Would this put you off a childminded? (Dog)

[newbieminder]

Would it put you off a childminder if they had a dog? My exact situation is that I have one dog, a king charles cavalier spaniel. He would be kept in the kitchen behind a stair gate when the mindees are in the front room (where they spend most of the time). When we are in the kitchen I wouldn't usually (with my own kids) think to shut him out as he is very chilled and just lies in his bed, comes over for an occasional stroke but I obviously could if this is what the parents want.

I have 2 kids myself and the dog is no trouble, he's a total softie but appreciate some parents might be put off? I'm hoping not all?

Dog poo on the grass has still been there. You don’t anti bac grass in the same way you would cleaning up poo in the bathroom. I know gardens are full of bird, fox, squirrel poo, but a dog frequently toilet if in a small garden: not nice.

However, lots of parents have no worries around this and see a home with a dog in it as positive for their kid, so I am sure your business would thrive regardless of people like me 🙂

The other two childminders I know of (both full) near me have young kids of their own so it doesn't seem to of caused them any issues, they don't have dogs though hence why I'm asking about that

My first cm had a dog, very chilled, he coexisted with the kids. Never a moments worry. My second cm, who I used for wrap around care when they were older had reptiles and a house bunny, the kids loved her house! They were school age though.

I would be concerned more about your 5 month old taking all your attention. Also where will the children nap if they aren’t allowed upstairs? It sounds like downstairs might be quite a full on space, not nap-inducing.

My eldest went to a childminder who didn't have school age kids and still got dragged along to school runs because she had mindees she dropped off/picked up. Didn't do him any harm! I don't think that'll put off all parents.

Plenty of people have dogs themselves so really aren't going to be phased by you having something as placid as a KCS. Of course there will be some who wouldn't want a dog but I don't think it would be a huge problem - it's not like you've got an XL bully!

I used to childmind and my dog never seemed to put anyone off, I was very careful with him around the dc. However I don't think I would have gotten much business if I had a 5 month old baby, it sounds like a lot of work. Or you going to take on just one or two children?

He will be 12+ months by the time I open, I'm still on maternity leave until then and want the full year with him. I'd open at any point after that as long as registration was complete, so 12 months would be the youngest he'd be.

I plan on only taking on 1, or maybe 2 if the right fit, preschoolers on part time hours.

The reality will be is there less challenging options in your local area? If so then you will have to consider your options but if you are in an area where there are poor options then you probably will get the business.

But I would caution they may commit and keep seeking out a better alternative, that was what I did. I really don't see how you can child mind with a five month old. There isn't the same familiarity if the mindees to wait while you see to baby.

I would be happy with a dog at all no.

I wouldn’t mind your own child, as it would another child to play with etc.. but I wouldn’t be happy with my own baby/ preschooler being dragged out of school runs twice a day, as they load of time they would just be in pram or car to something not related to them.

I also wouldn’t pick someone who only plans to childmind 12 months. I wouldn’t want to have to find another childcarer after a year, I want consistent care from baby to school age.

stair gate restrictions wouldn’t appeal to ofstead I don’t think who expect a certain amount of child freedom to wander and go inside and outside without restrictions

Thanks for all feedback. I obviously won't go ahead with it if there are too many hurdles so the harsh truths are appreciated!

Interesting about the school run, I didn't think it would put many people off. I leave the house at 7:50 everyday, drop my son at breakfast club and I'm home by 8:10. Same for pick up, I leave at around 15:05 and I'm home by 15:25. I live very close to the school. The school is also in a lovely little village with a beach, harbour, woodlands, parks etc so would often tie in school runs with a little outing too rather than just being a chore.

The dog would give me pause but wouldn't be a deal-breaker

You having your own young children would give me pause but again wouldn't be a deal-breaker

School run no biggie, I think that's par for the course for childminders

I think you'll get takers if there is demand in your area but you might do better to specialise - e.g. after school might be a better market than younger children as I think it would be the parents of babies/toddlers who might be more worried about the dog.

How would dog take to it if multiple children sat in his bed, or trod on him accidentally, or waved a toy over his head or screamed suddenly close to him when he was asleep? Even the soppiest dog can be annoyed and provoked or act defensively.
If I were you, I would limit childminding hours to afterschool and ensure ddog is well exercised and cuddled during the earlier part of the day and then crate him in a separate room while children there.

I would want to meet the dog and see it around children but provided I'm happy with that and I'm happy dog is never left unattended with children (if you take 2 child to the toilet for instance) then a dog would actually be a plus for me. The biggest issue for me would be the garden and knowing if dog poos in the garden it is cleaned up straight away.
However your own 12m old would be a hard no for me. We looked at childminders for our daughter (now 17m) before finding we didn't need one. Any with their own child under 3 were an immediate no for me. An older child at primary school I would want to ask questions about how that works in terms of sharing attention etc and probably see the older child around the minded children but I wouldn't rule it out.

I think if you select a childminder you accept that there will be school runs etc. I thought of it as having my child in another home where he was part of the family - so he went on the school run, on supermarket trips and to the childminder's dc's hospital appointments. If I'd been a SAHM he would have being doing similar with me.

I also would want to know that the dog had an area to retreat to where the children weren't allowed if it had had enough.

No it wouldn't put me off. My childminder had one and the children loved it.

I had a retriever when I was childminding. We fenced off a large area of the garden for him so the garden was always clean for the children. The parents were quite happy about me having him.

Wouldn't if it was an aggressive breed though. No thanks to an XL Bully.

That's a good idea- also gives the dog an area to retreat too

Tricky. I have a dog and my DS adores him and in principle I have nothing against what you're describing.

However, your dog doesn't know other children in the same way he knows your own. You can never guarantee how these children will act around him and what his reaction will be. I would choose a childminder without pets personally.

I thought you were going to say it was a pitbull or something! I would be fine with a King Charles Cavalier.

My childminder when I was a young had a lovely big shaggy dog and I still have fond memories of it.

Mine had a very large German shepherd. Didn't put me off at all.