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?

This wouldn't bother me at all, as long as you were taking all the usual precautions (supervised contact only, separated at mealtimes, garden clear of poo).

I would never risk having my DC at a childminder with a dog, so yes it would put me off.

Yes honestly it would put me off as there would be that added risk to my child. Everyone thinks their dog is chill and daft as a brush until it isn’t.

It's about the ages. I would use a childminder with school age children but a 1 year old is pretty demanding especially with a 4 year old as well. I would worry that they just wouldn't give my children enough attention.

I also wouldn't ideally want a childminder who took it up purely as a way to finance being at home with their own children. Obviously I get that that is a big perk but I would prefer (and there are loads around here) someone who has always had a career in childcare (nursery nurse or nanny before hand) who then moved into childminding. Basically I sort of think someone who has always worked in childcare is likely to be more professional about it and in it for the longer term.

I wouldn’t have a problem with you having your own kids there. I would (and have) rejected a childminder based on them having a dog. Too many variables for me in terms of safety, plus the wee and poo that would be all over the garden (even if scraped up)

I wouldn't bother me but I'm a dog person. I find it amazing how many kids are terrified of dogs! So might be a good thing for some kids!

Then choose a different CM .

DD’s childminder had two dogs. Didn’t put me off at all. One of the dogs actually bit the window cleaner one afternoon and it still didn’t put me off. Dog didn’t know the window cleaner and he walked round the back of the house and surprised the dog. Dog was always fine with the kids.

Terrier. Dog was fine. Dd managed another 5 years there without getting bitten. The dog knew and liked the kids. Was great with them. I assume he thought the window cleaner was a burglar.

Honestly this is such a buzzard attitude to take with your dc safety.

Bizarre*

There's no way I'd let my child go to a mibdet with a dog.

No need to use upstairs perfectly possible to have 3 napping in front room at once and schoolies playing the other end even with a dog babies don't need quiet dark or being alone to sleep

Personally I wouldn't be using a breakfast club my rule is we leave for school at 8.15 if you arrive after 7.40 breakfast at home then we do school drop and off to the woods etc. Would you not do school wrap around?

Quite a few people have said they wouldn't mind a small dog but not a large one.

I get why people think like this if they don't know a lot about different breeds but it's often misguided.

Almost all of the dogs I have known that I would consider aggressive have been little dog/lap dogs.

Not KC but Bichons, Jack Russells and a particularly nasty chihuahua. I realise that bigger and stronger dogs can cause more damage if they attack but actually the gentlest and dopiest dogs I know have been big labradors and similar.

Don't be lulled into thinking a little cute dog can't be aggressive.
I've had to protect myself against one breed and that was a Jack Russell who bit onto my clothes and would not let go.

It would be an absolute no for me, but as already seen in the thread there are people who wouldn't be put off by a dog so my opinion might not be the majority view.