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?

I would never choose a childminder with a dog - all dog owners think their dog is wonderful so no amount of reassurance from you about how chilled and lovely your dog is would help.

I have a child with dog allergies so obviously couldn't even if I trusted your word about your dog, and allergies in children are steeply on the rise so a number of mindees will be automatically excluded.

Even if I was OK with your dog, I would worry at some point you would get another and it might not be so tolerant.

It's just a hazard and when choosing a childminder, this would have been an automatic no for me.

Yes, it would definitely put me off. I have dogs myself but I know them, and know how seriously I take keeping an eye on them/giving them space from my son etc. I am quite sure you are and would be most careful regarding your dog but I just couldn’t risk it myself.

Neither of us know but my room does the school age ones play the other end set up with craft ....nap time isn't after school

Depends on the room I have a large through room the little ones are all used to sleeping in term time so come holidays if we're in they carry on their normal naps the older ones do things they can't do with los around they have grown up with me so also know the routine everyone who needs sleep gets sleep....I take on babies who at home need silence and dark but they all sleep here....I'd rather them downstairs than up what would I do in a fire?

Nap time is usually 12-2ish not after school. If a very small baby needs a late afternoon cat nap they can nap in a buggy.
What do you think families with more than 1 child do?

That's bullshit though, sorry. It's a snap judgment with no basis.
Yes some dog owners think theirs can do no wrong but that really isn't my experience.

Lots of my friend's dogs are rescued so they have a good understanding of their needs and are cautious about their triggers, known or unknown.

I know my dog well and know what is likely to distress them and how they respond with other people.

I would hope that a child minder would be like this but obviously some won't so I get why parents wouldn't take that risk.

Gosh what a bizarre level of sleuthing. Very odd. Yes, it’s the one who was closed with immediate effect. Nothing to do with the dog though you’ll be pleased to know.

You having a dog, particularly of that breed, wouldn't put me off but the dog going to toilet on the grass that the children will play on definitely would, even if it's picked up I would be worried about something getting missed or there being some stuck to the grass.

One of my neighbours is a childminder and has 2 small dogs (used to be 3 before the eldest died). She seems to have a successful business, has been doing it at least 15 years and always has mindees. Don't know whether the dogs and children are allowed to interact though.

@newbieminder do you have a family member who could have the dog or afford to send them to doggy daycare?

Personally it put me off when looking for a childminder a few years ago. The house was quite small the dog was a big breed, it just felt cramped and hectic. However she always appears very busy with lots of kids but just wasn’t suitable for us or our DC.

Our local childminder has an enormous golden retriever and an enormous waiting list. If people dislike the dog they can go elsewhere.

But surely it’s the same if the kids play in a field or anywhere there’s grass? The childminders I know with dogs, their gardens are far cleaner than the fields round the park that the kids also play in 🤷🏼‍♀️

For your information ofsted had no issue with either her childminding or her dog. There are other reasons to do with the wider environment why ofsted May shut down a childminder. Issues which aren’t there for five years but develop

my judgement of the dog was correct. It never bit anyone again. It was hardly a full on frenzied attack. No stitches were needed.

I was simply using it as an example to the OP that a lot of parents will be quite ok and fairly laid back about dogs. I’m assuming you wouldn’t be and that’s fine.

do feel free to spend more time going through my posting history for any more nuggets about me if you have nothing better to do 👍🏻😁

It's a smaller space so to me it's more likely that the kids are going to play on a bit that may still have poo on it than in a huge field.

I’m a dog owner with young children and yes if I’m being honest it would put me off a great deal.

@newbieminder

I think you'd be a lovely childminder, in a lovely home in a great location. Go for it.

Don't be put off by the anti dog brigade, MNers are largely weird about dogs.

i would be totally fine with your dog & I wouldn't want you to change your family/dogs routine. I wouldn't want you to shut your dog out. The only thing I'd like to see is that your dog has somewhere to go away from the children if they wanted to.

school run wouldn't bother me, I'd prefer it if it was a walking one, rather than car, but it wouldn't put me off either way.

dog walks/shopping/Drs/dentist... for you or your kids would all be fine with me. I'd choose a childminder for the 'home from home' nature if it and unlike a prolific poster, I wouldn't actually need your full attention in my DC every second, they need to learn to share & take turns.

and actually your own (childminders) kids take second place for basic things & id just assume you'd prioritise down to 'need' not who birthed them!!

You won't be short of people wanting places!

best wishes! I personally couldn't be arsed with Ofsted & their nonsense, nor most of the parents! Love the kids though!!

oh and do you think you could train your dog to toilet in a specific area? It's not that difficult and you can buy an open pen type thing for the garden for them. Its nice to keep it in one area.

Just stumbled across another thread from yesterday where you’ve also searched another posters previous (and unrelated) posting history. You were pulled up on it and told what poor form it was by more than one person. And here you are, less than 24 hours later continuing with your unpleasant and rather sad behaviour. Are you a bit hard of thinking?

I’m not going to tell you why the childminder was “struck off” as it’s none of your business and irrelevant. I will say however she was given a choice by Ofsted and she could have chosen the other option and remained as a childminder. However that choice would have negatively impacted on someone else and she did the only thing she really could do and told Ofsted she’d have to stop. Which was a shame. And something I did not agree with Ofsted about.

now how about you run on like a good girl and stop being a weirdo stalker and stop derailing the OPs thread.

My excellent child minder was shut down with immediate effect by Ofsted, following a complaint.
A few weeks later she was reinstated when they discovered the complaint was unfounded.

This happens far too many times. Childminders are so vulnerable, often complaints are malicious but it can destroy a minders confidence and reputation