dogs and childminding

[*Jigsaw*]

Im in the very early stages of my career change from dental nursing to childminding, infact Ive only just booked onto the course which starts in sept !
I have many questions as Im sure most newbies do but my main one and my deciding factor if childmindiing is indeed and option is my dogs and how it will affect a) my dogs and b)my minding.

I have 2 dogs (amongst many other animals inc horses !) they are not allowed in the lounge or upstairs or infact the playroom but the live in the kitchen/back extension area.

i would appreciate any thoughts/advise on this

thanks

Lucy

[Twinkles]

Many of us have dogs and as long as you keep them seperate ( with supervised access ) you will be fine. You will probably need to do a risk assessment to show how you will keep mindees safe ( even the lovliest dog is still an animal ). You will find some parents put off by the fact you have a dog and some will love the idea so it balances out really.


Oh and welcome to the forum

[FizzysFriends]

I have a springer and it its not a problem, the dog has her area (which Im just having made bigger for her), I have those tall dog gates (although the dog and jump 6ft so she could still clear it).

Dog likes the kids being here, must be something to do with the bits of their lunch they don't want to eat they give to the dog. She doesn't settle till the children have said hello to her though.

I taught the children basic commands so when we are out in the woods and the dog is off lead the kids can boss the dog around, lol. The changes direction on command but I have to stop them doing it if they are all doing it or the dog gets dizzy

[zillervalley]

Ah bless (fizzy) dog getting dizzy with mixed commands I Know what you mean though, ha


I have had a dog now for the last three inspections never had a problem, I show a risk assesment- dog fowling , excitment . food, etc

mrs o was fine

zller

[*Jigsaw*]

thanks I was worrying I might not be able to do childminding full stop or the dogs would have to be shut aways for 8hrs a day

[*Jigsaw*]

thanks so much thats a huge relief - also Ive been told I have to inform environmental health that i will be preparing childrens meals as part of a business, do you know how they will feel about the dogs in the kictchen area ?

[Daftbat]

I have had a dog for the past year and was inspected in February with him around. He is often in the kitchen when i am preparing food and there is no problem.

[gigglinggoblin]

My EH inspector said animals were not allowed in the kitchen but he did accept that it was unlikly my cats would agree to that rule. He said I just have to be especially careful to clean down surfaces etc beofre preparing food. However I think I was unlucky, no one else on here has said they had an inspection as tough as mine, most of them had a quick look and left.

[ORKSIE]

There should be problem, so long as mindees not left alone with dog. Seems you have it sorted anyway as the dog will not have much contact with the children.

[flora]

as said,, many of us mind with dogs, i have three, they are around all the time i am working, one gets shut away sometimes if we are running around alot as he can't cope with the kids screaming ect and he can lay nice and quietly in the office

i just show how i would keep the kids safe and well and get written permission for the kids to be in contact with the dogs

welcome to the forum, especially as your are a horsey peeps. there are quite a few of us lurking

[*Jigsaw*]

thats great ! thanks everyone, look forward to meeting the horsey people

[mammumof4]

hi, we have just got a chocolate lab pup, he is only 9 weeks so loves to play, chew everything! ive made him a pen that he loves sleeing in away from the kids. im not minding yet but i dont see it being a problem. i will take him to the park with uswhen he has had all his jabs, using weekends to teach him to walk on a lead! you should be fine as long as you dont leave children alone with them and are carefull with hygine.
good luck and welcome

[OrlandoBelle]

I have a springer and it its not a problem, the dog has her area (which Im just having made bigger for her), I have those tall dog gates (although the dog and jump 6ft so she could still clear it).

Dog likes the kids being here, must be something to do with the bits of their lunch they don't want to eat they give to the dog. She doesn't settle till the children have said hello to her though.

I taught the children basic commands so when we are out in the woods and the dog is off lead the kids can boss the dog around, lol. The changes direction on command but I have to stop them doing it if they are all doing it or the dog gets dizzy

Sounds just like my springer, Jacob. The kids love him to bits and he loves them being here because of the left over food they drop... just at his level! I always shut him out when the children are eating and then he comes in and clears up under the highchair! Lol. My little 22 month old mindee has just learned to say "Jacob, Bed!". They love stroking him and giving him treats. He's like a kid himself and has to be with us all the time. He hates being shut out. He lets the kids pull his ears and never bats an eyelid. He's such a good dog.

I guess it all depends on the personality of your dogs really. As well as Jacob, we used to have another dog called Sascha. She was a german shepherd. Before I was registered she pushed me over when I was answering the door to the postman and attacked him.... not literally... but it really shook me (and the postie!) up. She broke his glasses and tore his coat. From that moment I knew I could never trust her with children around, so we re-homed her. It was a heartbreaking decision, but it was either the dog or my career. I know I made the right decision.

[Blackhorse]

hi there!!
good advice already given.

I have 2 cats and my inspector was fine...parents so far as well..
want to get a dog too at some point...I am sure if wont be a probkem if you think about all the aspects of safety etc

good luck with your application

PS I am a horsey person too!!

[mumof4]

We have quite a few pets inc 2 dalmations, One is 15 and just sleeps all the time. The other is 2 years old and quite bouncy so she tends to stay in a different room while minding but the kids like to go walks with her. The cats keep out of the way funnily enough! With the horse I did a risk assesment, got permission from parents and now take the older ones on occasion to groom her which they all love. When mrs O came she just mentioned about the water bowl which is in the kitchen for our oldie but apart from that she thought it was good for the mindees to have experience with animals. We also have rabbits, guinea pigs fish and untill recently 4 hens!!

[Cammie Doodle]

No longer have any pets , but have had a dog who played a huge part in my mindees lives, in fact one Mindee used to bring her dog too I had no garden left, but they had great fun. We have just cared for a friends tortoise (aged 35 ) whilst they were on holiday. Children love animals and I think it's good for them to learn how to care for and respect animals. Ofsted never had a problem with my dog (even when she got on her lap I though I would of failed, but she just laughed)

[mushpea]

would never seperate my dog from the children all day, he is allowed the run of the garden and of the kitchen and hall way but not the living room wich is a bit of a pain cause you have to through the lounge to get to the garden, i have a gate on the lounge door which all the children can open as he likes to lay in the lounge but then takes up too much floor space when there are six of them playing.
we all go for walks together and the 2yrold was walking through the woods the other day shouting farley come on ,, dogs name is charly and he stil came back to the mindy
he is a dopy labrador and is very calm indoors and all the kids love him, he knows and they know that when he is in his bed thats his place and he is to be left alone.
i shew ofsted we had some good boundries and rules with the dog and they were happy with that.

[nannymcflea]

I have 2 dogs and never had a parent not want to come because of them, they are not allowed unsupervised contact or in the lounge when I am working as everyone would go home covered in white hairs!

[AvrilMJS]

I have just bought a 4 month old Yorkie pup. I fully intend on her being away from the kids in the living room unless we are all socialising. The CC saw her when they came to visit and had no problem with her, I just had to do a new Pet Policy.


Avril x