Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
famagusta · 09/06/2022 18:27

@Noama

page 12

www.childcare.co.uk/download/pre-reg-advice-for-childminders

you need to show how you will keep the dog away from children whilst you are working

clear as day

famagusta · 09/06/2022 18:31

So the CM allowing her dog to “curl up on the sofa” alongside her charges as one poster mentioned is not adhering with her ofsted requirements

Redbone · 09/06/2022 18:32

Absolutely not but even more important with a baby.

Wickywickyyow · 09/06/2022 18:43

Childcare.co.uk are an information website much like mumsnet (written by a single childminder, who has her own opinions about everything). Ofsted write the statutory guidance.

Treaclex69 · 09/06/2022 18:45

famagusta · 09/06/2022 18:31

So the CM allowing her dog to “curl up on the sofa” alongside her charges as one poster mentioned is not adhering with her ofsted requirements

I'd welcome you to post a link from Ofsted regarding dogs please.

Stompythedinosaur · 09/06/2022 18:46

Yes, I do and have have done since my dc were tiny, without any problem.

looselegs · 09/06/2022 18:49

I'm a childminder with a dog- a Staffy. ( shock, horror...). He was brought up with my job, adores the children and is soft as shit. He is around the children for a while during the day because my home is open plan.
However, the children are trained as much as the dog is- they know not to go near him if he's eating ( his food bowl is away from their main playing area), or chewing on a toy or bone.They know not to poke and prod him,or pull his ears and tail. They know he will bring a toy to them if he wants to play. His bed is down the far end of the room so he can get out of the way,and we have space for him to escape to upstairs if needs be. The parents love him, the kids love him- they even buy him Christmas presents! I have a waiting list of children whose parents are fine with us having him.He's our 2nd Staffy and our first was just as lovely.
I'm not getting into the whole " OMG A STAFFY!!" argument, but ANY dog is unpredictable and a good owner will know their pooch and how to deal with them.

CanaryShoulderedThorn · 09/06/2022 19:20

The CM who lives with me, has doggy day care pick up her dog every morning, before the mindees arrive. She said the dog has a lot more fun there.

CanaryShoulderedThorn · 09/06/2022 19:21

Near me* not with me!

RedWingBoots · 09/06/2022 19:53

famagusta · 09/06/2022 16:38

But all means bugger all as could be spooked or change with age - and all that “prep” you did would mean nothing

Show quote history

If the dog is kept separately from the children - like what my CM did - then there is no chance the dog will hurt the children and vice versa.

Some people forget that with certain breeds they can be injured easily if they aren't handled properly.

So the prep makes sense.

RedWingBoots · 09/06/2022 19:54

CanaryShoulderedThorn · 09/06/2022 19:20

The CM who lives with me, has doggy day care pick up her dog every morning, before the mindees arrive. She said the dog has a lot more fun there.

And it's much safer for the mindees and the dog.

WakeUpandSmelltheKetchup · 09/06/2022 20:13

Never.

GettingItOutThere · 09/06/2022 21:12

not in a million years no

and i have dogs and kids!

famagusta · 10/06/2022 08:23

Wickywickyyow · 09/06/2022 18:43

Childcare.co.uk are an information website much like mumsnet (written by a single childminder, who has her own opinions about everything). Ofsted write the statutory guidance.

And if you read it
it uses the guidance to write what is required

Wickywickyyow · 10/06/2022 10:23

famagusta · 10/06/2022 08:23

And if you read it
it uses the guidance to write what is required

Show quote history

No it doesn't, it's her interpretation of the guidance (and it doesn't say that). She also doesn't have a dog so has no idea of the day to day positive effects a dog can have on a home.

Like I said, my dog is in our home, usually snoozing on the sofa. He isn't in the playroom with us but the children do see him if they go in the sitting room. He is never left unattended with them, for his safety as much a theirs. But he's a positive impact on our home, he small and cuddly and happy to havs supervised gentle strokes. They learn what it takes to look after an animal, they watch me brush him and brush his teeth or give him medicine. He likes showing off his tricks and the children like watching.

I've never had a parent ask me to shut him away, I wouldn't. Contact is minimal but I would never make it nil. I know my dog and I know my mindees and do not put either in any situations they cannot cope with.

riesenrad · 10/06/2022 10:27

Must say I'm quite amazed by some of the replies and curious whether those with a firm no would also not send their child to a school if they have a school dog

If my primary school had had a school dog which I wasn't able to avoid my parents would have had to take me away from it.

My secondary school had a caretaker living on site and they had a dog, but it didn't come into contact with the pupils unless they wanted to take it for walks.

It's much easier to avoid a dog at school than it is in a home environment although it depends if the teachers are of the "you have to get over your "phobia"" mould.

(phobia in inverted commas as being scared of dogs is NOT irrational)

riesenrad · 10/06/2022 10:32

People who think they have absolute full control over their dog 100% of the time and can predict its behaviour are delusional

Indeed. And some just don't care. My DH and I were out for a walk the other day and saw a woman with a dog (on a lead) in front of us and were gradually catching her up. As we caught her up, she took the dog OFF the lead, whereupon it ran up to my DH and nearly knocked him over. She didn't apologise, just said she wanted to get ahead of us and then more or less sprinted off.

Well - we caught her up, so she was walking much more slowly and in what world would you take your dog off a lead as someone catches you up - wait until they've gone by!

So I have no confidence that all childminders and schools behave sensibly with the dogs in their charge.

seaUrchinOne · 10/06/2022 10:36

I wouldn't, dogs claws can tear skin when jumping up excitedly, my daughter got clawed just under her eye from a non aggressive dog. Also they aren't hygienic.

famagusta · 10/06/2022 10:56

files.api.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50029919

this ofsted report of a childminder grades her “inadequate” and refers to an incident where a child puts hand through stair gate to pat dog on head as being unacceptable

so curling up on sofa with dog as PP mentions her child does at the CM…. Ofsted inspector would probably have a heart attach

famagusta · 10/06/2022 10:59

As for dogs in schools

RSPCA discourages education establishments from keeping and looking after animals, adding: “Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for pets intended to live at a school to require rehoming.”

The Dog’s Trust “strongly advises against” introducing a dog to an education environment as it can be “extremely stressful” for most of them.

While Robinson said he had not heard any “horror stories”, if there are reports of a dog snapping or getting worked up, their visits stop and a reassessment is arranged

PostItNoteScribbles · 10/06/2022 11:00

Yes wouldn't put me off depending on the breed of dog and its nature. Id have to meet it and judge for myself. My childminders ive used in the past had dogs. Had no issues

Wickywickyyow · 10/06/2022 11:10

famagusta · 10/06/2022 10:56

files.api.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50029919

this ofsted report of a childminder grades her “inadequate” and refers to an incident where a child puts hand through stair gate to pat dog on head as being unacceptable

so curling up on sofa with dog as PP mentions her child does at the CM…. Ofsted inspector would probably have a heart attach

Being around the animal wasn't the problem, failure to ensure children don't disturb the dog and it reacting negatively (report doesn't say what that was) plus poor hygiene and a multitude of other poor practice resulted in an inadequate grade. I hold an outstanding grade.

famagusta · 10/06/2022 11:16

Wickywickyyow · 10/06/2022 11:10

Being around the animal wasn't the problem, failure to ensure children don't disturb the dog and it reacting negatively (report doesn't say what that was) plus poor hygiene and a multitude of other poor practice resulted in an inadequate grade. I hold an outstanding grade.

Show quote history

The child patted the dog on the head!

famagusta · 10/06/2022 11:18

The CM gets the worst rating (inadequate) for the section where the inspectors states During the inspection a toddler accidently put their hand on the childminder's dog when it was sleeping, and the dog reacted negatively to this

Doesn’t exactly sound like the child was pulling it’s tail and screaming at it

thelastshadowpuppet · 10/06/2022 11:38

Never.