As a family we would love to get a dog. I have 3 children aged 9, 5 + 2.
I am a childminder and look after a 9 mth old full time. Would it be a complete nightmare having a puppy aswell?
The plus side is that I am home during the day (the most I am out is a couple of hours at toddler group) and my husband also works from home most days.
My house has a kitchen/ diner and a seperate lounge ( the lounge being my main room for childminding). I was thinking if I get a stairgate across the kitchen I could keep the dog in there. The bed/ crate would be in there and this would be where it stays at night and during the day when I'm childminding.
Obviously the dog wouldn't just be abandoned in the kitchen as we would be in there to eat lunch etc and also when doing colouring/ craft activities. But at these times the children will be at the table and babies in highchairs.
Would this work?