childminder club-dog

[Isyhan]

Can I have your advice as CM's. Im thinking of getting a little dog. Would this affect me getting potential customers as I wont if it would. I already have a cat and a gerbil.

I t might affect if someone has a child who is frightened of dogs but i personally wouldnt let it stop me.You might have to think of the cat dog combo although i have had both together with no problem.I am know an ex childminder but i took a puppy when i had another dog already and i had to think what is it I want out of life and not what would my mindees prefer,hope you dont take offence but there it is.

Its really how do I mend my daughters broken heart after the cat ate the gerbil last night but perhaps Im being a little reactionary and not thinking through it all logically. Half of me wants to give the cat a hard time really!!

omg poor gerbil did your girl see it happen?

If you have to choose between getting a dog and replacing a gerbil , I don't think you'll have to satisfy OFSTED that a gerbil is a dangerous animal and has to be kept separate from mindees. And you won't have to collect poop from the back garden from a gerbil.

I do know of a childminder who was turned down by parents for having a dog, but it was the scary sort of dog that makes everyone nervous (I'm not an expert on dog breeds!) Some parents might choose you because you have pets.

I would never have considered a childminder with pets .. particularly not a dog

When i was minding i was more often taken up cos i had dogs as most of my mindees didnt have peets at home so it is swings and roundabouts.

Twiglett - no pets at all?? Would be interested to know why?

yes she saw it happen. blood and all! kids being kids she sat and drew the whole event out in cartoon form. 1st picture her smiling with two gerbils. 2nd picture cat with big teeth. 3rd picture gerbil in mouth. 4th picture her sad with one gerbil. 5th picture her happy with two gerbils again!! Kids - dont you just love them.

My CM has two dogs - my dd was really scared of dogs before she started going there - now she bosses the dogs round !! Saves me getting a dog !

Can't say I thought about it much when considering CM - no allergy issue so wasn't a prob really

by the way I dont want to give the impression I dont look after my pets. My dh was at fault here and he knows it!! really I should be looking for a dh replacement not a pet!

by the way I dont want to give the impression I dont look after my pets. My dh was at fault here and he knows it!! really I should be looking for a dh replacement not a pet!