What about dogs

[Christmaspug]

If you are a childminder how does it work if you have 2 dogs

In what way?

Can you explain further?

I dont think they can be in the room with the kids...or at least the one childminder I personally know keeps them separated

It would be pretty bad health and safety otherwise.

If your concerned about one your looking to use then just ask them

There's no rule about animals being in the same room as children or having to be separated.

Childminders just need to ensure children are safe.

My childminder has a cat, I never really thought anything of it ... I wouldn’t have thought to question anything if she had a dog either.

A cm can’t leave mindees alone with a dog

Then again I wouldn’t as a mum or nanny

Only takes one accidental tug of ears etx for dog to snap

If your looking at a childminder ask how they manage the dogs say if they need to leave the room or deal with a child. Do the dogs have an area away from children, how do they use the garden to avoid the obvious do they walk the dogs with the children if so how would they deal with the children and dogs if something happened.
I used to have a dog he was around the children but had a refuge area if he had enough and an area I could put him in if needed he was well trained and would go to bed if we ate or I told him. I never walked him with young children and he used an area for toileting. My floors were cleaned and disinfected twice a day and food/water out of childrens area.
Dogs and other animals can be great for children and learning how to be around dogs so you dont attract their attention is good for safety no screaming and waving of arms etc.

Thanks for the replies
I’ve been thinking about a career and would really enjoy childminding ,but then I thought dogs ,we have 2 ..
I can’t think how I can make it work with 2 dogs ..

They both go mad barking when anyone comes to the door ,so this would put people off surely,they are both very small ,look cute type ,but don’t like being picked up .
I can’t think how I could keep them separate as they are used to the run of downstairs,and I’d need them separate to be able do the childminding properly..
I need to think how I can get a separate dog area downstairs

I guess it depends how old your dogs are, how they are around children and people in general and if you have space to put them elsewhere if you need to? You would just need to be vigilant but I am sure it could be workable.

Cross posted with you. Small, lively, yappy dogs may pose more of an issue than a couple of big lazy labradors.

Yappy dogs may be a problem if you're minding babies/young toddlers, as they will need their nap times. If your dogs go into a barking frenzy every time someone comes to the door then you're going to be messing up their routines and causing issues for yourself and the parents.

i have dogs and kids. they are never ever left alone together

i would not entertain a childminder who has dogs. personal choice

@carly2803.
Is this becouse you wouldnt trust the childminder to follow her policy on the dog?

@jannier - i think so yes. I trust my dogs 100% but they are never left alone in the same room. I suppose for me haivng a dog and child together just adds an extra element of "issue?" IYSWIM

Just takes one older child to leave a baby gate open, or an older one to piss the dog off, or something like thats - yes it can happen at home but i am just not a fan of dogs and childminders

just my personal view. each to their own

To be honest yappy dogs would put me off and I have a dog. My dog is a small breed she loves people especially children and I would trust her 100% she is such a soppy dog everyone comments how lovely she is BUT I would never leaver her alone with children that wasn’t my son as you just never know what would happen and I wouldn’t want to take the risk.
Keeping dogs away from children would be hard if you had a emergency and a gate was left open etc for dogs that don’t like being picked up it would be accident waiting to happen. Sorry just my opinion

I wouldn’t consider a CM who had dogs. I’m not very confident around them myself and am trying hard not to put my slight fear on to my child. But whenever I’m around dogs with her I’m on edge, even though said dogs are well behaved and owners are in the vicinity. I wouldn’t leave my child alone with the owner with the dog in the room, let alone pay them to look after her all day. I suspect a fair number of people would feel the same as me.

A childminder with dogs wouldn't bother me as long as I was reassured about how this is managed. So dogs never left alone with children etc

I would also want to know about the temperament of the dogs and I agree with the PP that said that small, yappy dogs would be far more off putting that a big lab or collie who tend to be much more docile and chilled out.

When it comes to dogs, I think some childcare providers write one thing in their policy and do things somewhat differently in reality. It’s the one policy area where I’ve regularly had cause to doubt. Not just childminders, but group settings too.

I would stress that it comes down to the individual provider: I’m not suggesting you can’t trust any childcare provider to manage their dogs.

@itsaboojum.
Why do you say that? Is it experience or just some idea you have?
My dog was specifically chosen to help people who feared dogs, lots of research before we selected him, then lots of training. If an emergency happened...I would say go bed he would go and shut the gate behind him...auto shut gate that would self lock once it started to swing.
He was the softest thing out trained to drop and role over for children and on command but i would never be complacent ever. I find the suggestion that i would effectively lie about how i acted with my dog odd i take the care and safety of every child very seriously not only could it be life changing for them but i could be out of work out of my home and up in court why would anyone think I'd risk that?
I totally get a dog is not everyone's choice but am not happy about the implication that a cm with a dog is going to lie.
Would you use a cm who didn't have a dog?

@jannier I say it from experience, though obviously I can neither condemn nor endorse anyone who's posted here. I can only comment on the basis of settings I’ve worked alongside.

From what I understand you will be questioned by the OFSTED inspector about how you keep the children safe and that includes from the dogs. No dog can ever be totally trusted.

What you may find an issue is that many parents won't use you as a childminder if you have dogs so you may be at a disadvantage gaining clientele unless your prices are a lot cheaper than others and even then it is an issue..certainly around where we live anyway

It’s not necessarily a disadvantage: from what I’ve seen, it’s more a 'swings and roundabouts' thing.

Certainly some people will be put off, and some families will be downright excluded, by the presence of dogs. The flip side is that other people will see animals as a positive draw or learning experience, if you can show they are well-managed.