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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

childminder has a dog?

25 replies

nightowl · 30/03/2006 01:28

dd is in a nursery and has been for over a year. im going back to work soon and have just found out that a woman living practically on my doorstep has recently registered as a childminder. we've met up, she seems very nice and approachable and i was totally satisfied with everything she told me. but she has a dog who is allowed around the children she minds (well just one child at present, older than dd and not in the "pulling tails, poking eyes" stage). leaving dd in nursery is no problem at all really but it would be much easier to take her to this lady...i just dont like dogs much! i dont trust them! what do you think?

OP posts:

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Chandra · 30/03/2006 02:16

well, it very much depends on the dog and the owners attitude. I have dogs that are around DS but they were not allowed near to Ds until he was walking (nor that they were interested either). But something is true, no matter how good the dog and toddler it's not wise to leave them alone together for a couple of minutes.

Now, if the prospective childminder is one of those people who believe that dog's saliva is sooo good that can be used as an antiseptic..... run a mile! (while I run for cover!.) It's all about hygiene.

throckenholt · 30/03/2006 07:45

talk to her. Ask her how she would deal with the situation of a child that was not happy around dogs, or had a tendency to hassle the dog.

Our childminder had dogs - but they stayed in a different part of the house - the only direct contact was when they went out for walks together - in which case I think the experience of interaction was a good thing.

HappyMumof2 · 30/03/2006 07:52

what kind of dog is it nightowl?

Personally, I would probably not use a cm that had a dog, but as already said it depends on the individiual circumstances, eg, I'd be more inclined to use a cm if she had a Yorkshire Terrier or something, than a staff, and it depends on the level of contact between dog & child. Is the dog allowed free range of the house whilst the children are there?

carla · 30/03/2006 07:54

Never had a CM, but wouldn't see it as a bad thing. The number of pals my children have round, who are terrified of our Springer spaniel, (who does make a lot of noise, but nothing else) is astonishing.

FairyMum · 30/03/2006 07:57

I think it's probably a good thing as it's good for children to be around animals I think, but personally I don't like dogs. Like you I don't trust them and I find them really unhygenic. I would have hated the thought of a dog licking or even sniffing my child. I know this is my problem though and that I am slightly hysterical, but I just find them yukkie. Probably because I was never really around dogs as a child..he he

pol25 · 30/03/2006 08:29

I grew up on a farm, so dogs to me are ok. Although we don't have one. I have known nasty dogs who get v.protective of their house and children in it but i'm sure that if she has been registered she has proven that she knows how to make sure this won't happen; although still not sure if I would like my DD there- she will be two in Sept and def at the pokey eye stage!
She loves dogs but obviously dogs are not so keen on her!!!
I think you're best to chat about your reservations to her so that you can then see whether you think it would be suitable for your child to stay with her.
I think really it all hangs with what type of dog it is, although we had a staffie who was much less aggressive than a golden retriever! Go and visit with your child and see how the dopg is and how your DD is too. Maybe that will help you?!

anniemac · 30/03/2006 10:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CarlyP · 30/03/2006 10:34

i have a dog who i trust 110% with my boys. he is left with them if i walk out the room etc, they 'ride' on him, pull his ears. he has 'whimpered' when theyve hurt him, but nothing else. id say it was good for a child to be confident around dogs. they attack when in fear (generally).

id say as long as basic precautions are taken.

if my boys (1.5 and 2.5 yrs) walk around with a snack or biscuit and the dog wont even sniff, but if they drop it, im afraid its his, and they know that now. if the boys go to pick it up, i just say 'dirty, let monty have it...'

he is a staffordshire bull terrier. breed doesnt matter, its the owner who f*cks it up.

expatinscotland · 30/03/2006 10:36

I find dogs dirty. Most are pleasant enough creatures, but they are unhygenic.

No, I would not leave my child w/a CM who had a dog.

Bugsy2 · 30/03/2006 11:34

I grew up on a small farm and with dogs & it is my belief that you should never trust a dog or any animal for that matter, in the same way you would never trust a small child.
I love dogs, I am glad my own children have access to dogs, cats etc through my parents but I would never trust an animal with a small child. Even the most long-suffering gentle of dogs could react in pain if a child pulled, poked or prodded somewhere particularly sensitive.
You should talk to the childminder about how she would be supervising the animal & your child. I think it is really important for you to know that your daughter would never have access to the dog unless the CM was directly supervising. At all other times the dog should be in a separate area.

CarlyP · 30/03/2006 12:20

'working' dogs are v diff to family pets.

my fil and step-mil have 3gsd's and a collie, they live in a small holding. although the dogs arent 'worknig' they are out with them all day. i do not trust the dogs with my children then as they are not used to small children and really are better 'outside'.

a family pet is different and will put up with alot, of course there are always risks, even with a yorkshire terrier (nasty little ankle-biters!)
you jsut have to be aware and safe, as im sure your CM would be.im sure shes been asked this before and will be happy to put your worries at bay.

Isyhan · 30/03/2006 12:27

im currently in the process of registering. my dd wants a dog but i wont get one because i think it would put parents off. you cant be 100 pc sure can you that a dog wont just flip.

anniemac · 30/03/2006 12:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shimmy21 · 30/03/2006 12:31

I think that (depending on the dog) definitely a Good Thing.

As a dog owner I'm biased of course, but I find it so sad that when I walk past some children on the street with my small fluffy friendly pooch that some children are absolutely terified of her and will cower and cringe as we walk past. You don't have to love dogs and I can completely understand why a lot of people think that dogs are unhygeinic and untrustworthy (because some are) but we live in a world with animals and it's better for everyone if they learn how to react to animals without fear.

Think of the dog as a learning experience for your dd. You are broadening her horizons in the same way that you would want her to play with different toys, meet different people and go to different places with her CM than she does with you.

RTKangaMummy · 30/03/2006 12:36

When I started CMing many years ago we had our labrrador and she was very gentle with children incl DS but for her piece of mind she stayed behind a stairgate

She was quite old and spent most of the time sleeping

BTW I would NOT trust a yorkie at all

When you register you need to tell inspectors if you have animals

we now have 2 cats that spend nearly all day outside

Some families like dogs and cats and snakes and rabbits and some don't

It is really a case of matching CM to family

Some parnets who can't have pets cos they are out at work all day would like CM with pets so the children get to see pets etc.

boo70 · 30/03/2006 12:46

I agree with shimmy21,I have two minded children who were terrified of dogs when they came to me, and i have two staffs, now after quite a few months of getting the children used to them they are great with the dogs. We go for walks and they are really rewarding.

nannynick · 30/03/2006 21:14

Found a Judgement (from Northern Ireland) regarding a Childminder with a Dog. Result isn't good - Childminder lost the case £60,000 damages awarded. \link{http://www.courtsni.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/E5479C74-0024-43CE-BDAA-0F860149AD13/0/j_j_MORF5326.htm\Read the Judgement}

Incidents like this one I expect are rare... and is a risk for ANY dog owner - not just childminders. Does pet insurance cover things like this?

I actually like Dogs... had many during my childhood, and was as a toddler bitten badly by our family dog (who was subsequenty put-down). That incident has clearly not made me frightened of dogs, and I feel that having pets around children can be beneficial - they get to help care for the animal - at work, I actually have 3 chickens, they peck!

There will always be risks, but if the owner of the animal takes all reasonable precautions then there shouldn't be any problems.

After all, it's not just animals that bite - children do as well, at Nursery, Childminders and elsewhere.

Perhaps we should ban children... they can be dangerous!

Sparklemagic · 30/03/2006 21:54

I agree with shimmy21 that it is sad when children are terrified of dogs, and being close to a dog can be a learning experience.

Nightowl, in your place however, I would very strongly wish this particular learning experience to be undertaken with MY supervision.

This woman is a relative stranger to you and you don't know how her dog will react. Obviously she wouldn't be registered if there were obvious concerns. But I wouldn't go there.

lunavix · 30/03/2006 22:11

crikey - at the judgement.

Can't believe the report has decided he has aspergers and adhd... and made the childminder pay £60,000.... I didn't think they could be stress induced personally.

Original poster

nightowl · 31/03/2006 00:19

hmmm...quite divided then. im not terrified of dogs, we had dogs when i was a child and ours were lovely gentle creatures, but i have come across some nasty ones and i am prone to being overprotective of my kids anyway so i do worry about things. her dog may well be lovely, but i dont know it (i dont like that particular breed much, give me the shivers, silly i know). dd is awful with animals, she loves them but she's just too much. even my placid old cat warns her off and thats saying something! i suppose if i have any doubt at all i shouldnt go there?

OP posts:

scarymamma · 31/03/2006 19:38

Dogs and kids are a good idea!! We got our first puppy a couple of months ago and I was shocked at how many children were petrified of him (and he's tiny but there were a good few who totally idolised him too). I really think that children should be exposed to animals from a young age - it teaches them not to fear but (hopefully) to respect them. Plus the medical profession are constantly going on about our over sanitised environment adverseley affecting our immune system, so a few dog germs may do them the world of good!!!!
(last bit was a tad sarcastic!)
Our dog is now an instant hit at my kids 1ary school - sometimes I feel like the Pied Piper - the dog and I walk across the playground followed by a hoard of small children!!

scarymamma · 31/03/2006 19:39

Surely your child minder is not going to have a nasty dog? Wouldn't she fail her OFSTED if the dog was a problem?

nooka · 31/03/2006 21:05

nightowl, if you are at all worried , then really don't go there. You need to 100% happy with the environment your child is in, or you will worry about the slightest thing. I have absolutely no problem with small children and dogs that are happy with small children. I grew up with a family dog, and my mother's dogs have put up with the most amazing amount from the grandchildren (we have some great pictures of my nephew with his fingers up one dog's nose!) and they soon learned what not to do (pulling arthritic dog's legs gets you a growl for example). Likewise our cats are completely cool with children. Not all pets are, but Ofsted checks etc do look at the whole of the environment, and I assume that you have talked to other parents who have used this CM. So I am sure that there wouldn't be a problem (and yes dogs are not very hygienic, but in comparison with the things kids do I really don't see a major problem there!). But if you are not happy then it's not going to work for you, and you need to look elsewhere.

NannyL · 31/03/2006 21:34

ok at my charges school they have dogs...

3 teachers bring their dogs to schho, with them

1 black labradoor... (monty)
Barney (a brown dog)
and a cross bread whose name i dont know

the digs wander aroun including in and out of the classrooms and playground while the childrne are there.

The kids love them and its much nicer for the dogs

Personally i dont see the problem (at certain inconvienant times dogs arnt allowed in the relevant class room)

BTW this is an independant prep school for 2 - 11 year olds that boards 8 year olds and older (if they want to board!) in ENGLAND

NannyL · 31/03/2006 21:35

please excuse awful spelling.... been a long day and hit post instead of preview.... sorry

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