Childminders and dogs

[Aero]

There was a story on the local news tonight (can't find any link though) about a child who had been bitten by a childminder's dog. The child had entered a room where the dog was shut away. He looked about seven years old. The dog had apparantly grown up around children amicably. It was a first meeting to find out if the childminder would be suitable for the family. The mother is understandably furious and is calling for OFSTED to look into childminder's keeping dogs as at the moment there are no set rules. I'm a registered cm (although not working atm), and we've often thought we might like a dog one day. I'm just wondering what other childminders think about this. I would hate to think that we might not be able to keep a pet dog in our home if we chose to if I was to take up childminding again. (Obviously I wasn't thinking of keeping a rottweiler).
I know there are parents who are put off for various reasons when childminders keep pets, but there are also parents who wouldn't worry at all and may have pets at home anyway.
It just made me think and I wondered what you all think about it. If anyone can find any link to the story, please post.

When I started doing childminding we had a labrador {she has since died} we now have 2 cats

as long as they are on the OFSTED report iirc should be ok

after all quite alot of families have dogs

We have 2 dogs which we keep away from the mindees by using a safety gate and also a bolt high up on the door. The dogs are really friendly and i let one out at a time with close supervision and lead so the mindees can have stroke. Ofsted are more than happy with this.

That's what I'd have thought. It just worried me that if we ever did have a dog, it would mean even more OFSTED rules to adhere to, which might seem unfair to the dog, say if we had to keep it more or less penned for the duration of the working day. I've always thought it would depend on the dog, but I guess (as this story shows) all dogs could potentially be unpredictable and clearly children must be protected first and foremost from the possibility of anything so unfortunate happening.

OFSTED want to know what pets you have, and will want to know that you keep the mindees safe (they'll soon let you know if they don't agree). It's then up to any parents who visit you to decide if they are OK with your pets.

...(Obviously I wasn't thinking of keeping a rottweiler)...

We do actually have a Rottweiller and she is kept on a seperate floor to the mindees, behind a stair gate. She will never come into contact with the mindees. Ofsted don't have a problem with this and I'm hoping nobody else will.

If a parent deems us responsible enough to look after their child I would suspect they would assume we would but their safety first and could trust us on that point...obviously the childminder in question wasn't vigilant but we shouldn't all be tarnished with the same brush...even those of us who own Rottweillers ...

I'd rather have my 8 month old baby on the floor with a rottweiller than with a poodle or terrier...can you tell this has got my back up?

I have 2 dogs I am registered although i have a job in school so am not minding at present.Having dogs in my house as part of my family is part of who i am as a person when I am not a childminder in my private life.What can ofsted do insist we all get rid of our pets cos first time this happens my certificate will be ceremoniously burnt in the back garden.
Yes it is bad that this has happened and all dogs and children can be unpredictable at best and have we got the full story was there provocation that wasnt reported,i would find it unusaul for a placid dog to fly off on one.Mine are seperated from mindees when i have them by the safety gate and are introduced gradually and with constant supervision only.

Sorry artyjoe - not at all meaning to offend. I happen to think Rottweilers are beautiful but can't help being a little nervous of them myself if I don't know them/their owners iyswim. I just meant I personally wouldn't be keeping what others might perceive to be a 'dangerous dog', although I know lots of people who have gorgeous friendly pets who might, by breed, fit into this category in certain peoples eyes. Not sure I worded what I meant terribly well, but I certainly don't want to offend any dog (whatever breed) owners.
The childminder declined to be interviewed although said the visitors were at fault, but Joanna is right - I'm sure we haven't heard the whole story. My worry was exactly that - that every dog owner should be tarred with the same brush because of one unfortunate incident (which is not at all to be made light of), but it would be a dreadful shame to have a 'no dogs' or 'dogs must not interact with children' rule. I hope very much it would never come to that.

I agree my doggies are definately part of my family, they are my babies hence my screenname lol, We are also in the process of spliting our garden into two one for dogs and one for mindees, My dogs are seperated but they have plenty of space to roam around - theres a door on utility room which i keep open so they got the freedom of going in our out when mindees are not playing in garden.

The most placid dog i have had to date was a rhodesian ridgeback, they are breed as hunting dogs in south africa and most s.a people use them as guard dogs.She was a fantastic dog who was kicked by a minded child and died in my house from a burst spleen!She was kicked cos she was in the childs direct walking line so no one is more careful than i am regarding kids and dogs.Aero whereabouts are you from I will have a dig around for the article.

I'm in Medway, but the artical was on BBC Newsroom SouthEast. Not sure whether Kent or Sussex