge you should find out the childminders policies and procedures on her pets.
My dog is very small and 100% would not hurt a fly but Is never left in the room alone with the children as they're not mine and I just feel some parents would not like it.

Most dogs go off on their own anyway if there is a lot going on in the house, so they can sleep in peace. X

Absolutely not. Mistakes can happen even when children and dogs are meant to be supervised.

I'm a dog lover but would never have my children with animals unless I was closely minoring the situation

Back in the real world....

I'm a childminder and I've never had a problem filling my spaces, I currently have a waiting list and people actively say our dog is a plus point.

He's not shut away (this is his home) and we've had him since he was a puppy. The children have learnt to behave around him and he has learnt to behave around the children. They largely just live alongside one another, very minimal direct contact. I have baby gates everywhere so I can separate where necessary.

Most childminders aren't child hating, killer dog owners but responsible professionals who also own well behaved pets. You should visit them to decide.

absolutely not
doesnt matter the dog, the age etc
not a chance

Millions of children are in daily contact with dogs in their own and other people’s homes, without any problem. Your child is infinitely more likely to be injured in your own car than they are by a dog.

My mum was a registered childminder for 20 years. We had two dogs. She always had as many children on her books as she was allowed to take on and was constantly being asked to take on more. (For some parents the dogs were actually part of the attraction - they weren’t in a position to have a dog but wanted their kids to be comfortable with them.) There was one family my mum turned down because they wanted to dictate various things in relation to the dogs which my mum felt were ridiculous and unreasonable.

If it bothers you (which it clearly does!), don’t use a childminder with a dog. It’s your choice. Find dog-free childcare that suits you if you would be more comfortable with that. But don’t send your child to a childminder with a dog and then expect them to put special rules in place solely for your child - it won’t work for either you or the childminder. If you send a kid to a childminder, you are paying for them to be looked after in the childminder’s usual home environment, complete with pets, other kids. family, visitors etc. It’s not like sending them to nursery or an after school club.

I have a dog and am a dog person but I wouldn't leave my child with a childminder who has a dog.

Yes. I would if I was comfortable with the dog.
I was bitten myself as a child and for years I was afraid of dogs. Until I found out it was another child, a boy next door , with SEN, who bit me. I somehow, in my child's brain, explained it to myself that it couldn't be a person who did that.

No I wouldn't if the dog was around children in the family home like dogs often are. I mean up to families if they want to live like that but when the home is also a workplace where others are paying for a specific service this attitude of a dog being part of the family doesn't really cut it.

No chance. I know of too many instances of 'friendly' dogs nipping children. Also promising to keep dogs out of the way and then not keeping the promise. Somehow it gets into the room and promises are forgotten. Nope. No chance.

That’s how I would feel, too.

No.

I love dogs but my daughter was bitten on the face by the childminders dog when she started walking. The dog was in the kitchen and my daughter toddled up to the baby gate which kept the dog in and the dog,a standard poodle, bit her. She has now a small bite mark on her face forever because the bite was deep and got infected. I took her straight to the hospital as advised by GP but infection had already started. The minder insisted she had fallen but the hospital were certain it was a dog bite.

I absolutely AM a dog person and no I would not. Even children who know the dog well and know how to behave around the dog should be supervised at all times and bringing a strange child or children is is a recipe for disaster....and it will be the dog who pays with its life.

disaster....and it will be the dog who pays with its life

And as a pp reported, a child could be scarred for life. Dogs should not be in any childcare setting.

Personally no. I have a friend who is a childminder with a big dog. The dog is locked away for the whole of the day and I just mainly find it really sad for the dog! He doesn’t get any access to the outside while the children are there. It’s due to the layout of their house really and I know that everyone will have a different setup but I just feel awful for the animal!!

No.

Some dog owners can be blind to undesirable behaviour in their dog and the risk their dog poses to children.

No, I was attacked and badly bitten on the nose (!) by my childminder's Jack Russell when I was nursery age. I was going to school nursery where my mam was a teacher (primary) so used to go for 1.5-2 hours at the end of the school day. It was always something I thought was a funny story until I had my own kids.

Your child is infinitely more likely to be injured in your own car than they are by a dog

My child travelling in my car is a necessary, unavoidable risk though. A cm's dog is not. 8

Would you give them notice or just let them turn up to find the dog? Seems a bit unfair to not tell people, they'd have to find new childcare there and then

Yes. It will benefit your child's microbiome and therefore also their immune system.

Absolutely not. I don’t even really like DD being at my MIL’s house with her dog.