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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be totally put off when childminders have dogs?

141 replies

MickeyMouseShithouse · 15/01/2023 07:06

and have them around the children?
maybe it stems from my slight fear of dogs - or the number of reports of children being mauled in the news.. but I would never want to hand my baby over to someone who has their dog around children. We have dogs in the family, all lovely and have never hurt a fly but I still keep the majority of my attention on them if the dogs is nearby as you just never know what could happen (especially with grabby baby hands)

It makes me feel awful that I can’t trust but sending my children off to a house with dogs in that I don’t actually know give me a sicky feeling.

OP posts:
RambamThankyouMam · 15/01/2023 07:09

I agree. I wouldn't send my children to a minder who had dogs. Or any pets, for that matter.

IglesiasPiggl · 15/01/2023 07:09

It's your perogative to reject any childcare setting for any reason if you're not comfortable with it, regardless of whether or not that is logical or reasonable. Personally I think it's a nice setting to have pets around but if you don't then choose somewhere else for your child.

LetsDoThis2023 · 15/01/2023 07:10

Don't use them then.

Eileen101 · 15/01/2023 07:11

Agree, I wouldn't send them anywhere with pets.
It's your choice where you send your children a d you're perfectly reasonable to not book in with a childminder who you're not comfortable with!

strawbfield · 15/01/2023 07:12

I would choose dog care free if at all
Possible

Mol1628 · 15/01/2023 07:13

I love dogs. But I would choose dog free child care as well.

PourOnTheHeat · 15/01/2023 07:14

I agree. I love dogs, much of my life revolves around them. But I wouldn’t send my child to a childminder with a dog. I didn’t get dogs until my kids were older.

Quinoawoman · 15/01/2023 07:17

I think it's great for childminders to have pets. When mine were little we didn't have time for pets so I liked the idea of my children being able to interact with them. If I went for a visit and the dog was calm and the childminder could tell me how she made sure the children were safe with the dog, that would be fine for me. I agree with a previous poster that it's totally your decision to not leave your child there if you decide you're not happy with the situation, but we also need to realise that a childminder's setting is their own home, so they have a right to do normal things like own pets. Just because it's not for you, it doesn't mean it's inherently a bad thing.

Original poster
MickeyMouseShithouse · 15/01/2023 07:17

I’m glad it’s not just me :)

obviously I know it’s an ‘each to their own’ thing and I wouldn’t-not suggest them to anyone else. Because I get why people like dogs.. I like them when they’re not too close to me or if I’ve met them a dozen times I start to warm up. But otherwise I’d just feel so on edge all day while my kids are there. I feel it would be hard to watch the dogs and several kids together😩

OP posts:
Gizlotsmum · 15/01/2023 07:18

Our old childminder had a dog ( and then dogs when the older one died) it was great for my kids and their confidence with dogs/understanding but they did have rules and measures in place. Dog was in a different room at meal times, had it’s own area which the kids knew not to go into and they were always 2 adults present so I think it can work well. Having said that it isn’t for everyone and it’s up to you who you leave your children with

gfy · 15/01/2023 07:18

My childminder has a dog, I personally don't have a problem with it and it has grown my sons confidence around animals but If it's not your thing then don't send your dc to a childminder with a dog

ProceedWithOptimism · 15/01/2023 07:19

We used a childminder who had two big dogs, they were old gentle giants and she was incredibly good at never leaving kids and dogs together alone.

Although I worried about it at first, it proved to be a great thing for my kids; we can't have pets so it gave them a lot that they'll never get at home.

Oysterbabe · 15/01/2023 07:20

There is zero chance I'd leave my kids with a childminder with dogs. We don't even do playdates to households with dogs.

Original poster
MickeyMouseShithouse · 15/01/2023 07:22

The confidence thing is interesting. I think my nerves have definitely rubbed off on my DD as she’s super cautious around dogs which I’m glad she’s careful but I don’t really want her to develop a fear!

OP posts:
Dinodigger · 15/01/2023 07:23

I wouldn't either. I would worry about the safety and also, houses with dog's always stink of stale dog. I really wouldn't want my child stinking and being covered in some manky dog hair all day. Gross.

autienotnaughty · 15/01/2023 07:41

It really depends on if you trust the childminder and if you don't trust them to have a safe dog or to behave responsibly tbh they are probably not the person you want looking after your child regardless,

HappyFannyPetrow · 15/01/2023 07:51

YES!!! I thought it was just me who had serious concerns about this. I met two CM’s (one on the council’s recommended list) with dogs and it was a massive concern for me for a number of reasons. How can they guarantee kids and dogs are separated at all times? Are the dog’s adequately exercised and not stressed by the kids? These were not small dogs either, one had two Staffords and the other two very large GSD crosses.

I didn’t end up choosing either of them in the end and now thank goodness have an incredible (dog-free) CM who is worth her weight in gold. It’s a weight off my mind to know that my toddler is not at risk in that regard. I know we can’t control everything in life and I do love dogs but this just seems such a non-sensical risk to take.

BethDuttonsTwin · 15/01/2023 07:55

I love dogs, I have a dog, have always had a dog for the last 21 years, worked with dogs previously. I wouldn’t send my child to childcare where there was a dog I didn’t know though.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 15/01/2023 07:56

i really am not a dog person- it would be a no from me. Even a well behaved dog etc. I don’t want the dog smell or hair etc on my kids clothes.

IdisagreeMrHochhauser · 15/01/2023 07:58

RambamThankyouMam · 15/01/2023 07:09

I agree. I wouldn't send my children to a minder who had dogs. Or any pets, for that matter.

Even a gerbil or a goldfish?

OdeToBarney · 15/01/2023 08:05

YADNBU. No way would I send my DD to a CM with a dog. Probably not even a cat and we have a cat. Logic being that I know what kids are like with animals and it's not fair on the cat to potentially have multiple kids chasing and wanting to pet them. Even though cats can easily get away, I've seen how stressed cats can be just from the presence of one DC, let alone multiples. For dogs, it's for the obvious reason.

Bluelightbaby · 15/01/2023 08:11

Interesting thread. I was an outstanding graded CM for ten years. I lived on a farm. We had two dogs, cats, Guinea pigs, rabbits, horses, chickens and birds. I was always full. A lot of people chose me because I had lots of pets.

I believe animals teach so much, confidence, compassion and responsibility to name a few.

if a CM has pets but you don’t like it, find someone else !

MilkyYay · 15/01/2023 08:15

I ruled out two childminders because they had dogs.

Dogs and young children is a terrible combination.

Bluelightbaby · 15/01/2023 08:15

To add that in my village every CM has a dog and other pets, so if you felt that way you’d need to go out of the village to find care

Poppins2016 · 15/01/2023 08:16

It depends. I grew up with dogs and I love being around them. My immediate thought would be 'how lovely' with some caveats. I would be happy if the dog was well trained and obedient when I visited. The childminder would need to demonstrate that they put safety first.

With an open mind (as per the above) I visited a childminder with a young husky and quickly decided that it wasn't the setting for me. The dog was good natured but extremely bouncy, playfully mouthy (teeth made contact with my arm when I 'said hello', only in a playful manner and no harm was done or intended, but not something you want to encourage or allow around children) and generally not that disciplined... I was assured that the dog would be kept behind a baby gate but I could easily see it barging past out of eagerness to play with little humans and it felt like an accident waiting to happen (I could imagine children being knocked over, toys being stolen or possibly arms being 'mouthed' if the dog thought a child was holding a toy or was a playmate). So it was a no for me. However, I would 100% consider a setting with an obedient and calm dog (or a calm cat, for that matter).

I would want to know that any barrier between an animal and child is a practical precaution (e.g. to prevent hoovering food during lunchtime!) rather than a necessity (i.e. if the dog escaped for some reason they could be trusted to behave).