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Original poster

*****VERY UPSET CHILDMINDER HADLEIGH*****

111 replies

lovingmumof1 · 01/10/2006 21:17

I have been childminding for just over a year now and haven't had the best of starts, I have been told on a number of occassions by my colleagues that people have been telling friends not to use me as I have a dog. Now I think that is totally unfair towards me and the dog as this is my living and if these people came to see us they would realise he is not bad, OFSTED wouldn't have registered me if the dog was bad. I know with what has happened resently about dogs that may put people off, it would me, but how am I supposed to make a living as I love working with children and being at home with my DS. PLEASE COULD HADLEIGH PARENTS GIVE ME SOME INFO AS IT IS GETTING ME DOWN

OP posts:
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ledodgywizardrobespierre · 02/10/2006 09:51

I'm afraid I wouldn't consider a cm with a dog either.

boo70 · 02/10/2006 09:53

Hi i have three dogs all staffordshire bull terriers, just had my ofsted inspection and all ok, i do have a pet policy in place that parents sign, but feel its such a joy for the children i mind to experience what fun we have with the dogs when we go out for walks etc. My dogs do have there own part of the garden and house but the children will come into contact with the dogs at least once a day, and i explain this to all of the parents. But each to there own my sister is scared of dogs and said if she was looking for a childminder she would not even go to the house if they had dogs.

colditz · 02/10/2006 09:54

Cats aren't as bad, because no cat has ever ripped a toddler's face off. Sorry to be brutal, but people care far more about their children than either your dog or your feelings.

I wouldn't have a childminder with a dog either. I don't like dogs, I don't want my children to be licked, sniffed, slobbered on and I don't want them to come home smelling of dog. OFSTED have no idea how your dog behaves, and neither do the parents, and to be honest until your dog has passed away, you won't know whether he will ever bite a child.

It's too big a risk, when there are people who don't have that unpredictable, potentially lethal creature living in their home.

ledodgywizardrobespierre · 02/10/2006 09:55

Well said Colditz.

hunkermunster · 02/10/2006 09:57

IME cats are more likely to go "oh bloody hell, children!" and run and hide.

looneytune · 02/10/2006 10:03

I'm a childminder and love dogs, was brought up with them as a child BUT I am so protective about my ds, I personally wouldn't choose a childminder with dogs if I needed one. That's just because I'd want to be in control if their were dogs about.

I have a cat and just as hunker said, he goes 'bloody hell, children!' and legs it. He legs it through the cat flap if he's hungry, eats then legs it out again. In the winter he may stay up in our bedroom during the day. As for poo, he never does it in our garden. Cats normally do their toilet business in other people's gardens

nzshar · 02/10/2006 10:07

I have a cat and as a CM realise that there will be people that dont take me on because of this. I have actually had someone turn around and ask me to lose the cat or lose her potential business, needless to say I lost her business
We got our cat before we had ds (2.3) and is not particularly happy about children being around and as hunker as said she just runs and stays in the places she knows they wont be eg in our bedroom.
I personally love dogs and have brought up ds not to be afraid of them at all but I would never consider having one while i was a CM because they can be unpredictable.
Having said all this it still is a personal choice and by no means should anyone be telling anyone else not to go to even see you because
of your dog

aitch71 · 02/10/2006 12:49

by the way, i can't imagine that people would actively be campaigning against you to their friends just because you have a dog, as your OP suggests. i would think the conversation would be more likely to go:

Friend 1: Have you heard there's a new childminder in Hadleigh? I wonder if she'd be able to look after little Tarquin?

Friend 2: She's got a dog.

Friend 1: Oh.

Friend 2: Did you see X-Factor on Saturday?

It's just not for some people, I'm afraid, and i really, really love dogs. By the way, i know a woman who was attacked by her daughter's cat and really seriously injured (her face was permanently scarred). the cat had never done it before and it caused a rift between the mother and daughter as the daughter refused to have the cat put down, leaving the mother too scared to go into her DD's house.

NomDePlume · 02/10/2006 12:52

I wouldn't use a childminder if they had a dog. No way. My 4 year old DD has been bitten 3 times by 2 different 'sweet natured' dogs (my Mum's dogs).

It's just not worth taking the risk, imo.

I'm sure there are families who wouldn't be bothered by the dog too, though.

HappyMumof2 · 02/10/2006 13:31

Message withdrawn

MellowMonsta · 02/10/2006 13:39

I have a dog but am afraid I wouldnt use cm with dog. I know I clean my house, the dogs has time alone in cage and I stop my dog going near kids faces but I would not be as confident of someone else doing this.

NomDePlume · 02/10/2006 13:41

They will smell that you have a dog, even if they don't see it. Even the cleanest of doggy households have that distinctive whiff.

MellowMonsta · 02/10/2006 13:55

True...I even have puppy spray to make mine smell nice.

Not sure which smells worse though

qi · 02/10/2006 14:17

I wouldn't leave my DS with someone has a dog (apart from the grandparents who visit us without their dog). I am a dog lover and consider getting a dog when he is older.
I think this is just people's opinions, sure someone would like find a cm with a nice dog.

tigermoth · 02/10/2006 14:28

I'dthink twice about using a childminder with a dog too. It would depend on supply and demand and other factors. If there were few other choices, and I liked you and your approach, I might say 'yes' but it would be in spite of the dog - not because of.

As well as the unpredictability of the dog and my childtogether, I would worry that the dog might take attention away from my child, expecially at crisis moments.

Sorry!

Blu · 02/10/2006 14:38

Another Dog Refusenik here!

I thnk you need to get to the bottom of your facts here. Is there anyone you could ask to talk to directly, rather than hearing it all through the grapevine? I don't mean call them and accuse them of gossip, I mean ask for constructive feedback. "I'm not getting many clients - someone mentioned it could be the dog, do you have a view on that, or any other reason why I'm not full yet?". I wouldn't choose a dog owner as my first choice, but I wouldn't tell other people not to.
Not unless the house reeked of dog and the dog slobbered all over the food and the dog-ness was in any other way particularly noticable.
Is it a breed against which people tend to be prejudiced?

Otherwise advertise in a dog magazine! then dog lovers will use you!!

katierocket · 02/10/2006 14:40

Not had time to read all the posts but I definitely wouldn't choose a childminder with a dog.

hulababy · 02/10/2006 14:44

Sorry, but I also would not choose a childcarer (be that CM or nursery) with a dog.

I think there is a big difference between a cat and a dog TBH. A cat I wouldn't mind omce I had been there and visited.

NotSoUselessMum · 02/10/2006 14:48

I don't think I'd mind my CM having a dog. It'll have to depend on many factors of course.
we have a dog and a cat. i like DD to be around animals, not to be scared of them but also to be respectful and knowing how to handle them.

when we take our small old dog out it's the kids who've never been aroud dogs, those who are afraid who always do things wrong, like screaming and jumping all over and around her, touching her where they shouldn't, even throwing sticks at her, that cause the dog to be agitated.

I grew up with dogs and cats and I think it's the best things for kids. I've also been bitten by a dog, a guard dog though.

Marina · 02/10/2006 14:49

It's a pointer, blu. Big gun dog

Blu · 02/10/2006 14:52

Oh. Sorry. Didn't see that. I think they are lovely dogs, but I suspect a small fluffy mongrel would be more enticing to clients - even most pro-dog clients!

Marina · 02/10/2006 14:53

They are handsome beasts - my cousin had one. Just don't feel they mix with small, not very familiar children.

mazzystar · 02/10/2006 14:57

Sorry, silly as it might sound, because I am sure he's perfectly lovely and well-trained, I'd be scared of your dog. There is no way I'd consider a childminder with a dog.

tissy · 02/10/2006 14:57

both dd and I love dogs, but I would think twice about a childminder with a dog- not primarily because of worries over safety, but because dd has allergies. Don't know if she is allergic to dogs, but don't want to risk it.

Do you ahve a local cm coordinator you could talk to? TBH- I doubt if there's anything you can do about people being wary of dogs at the moment, that's life. Even if you are right that people have been putting off friends by mentioning the dog, I suspect that anyone who hadn't heard, came to visit, and then hsaw the dog, would be put off then (if they were the typr to be put off, IYSWIM)

donnie · 02/10/2006 14:58

haven't read entire thread but I would NOT put a child of mine with a childminder who owns a dog, end of. In fact I am mildly annoyed that this is even allowed by OFSTED.

No offence, but I can't believe you are so indignant, TBH lovingmumof1. You may well like your dog but why should other people ? what about allergies, asthma,dog hair, the smell, dog licks, the risk of attacks plus the fact that a child may well be frightened? get real please! as for the chance to learn how to look after a dog, that's not why the children are in your care though is it?

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