Childminder with a large dog

[Myusername2015]

Hi; I’m currently looking at child minders for my 8 month old baby; there is one i like but on the visit her large dog was shut in the kitchen barking. Obviously she has stairgates and the dog isn’t allowed in near the children but a part of me is being paranoid this is a risk with a baby. Am I being overly concerned?

For a baby no. But my childminder has a dog and I love it. DC is school age however. We dont have a dog because of work, but DH and I both grew up with dogs. I think it's a great experience DC can have which we can't provide for now.

I would find think it was a positive, the child could learn about how to behave around animals and treat them with respect. They could have great fun with the dog which would hopefully prevent dog phobias later in life. As long the cm is watching what is going on, I would be happy.

Hmmmm I'm a CM & really wanted to get a dog soon. All these comments are making me realise it may not be something I can do as a CM. I don't want to put potential parents off before they even get through the door 🙈

It would put me off, no matter how many gates or whatever they had.

Mine had a Rottweiler when I first sent my eldest. Lovely gentle dog, only barked when a car pulled on the drive. She sadly passed away recently. However if it was constantly barking, I'd be really concerned!

I wouldn’t have a CM with any type of dog. I love dogs but how do you know their idea of a risk is the same as yours.

Personally I wouldn't have a childminder with a dog...and I have one ..

My CM has a large dog which is kept apart from the children apart from when they go to the park as the dog comes too which they all love. I like the fact she has a dog as my ds would like one but as I work FT don't think would be fair.

Places never want to rehome dogs with very young children as they can be so unpredictable. My little one is used to our dog and vice versa, but occasionally my DS gets silly and might just randomly whack him on the nose for example. My dog doesn't react to this ( and I tell my DS no) but a rescue dog where they don't know the history you can't take the risk. There can also be issues where if a dog has been badly treated something random could set them off ( a noise, an action) Think some rescue places require kids to be 10+

I think you either have a dog and then a baby so the dog & baby grow up together. Or wait until the children are old enough to understand how to behave with a dog.

I can see that if your children are school age a CM with dog might be ok, but I would still be more wary of certain breads.

I’ve grown up with dogs from babyhood (inc an unsociable German shepherd), very relaxed around them and would love one of my own. But no, I’d choose another cm.

Multiple children in a small setting/ noise/ potential roughness by small children is a recipe for untoward behaviour.

You need to remember that dogs are pack animals and become part of a human pack / family. The mindees are not part of the family. The dog is unlikely to feel the same about them than he is children who live in the same household imho.

DD's first childminder had an old
English sheepdog - she went there she was 6 months old and it was what decided it for me

I would look for pet free house.
I absolutely love dogs and had one in the past but you can’t predict their behaviour as it animal at the end of the day.