After School Childminder and a Dog - Would you?

[Professorwhite]

Hi

I was wondering if I could ask for any words of advice/experience.

I have visited a childminder for my daughter (5) to go afterschool 3 days per week. The CM did advise that they had a dog, I was a bit disappointed as honestly I am not one for dogs.

So, I went and the dog jumped up at me - well to knee height as it is a jack russell but after I paid it a little attention it went off and did its thing - same really with my daughter just sniffed around. The dog did bark a couple of times but other than that nothing more.

I really dont know what to do, my daughter said afterwards that we could maybe go there again and that she liked the dog and how the dog got really excited (I said we were going to visit one of mummies friend), but I am just worried what if the dog 'turned' for some reason.

The plus is that CM is very local, knows one oof the other children she minds after school so just went straight in and played with them, the only downside for me is the dog. Should I maybe just try it or should I ask the dog is kept in a seperate area - I got the impression the dog had the run of the house. Anything else I should consider/request

It will be a good thing your daughter will get use to dogs, and learn to read their language, very valuable information.

You would be hard pressed to find a CM here(rural) that didn't have dogs.

Does she have a pet policy? Is there somewhere children can go to have a break from the dog? I think it's a good thing for children to get use to animals but I'm biased

I am not a childminder but have children and a dog. My dog is a lab. He is huge, soppy, and adores children. He and ds3 are six (almost twins). However he is still a dog. It is only in the last year that I have left ds3 unsupervised with him (ds1 and ds2 are teenagers so not a problem). If ds3 has friends to play I put the dog outside or in the kitchen behind the baby (dog) gate. I do let them pat him but they don't play with him.

I have no reason not to trust the dog but think it is always sensible to take precautions. I would explain to the childminder that you like her best but are worried about the dog.

The only time my dog has shown signs of aggression, except when attacked by another dog, was on the beach when a friend of ours picked up ds3 (aged about 2) and swung him round above his head. Ds was screaming in excitement and the dog stood growling at the man with his hackles up. So you never know when they might misread a situation.

I'm not one for dogs either, but it's only a little one and your DD is old enough to be sensible around it. if it was a big dog and a baby/toddler, then I'd be nervous. But a little dog and afterschool hours, I think I could stomach, especially if there were other plus points as you've mentioned.

so i would just ask about the pet policy. She may not be up for keeping the dog in a separate area, although i know CMs with bigger dogs who definitely do this. But as Stoney said, it's a nicer way to put it to ask if there's a place where the child can get a break from the dog sometimes. Would have thought it would be out of the way at meal times for instance.

Ask the CM about her pet policy. My CM has a (bigger) dog, and it's been great for us - we can't have a pet as we both work and the DDs love getting to spend time with the dog. However, the dog is never left alone with the children - the CM has a stairgate over the diningroom door, and the dog is put in thee with the gate shut if there is no adult in the other room (eg the CM needs to go to the loo, or to make the tea). It also gives the dog a break from the children! Actually, if my CM's dog is getting fed up ith the kids, he goes and lies under the dining room table, which is the cue for the stairgate to be shut to give him some peace

I'd think about asking how long she's had the dog etc My CM's dog has grown up with children, as she was a CM when she got him, and he is completely laid back with little people. The only problem we've had with him is that now he's going blind, and has a tendency to bump into the kids as he just can't see them!

I have a dog. I also only do beforeand after school care. Up until recently the dog stayed in the kitchen behind a stair gate

One of the mindees I looka fter is obsessed by animals and kept climbing the stair gate and sitting on teh dog etc. So after consultation ith OFSTED and parents during the time the mindees are here, then I put the dog in the garage. The most he is in there is 1.5 hours. he ahs water and a bed in there.
it works for all of us

I realise though that this may not be a feasible option

A dog is extremely unlikely to "turn" on anyone, especially a child, if they are usually friendly and well trained.
This normally happens with dogs that are either poorly trained and usually aggresive or dogs that are half breed wolves ("wolf-dogs" have a tendancy to suddenly go from being lovely to killing sheep, but they are largely illegal - for this reason - anyway).
The childminder would have to be registered and inspected and obviously the dog has not been deemed as a risk.
I always see dogs as a positive thing, especially if your daughter already likes it. There should be a dog-free area that she can retire to if she wants but i personally think it is unfair for a dog to be locked away all day when people are in the house, this can lead to anxiety.

I would say keep looking. Maybe you'll find somebody else who you'll be equally happy with who will not have a dog.
For me personally a dog would be a big issue. I got badly bitten when I was a child and still have a visible nasty scar on my thigh. I would not be happy for my children to be looked after by a childminder whose dog has a free run of the house. However I would consider a childminder who keeps their dog totally separate when she childminds. This one obviously doesn't.

I am a childminder with a dog and my dog never greets parents he is either in the kitchen behind a stair gate or at the side of the house. I have a pet policy and children have to learn to respect the dogs space as well as the dog to know when it his time to be fussed and when he just needs to sleep ( normally sleep while I'm working)
I understand that every parent has different views of us childminders having dogs, and I do respect them as I have a parent who doesn't like dogs so my dog is well out the way when she comes to drop her child off and pick her up. It's about working with each to have an understand of likes and dislikes