sorry bit long need to air frustration

**honey** · 02-06-2011, 05:23 PM

I have 2 dogs one of which is 10 month old- I have a huge dog gate seprating the playroom so the dogs do not get in whilst working- even tho i know they wouldnt hurt a fly.
My puppy likes to jump this gate occasionally and on this occasion she did and before i could get to her she had licked one of the chidrens face ( 10 month old) the said child came out in a rash where licked, mom wasnt happy - so i wouldnt be happy. she has since asked if i can keep the dog out of the room at all times..

Hubby says -" our puppy is part of the family and why should she be kept out, and how are we going to socialise her to the children if we do " but i can also see the parents view too, the rash went after a day.

dont know what else i can do as she really was not happy, but if the puppy gets in again and does it again- because she is very quick.

**merry** · 02-06-2011, 05:37 PM

I'm sorry but I wouldn't be happy either, puppies can be unpredictable, what if it had been a bite rather than a lick! Socialising a dog and getting them used to children is one thing but an overexcited puppy bounding over a gate and getting into the playroom is different altogether. Can you not put your puppy in another room with the door closed while you're working?

**honey** · 02-06-2011, 05:44 PM

no i cant as we dont have another room for her to go in, we only have the hall which is directly infront of the playroom and the stairgate seperates it, the stairgate is a full height one too.

**Alibali** · 02-06-2011, 05:52 PM

Sorry but I agree with Merry, that is a near miss and I'd be recording it too, your pup got close enough to this child that it could have ended badly, I'd be ensuring this doesn't happen again. I have a dog too, and much as I think he wouldn't hurt a fly, I wouldn't take the risk x

onceinabluemoon · 02-06-2011, 05:53 PM

is there any way you can double gate so making a sort of no man's land in between where the pup goes and where the kiddies go?

I would not be wanting to shut my dog out all of the time though, and if this is what a parent wanted I would advise the parent (nicely) to find a childminder with no dogs as they are all made aware he is part of our family when they sign up to come here...

**honey** · 02-06-2011, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by onceinabluemoon

is there any way you can double gate so making a sort of no man's land in between where the pup goes and where the kiddies go?

I would not be wanting to shut my dog out all of the time though, and if this is what a parent wanted I would advise the parent (nicely) to find a childminder with no dogs as they are all made aware he is part of our family when they sign up to come here...

thats what hubby said as She was made aware that our dog is part of the family when she signed up too, i could put a double stairgate up i suppose but i wouldnt reach the top of the other stairgate, the one we have got is 4 ft high as it is and i am only 5 ft, so couldnt open it.. but she is asking me to keep pup completely away from her child, the dogs have full range of the hall and kitchen when i am in the playroom with the children as i couldnt keep them cooped up all day as that would just be cruel.

may just grin and bear it and hope she dosnt lick the child again!!!!!!!!!! but i still have to think about the childs health. aarrghhhh

BuggsieMoo · 02-06-2011, 06:34 PM

Hi

Ive got 2 dogs, one who is also an 11 month old pup. We have a stair gate on the right way, then one upside down above it so in turn making a gate when opened together and this stops them being able to jump out. Is there anyway you could do this?

My dogs can still see the kids, kids can stroke them through bars if wanted (have parental signatures for this) but dogs cannot do more than get a paw through.

Good luck

Lisa x

**Mookins** · 02-06-2011, 07:34 PM

cant you put another gate on top but upside down so you can reach the lock?

xx

Pipsqueak · 02-06-2011, 07:34 PM

I have two dogs and they are part of my family and they live here. Clients are made VERY aware of this when they sign up. You are a childminder with a childminding home environment.

I take all reasonable steps and precautions with dogs/kids kids/dogs and generally its the kids I have to stop from licking the dogs!!!! All my dogs want to do it curl up in their beds.

I agree - take this as a learning curve, however its not really a big deal in my mind. I don't like dogs licking people - its gross however its what a friendly happy dog does. Yes it could have been a bite but it wasn't. You could have been out and about a the local moggy licked or scratched or came near.

**julie w** · 03-06-2011, 05:45 AM

Hi are you sure it's the lick that caused the rash. I have 2 dogs and like yourself I take precautions to keep all safe, but I've never known a lick to cause a rash. My dogs are part of my family and if new parents do not like dogs they would have to find someone without dogs.x

**Louise0208** · 03-06-2011, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by Pipsqueak

I have two dogs and they are part of my family and they live here. Clients are made VERY aware of this when they sign up. You are a childminder with a childminding home environment.

I take all reasonable steps and precautions with dogs/kids kids/dogs and generally its the kids I have to stop from licking the dogs!!!! All my dogs want to do it curl up in their beds.

I agree - take this as a learning curve, however its not really a big deal in my mind. I don't like dogs licking people - its gross however its what a friendly happy dog does. Yes it could have been a bite but it wasn't. You could have been out and about a the local moggy licked or scratched or came near.

i agree

last year i had a family ask if i could keep my border collie in its crate for 5 hours while there 'little princess' (i think she was 3) was here, i said no as it would be cruel & would cause behaviour problems in the dog (its hard keeping a sheepdog still for a second never mind 5 hours) so they asked to keep it locked in another room, again i said no, this is my dogs house & the only time hes locked away is at meal times or have a crawling baby (which im not accepting simply because of these reasons)

My dog will come before any possible mindee, i warn possible parents on the phone that i have a dog & if they find this a problem thy can go elsewhere.

sometimes my dog will nudge the kids with his nose for fuss or drop a soggy toy in there lap....its what dogs do & parents are made clear of this when on a home visit (he is not locked away so they can see him 'how he is')

the children are taught good hygeine regarding the animals & to be quite honest there is more chance of a mindee biting than the dog!

agree with it or not...its my house!

**mama2three** · 03-06-2011, 07:10 AM

Have to say that as long as parents are fully aware at the time of signing - and that you have fully risk assessed your dogs -then you have done all you have to do.
But - I wouldnt be happy to send a child to a home where dogs could have unsupervised access to the children - what if he jumped over whilst you had popped to the loo for example?
My dog was quite ok a few hours a day in her own space with the door closed - i thought it was kinder than letting her see us all through a childgate and not being allowed to get to us!

**honey** · 03-06-2011, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by Louise0208

i agree

last year i had a family ask if i could keep my border collie in its crate for 5 hours while there 'little princess' (i think she was 3) was here, i said no as it would be cruel & would cause behaviour problems in the dog (its hard keeping a sheepdog still for a second never mind 5 hours) so they asked to keep it locked in another room, again i said no, this is my dogs house & the only time hes locked away is at meal times or have a crawling baby (which im not accepting simply because of these reasons)

My dog will come before any possible mindee, i warn possible parents on the phone that i have a dog & if they find this a problem thy can go elsewhere.

sometimes my dog will nudge the kids with his nose for fuss or drop a soggy toy in there lap....its what dogs do & parents are made clear of this when on a home visit (he is not locked away so they can see him 'how he is')

the children are taught good hygeine regarding the animals & to be quite honest there is more chance of a mindee biting than the dog!

agree with it or not...its my house!

thats exactly what my hubby said- yes it was lick, the child concerned has slight excma too so wether that triggered it i dont know!!! AS for dogs licking yes it is gross and i do normally prevent the dogs from doing it, but sometimes things happen too quickly for you to act. I have the mindeee for 5 hrs too- mindee is asleep at the moment so my puppy is on the sofa fast asleep but i know that when mindee wakes up i will have to put puppy out in the hall /kitchen for 4 hrs.

**honey** · 03-06-2011, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by mama2three

Have to say that as long as parents are fully aware at the time of signing - and that you have fully risk assessed your dogs -then you have done all you have to do.
But - I wouldnt be happy to send a child to a home where dogs could have unsupervised access to the children - what if he jumped over whilst you had popped to the loo for example?
My dog was quite ok a few hours a day in her own space with the door closed - i thought it was kinder than letting her see us all through a childgate and not being allowed to get to us!

may i say that m NEVER leave the dogs unsupervised with the children. she is being trianed at the moment not to jump the gate and when i leave the room to go to the loo she follows me like a magnet. Also the mindee is placed in a playpen when i go to the loo so i know they are safe.

**mama2three** · 03-06-2011, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by honey

may i say that m NEVER leave the dogs unsupervised with the children. she is being trianed at the moment not to jump the gate and when i leave the room to go to the loo she follows me like a magnet. Also the mindee is placed in a playpen when i go to the loo so i know they are safe.

So as long as all that is in place ( and written on your RAs) then Ofsted wouldnt have a problem should this turn into a complaint for any reason. You are taking all reasonable steps to keep the child safe. Good luck with the training!

**honey** · 03-06-2011, 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by mama2three

So as long as all that is in place ( and written on your RAs) then Ofsted wouldnt have a problem should this turn into a complaint for any reason. You are taking all reasonable steps to keep the child safe. Good luck with the training!

thank you i do try my upmost to keep the children safe it was just this one thing and she came down on me like a ton of bricks- i did say that mindees face was washed straight away with water- but she insisted that i keep them away. She hasnt complained to ofsted just to me, so i will hvae to prove to her that her child is safe just got to battle with the hubby as he feels so strongly just like louise0208

**pinkbutterfly** · 05-06-2011, 02:27 AM

How did you exactly explain to the parents about your dogs? I mean did you say to them the dogs are kept separate at all times and have no access to the children? If you did then you MUST make sure this happens and dogs have no access to children at any time. If you said that sometimes dogs have access then I guess you're ok you just have to make sure it's supervised.
I'm terrified of dogs and would never chose a childminder who has one. I got badly bitten when I was 10 through no fault of my own ... the dog just attacked me while I was at a park ... I didn't even see it until it tried to take quite a large chunk of my tigh.

onceinabluemoon · 05-06-2011, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by julie w

Hi are you sure it's the lick that caused the rash. I have 2 dogs and like yourself I take precautions to keep all safe, but I've never known a lick to cause a rash. My dogs are part of my family and if new parents do not like dogs they would have to find someone without dogs.x

My dog (when a pup) licked a school age mindee who was fussing him on the initial visit and it caused a rash. Mum just said 'ah yes that happens, just give her piriton' and was really laid back about it.

With regard to the safety gate, the dog would still be able to get the tip of his face through and his tongue even if the gate was 10 foot tall. OP I really do think maybe you should consider giving notice as this could cause you more trouble than it's worth. xx

**mrs robbie williams** · 05-06-2011, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by onceinabluemoon

My dog (when a pup) licked a school age mindee who was fussing him on the initial visit and it caused a rash. Mum just said 'ah yes that happens, just give her piriton' and was really laid back about it.

With regard to the safety gate, the dog would still be able to get the tip of his face through and his tongue even if the gate was 10 foot tall. OP I really do think maybe you should consider giving notice as this could cause you more trouble than it's worth. xx

I agree, my dog is not locked away during minding hours, she is part of my family and mindees and parents love her

parents are made aware of this on first visit. I have been asked once by an african lady to lock her away for 8hrs a day

said no, lost the potential mindee

my setting is my home and ofsted thought she was lovely aswell

**tulip0803** · 05-06-2011, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by julie w

Hi are you sure it's the lick that caused the rash. I have 2 dogs and like yourself I take precautions to keep all safe, but I've never known a lick to cause a rash. My dogs are part of my family and if new parents do not like dogs they would have to find someone without dogs.x

I used to come out in an allergic rash (nettle rash like hives) if I got licked by a female dog, or even if their nose touched my skin. Never happened with male dogs. I have grown out of it like my cat allergy.