My mother in law had an absolute phobia of dogs - she once passed out when a GSD barked at her. Would cross the street to avoid any dog. Wouldn't visit parks because of off lead dogs bounding around
So I brought this home! Karelian Bear Dog - prehistoric breed from Finland for keeping bears (and mother in law's) away from the home.
It took some time but once MIL understood a little dog psychology and why dogs do what they do and just how gentle he is they are now best buddies. She herself said that Bert has cured her of her phobia.
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Because that is what it is. It may be their house but to us it is the childcare setting in terms of the regulations and contract.
Can't emphasise this enough, in this context its a child care setting first and residential home second unless the two are separate. All the stuff about getting kids used to dogs and allergies is irrelevant at best and dangerous at worse, man off the street reasoning doesn't hold, it's all down to the Ofsted framework and risk assessments as with any business.
Tbf Bert looks like he could rip me in two should he choose to!! Cracking looking hound!
Tbf Bert looks like he could rip me in two should he choose to!! Cracking looking hound!
I deliberately chose a photo of him looking 'manly' but I was wanting to illustrate that someone who had a fear/phobia of dogs that sounds similar to the OP's eldest can overcome them although perhaps not in this childcare environment/discussion.
First comment from Sister in law was "OMG what have you done, you've got a wolf - you'll never see mum (MIL) again"
Result👍
Been watching this with a bit of interest. I always had dogs growing up and couldn't imagine anyone would have any issue being around dogs. Now I have children I can see it from the other side, my son developed a fear of dogs, to the point he tried stepping into the road in traffic to get away from a barking dog which was "only being friendly"
We had worked with him, taking neighbours older dogs out for a walk etc and he was getting better until a family member got a puppy. We were under the impression it had calmed down and got to their house. It decided to chase him, he tripped up and it nipped at his legs and ripped his trousers. All of a sudden he was terrified again.
The idea of throwing a child into that environment when they have a true fear is bordering on child abuse.
think the OP has made the only sensible decision possible.
OP, serious offer.
I'm not sure where you're based but if you're near The Midlands and you think getting your children to meet a calm, slow moving dog would be beneficial then drop me a message.
We have a retired greyhound here, lazy, sleepy, doesn't bark and will only move for a piece of cheese or to a different part of the house to sleep.
I have a very wary niece and Eric (the hound) has made her feel much more at ease with dogs.
I’m interested in why you used the word “setting”
They all do that. The nurseries we have used both refer to the area the kids are in as "the setting".
It's weird.
It would just mean visiting a few and saying “show me your puppies”.
If they’re for sale, I want the ones with brown noses…
So glad you have found a suitable alternative for your children. Doing this in the manner your childminder has is not acceptable to be honest. Definitely a need to keep a dog and children in separate spaces and revisit risk assessments on the part of her business.
A dog wandering freely in the same space is thoughtless at best and adds as significant level of risk. One of the key things with dogs and children is making sure they are supervised all the time. I wouldn’t leave any child - let alone a child who fears dogs, alone at any point.
We ensure that interactions between my pre-school nephew and our dog are managed. He is an excitable and playful dog with lots of energy and my nephew is very slight - the potential for accident is high - the dog hasn’t bitten anyone yet, but we wouldn’t let him have the opportunity to bite a small child.
One of the key things with dogs and children is making sure they are supervised all the time
Our dog has slept on our sons bed for years
I’m interested in why you used the word “setting”
Do you write menus for flowery restaurants in your spare time?
It's a thing within early years and childcare.
They could be a school, nursery, outdoor kindergarten, childminder, after school club etc. It's easier, and more inclusive to all forms of provision, to apply the term 'setting', or early years and childcare.
Wait to you hear how often GIRFEC is used.
wtf is that?
Hiya,
I'm a dog owner and my dog is a collie cross. However out of all dog breeds they are the snappiest to be honest.
Collie's bar none are responsible for all my dog bites in my lifetime.
You have to be good at training them from the start. I'm definitely of the opinion that the child minder is mad to think this is acceptable and should've gauged opinions first. Kinda symptomatic of the modern world I feel. I'd say you made the right decision about the child minder. I guess you probably won't be the only one in this respect. In fairness all dogs are unpredictable to a certain extent, even our dog warned off my brothers children, it was after one of them pulled her tail. Since then we have to be very careful with our dog, even though she is totally docile most of the time. Dogs have long memories and as I said unpredictable in some respects. If the child minder has their own children around at the same time you don't know if the dog may bite to protect them.
JeZ
Not read all the thread, but I assume that the person was getting a puppy?
I am a dog owner, and I wouldnt want my kid around a puppy. When we got our Boxer our son was about 3 yrs old. He didnt know how to behave around dogs, the puppy didnt know how to behave around kids. Both need training.
I cant see how a childminder could train a dog and potentially multiple kids at one time.
I would have no reservation having my kid around an older trained dog but not a new pup.
Has the childminder thought of the Pup's welfare?Being immersed in the midst of god knows how many exciteable kids, presumably without its own safe space, ain't going to be fun, and it may well nip. Puppies do. There may be no malice in their nips but it'll only take one injured kid and one irate parent to brand it a wrong 'un...
So, in conclusion, the answer is dogs not sprogs