Dog in Childcare Home

Updated on February 17, 2010
M.G. asks from Olathe, KS
24 answers

Hello All, This question is for any childcare providers out there and also anyone with kiddos in childcare.

I do childcare in my home and we have not had a dog since shortly before I started. We had a dog for 13 years and he had to be put down. I would now like to get a dog and my boys would LOVE it, but my hubby thinks that it is too much of a risk for the business. He is afraid that the dog would get over excited and snap at a child. He is also afraid that when the time comes that I am looking for new clients I'll have a had time finding people willing to bring their child to me with a dog in the house. I do see his point, but all of my clients (past and present) have had dogs.

I'ld like to find a dog that is a year or two old and is needing a good home.

Tell me your thoughts please.

Thanks, M.

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T.C.

answers from Minneapolis on

It looks like you have a lot of mixed answers on this one. I think you are either dog people or you arent. My son is 2 1/2 and goes to an inhome daycare and she has a dog. He is a smaller dog but is great with the kids. He isn't around them all day long but at times he is and there is no problem. I have no problem sending my child to a daycare with pets. I think pets are great for kids and adults. We have a rott/german shepard mix and he is great with my son to. I think as long as you have a place for the dog to be so its not running around the house with the kids all day that it is fine. Talk to the parents of the kids you have and see how they feel about it because it is thier opinion that matters to. I would say get the dog though. There will always be people that are ok with it and people that arent. You cant make everyone happy.

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S.T.

answers from Kansas City on

I have an older dog and run an in home daycare as well with two kids he is fine with them when they won't leave him alone and he gets irratated I just put him in my room with the door closed but I'll be getting an infant in april and they had no issues with my dog. good luck

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M.S.

answers from Chicago on

I also have a home daycare in my home. We have three cats, ans I have lost several jobs due to my pets. I find that most of the people who choose me have cats themselves! You will definitely loss some potential clients because of a dog, but it will not be impossible to find people who do not mind a dog either. My friend who has a daycare and has two dogs. Either people love the dogs or hate them. Most of her clients have dogs themselves. If you let people know ahead of time that you have a dog, then only people that do not mind the dog will choose to interview with you.

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S.S.

answers from Santa Barbara on

M.-
I have had my lab mix since she was a puppy. She is about 4 months older than my son. When I knew my son was on his way, I just started training her to be completely non-reactive to anything that happened. My son can take her full food dish from her, take a toy from her, pull her treat from her mouth, lay on top of her, try to ride her, pull her ears, tail, blow in her nose, force open her mouth, etc, etc. without incident. I am thankful that I did this, because my son was one of those kids that got the best kid-trained dog to bark or snap at him. He truly loved them tooooooo much and would drive them crazy. If you're set on doing this, do your research. Find the best kid breed/mix and go from there. I would recommend a younger dog so that you can train without too much "bad" history. I had a pound puppy that you couldn't sweep or show a newspaper to or she'd have a complete melt down. For her, it wasn't "violent", she would just cower, but other dogs might react differently. I also agree that the safest thing would be to keep the dog away from the other children, but to me that isolates the dog, which may not be a good thing. Make sure you check with your current clients and see if a new dog would be an issue for them. You don't want to disrupt your income because of a dog. Just know that no matter what you do, some prospects or clients will find whatever you are doing not acceptable. They don't like that you keep the garbage can (with child proof lid) not in a locked room or cupboard. You have the day's traffic on your carpet. You have a dog, it's too big, too little, gives too many kisses--too friendly, doesn't give kisses--not friendly enough. Whatever you do some parent won't like it. I would just be smart and very observant with the kids and the dog. I have friends with two tiny dogs that are cute as buttons. The good part about them is that they can't knock over a toddler, if they bit someone it is virtually harmless, but I bet someone has a story about a child being hurt by a small dog too.

Best,
S.

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B.S.

answers from Kansas City on

M.,
My day care provider has two dogs at her house. I think she mainly keeps them in the garage or outside during the day though. I don't have a problem with it because I know that she would not allow them around the kids if there was a thought the dogs would snap at the kids. She has three kids of her own so the dogs are used to kids. The dogs are around the kids when the kids are outside in the back. One is a St. Bernard mix, and one is a Llapso Opso.

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J.W.

answers from Kansas City on

I am a child care provider and I have always had dogs. Currently we have 2 cocker spaniels and 1 lab. The oldest cocker we have had since just before our own children were born so before I even started my own business she with my twins getting chased, pulled on ect and just learned that if she didn't want bothered she would go somewhere else. I go through a day care agency that has on record that I have dogs so before people even call me they know, but I do still tell them before I even set up an interview. I ALWAYS either lock our dogs up the stairs or put them outside when kids are getting dropped off just because they seem to get more excited with the parents being there than the kids and they are ALWAYS confined when the kids are eating. Our dogs are allowed to lay around the kids and the kids love it and we have yet to have a problem with it...knock on wood. We have gotten all of our dogs as puppies 7 - 10 weeks old and I think that has helped because they have been rasied from a young age to be used to how a baby/toddler would play with them. All but one of my parents since starting child care have had dogs and that is also part of my interview process. I let the parents and kids meet the dogs. Good Luck!!

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R.S.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I also do childcare and had a small dog that was a part of our family for many years. Although the daycare kids loved our dog I would keep her in the cage until my kids came in from school. I did let her out for breaks and to run around. We never had a problem with the parents or kids with the dog. She was a mixed Terrier so she was small like a puppy. We had a cousion over and this cousion just so happen to attend the daycare so our dog knew her. For some strange reason she just snapped at her and snipped some skin off her chin, and a month later she did that to another child. I cant explain what happened, I was right there so the kids were not teasing the dog. Just think it through, my children are wanting them another dog, one of them said it should not be because of the daycare they have to suffer because they already share alot with the daycare.

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K.C.

answers from Kansas City on

I think that a dog will deter some people, but that may be good. I think that many of the people who would be deterred would not be likely to go to an in home daycare anyway. I would talk to your current clients first, though, as you want no surprises for them.

K.

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S.L.

answers from Boca Raton on

Our home day care provider had a 3 dogs. It wasn't a problem. We asked her about them when we first met with her, but ultimately, after meeting the dogs, had no problem. We no longer go there as my son is in school now, but she sat for him, and plenty of other children, and the dogs were never an issue. Children should grow up with animals anyway; it makes them better people.

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K.X.

answers from Omaha on

My husband was the same way when I was doing child care. But, we would keep the dog in another area of the house when the kids came over. She could go down to our basement or out to the garage.

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F.X.

answers from Orlando on

I have to say that you not only have to deal with the chance of a dog snapping at a child, but what about allergies? Coming from a family where nearly ALL of us have allergies, I can tell you that some breds tend to cause more allergic reactions than others, and it has little or nothing to do with the length of the dog's hair or how much you try to vacuum and keep dog hair at bay. I'm not sure of the age that you take kids into your day care, but it would stink if you accepted a child whose parent is fine with you having a dog, only to discover after a while that your dog is causing an allergic reaction in their child that the parent had no idea about

J.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Everyone who has watched our oldest has had a dog and/or cat, and I think that's been a good thing. It helped her learn how to treat animals well, and not to fear them, but also to give them a safe distance. We are planning to get a dog in a couple of years, and I think it will be an easy thing for her to adapt to. One thing that her current sitter does is keep the dog on a leash inside the house so she always is able to keep it under control. I think that's reassuring. Also, the dogs have all been medium-sized - spaniel, Australian shepherd, etc. - which is also less scary to think about that bigger dogs. Good luck!

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G.B.

answers from Tulsa on

If you have a dog and parents use that as an excuse to not bring their kids to you that might be a good indicator they were not a good fit for your home. I always had pets in my child care center, like fish, cats, etc...I am not really a dog person. One child care center had a donkey and ducks. Some have other, more exotic stuff, not for me....An older dog is usually old enough you can tell if they can do kids or not. If the dog is not a Pit Bull, I don't think they are "all" bad, just the ones made that way, or a Irish Wofhound who would outweight and stand taller than everyone in the home then I think a dog would be a good addition. If a parent had questions about having dogs in child care then have a copy of the state regs and the informationon on your dog showing the have met those requirements with shots and tags.

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A.A.

answers from Chicago on

I guess it just depends. It could definitely impact your ability to get future clients. My daughter and I both have lots of allergies and eczema and if I was looking for care I wouldn't even be able to consider a home with an animal. Also I think your husband is right about the liability part of it--at least look into what your insurance covers if a child did get bit. Bottom line, you already have so much to take care of with the daycare kids and your own children, why add something else like becoming a pet owner? Dogs are a lot of work-do you really need something else to clean up after =) Maybe some fish instead! Best of luck whatever you decide!

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D.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

That's a tough one. Since you decided to turn your home into a business, you do need to think about liability.

As other people said, you could have the dog in a different part of the house during business hours - that would never work with our dog, she'd whine all day because she wasn't part of the party.

The problem with a dog who is a few years old who needs a good home is that you have no idea what its history is and what it's behaviors are when stressed. I think that would ultimately be a bad scenario. However, if you get a puppy from a shelter and give it training, it may be a different story.

There are professional Animal Behavioralists out there who can really work with you on making sure you understand your dog and enhance training efforts.

If you really want one, I'd say get one (because I totally believe kids should have pets in their lives). But, think through all the possible scenarios (such as dog poop in the yard where kids play, etc) before you do and make sure you are comfortable facing possible loss of clients/legal action if something does happen.

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I completely agree with Tina about getting a breed that is good with children and completing training with them. Our previous daycare provider had a rottweiler, which we were uncertain about, until we saw their 2 year old stick its hand in his mouth and the dog go crazy trying to lick the kid all over. Any dog that would rather lick than bite was good in our book, and we never had a problem. That wouldnt go over well with all parents, but i'd rather have my kid around pets than not, if they are well behaved.

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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

Your husband is right. Having a dog in an in-home daycare is a huge liability risk. Doesn't matter if your clients have dogs or not, if there is an incident you will be sued because it's your dog and your responsibility to control your dog. Dogs come with no guarantee that they won't bite or nip. And a dog that you don't raise from a puppy comes with even less guarantees. You won't know what it was exposed to as a pup. Definitely not worth the risk from a smart business stand point.

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J.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

My SIL has a licensed daycare in MN and she has a large dog and two cats. The dog is not an issue for her.

jessica

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

I would not place my toddler in a childcare home with a dog - big or small. I am not so worried about allergies, but a lot of unfamiliar children (and not everyone owns a dog) and a dog just do NOT mix!
If the provider would assure me that the dog was confined to an area away from the kids ALL DAY, I might think about it. However if I was comparing providers, it would definitely a negative point on my list.

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A.M.

answers from New York on

NO, do not do it. i would never send my child to a place where there was a dog. when comparing where to send the child, that would be a negative no other place would have, so i would go with the other place. and if you do get people to go, you should never have the dog allowed in the rooms the children go to. this will be very difficult with kids around who will want to see the dog. it also seems unfair to the dog.

if the dog does ever hurt a child, you will have a lawsuit on your hands and its guaranteed that by word of mouth, you will be out of business for good.

im not saying this to be harsh, but no matter who says "oh that wouldnt bother me", a week later after they mention it to a friend, mother, sister, ect, im sure they will have second thoughts.

and one more thing to consider, although it might seem nice to find an adult dog needing a home, the bottom line is someone got rid of that dog for a reason. you will never know if that dog already has shown that it doesnt like kids or the dog may never have been around kids in its life, thats a huge gamble. let alone the fact, these kids may never have been around a dog or are just rough and actually tease the dog.

there are just too many factors to consider, im not saying any of them will even happen, its just why take a risk esp when dealing with your livelyhood. this is all coming from someone who has had a dog when my kids were babies and toddlers. remember, just because someone has a dog, and someone likes doeg, doesnt mean they want your dog to be around their kids. that is even more true when the parents are paying you.

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K.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

I did daycare in my old home and we had 2 dogs and no one seemed to care. If it is a problem, than keep the dog in a seperate part of the house during business hours.

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R.F.

answers from Dallas on

If you do get a dog, consider looking at a dog that was trained as a service dog - sometimes dogs are trained but fail the program for non-behaviorial issues (hip problems or other non-threatening health problems). Not only will you help the dog, but people might be more open to a dog with special training that could, in fact, help you, since their training makes them more in tune to special needs/emergencies.
There will still be liability issues. Since you have an in-home business, I assume you have forms that parents sign. Maybe an attorney can look at your forms to make a modification for pets. Nothing unreasonable (ie - some kids may tease animals to the point where the animal defends itself - which, either way, would be hard to defend yourself or the dog).
Side note - I did interview an in-home provider - the first thing we noticed was that the house smelled like cat pee. An immediate no on our part, even though at the time we ourselves owned two dogs and a cat. Cleanliness will always be an issue (smells, dog hair).

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C.T.

answers from New York on

I would never put my child in a childcare with a dog present. It's too much of a risk and dogs are unpredictable (I grew up with plenty, and will hold off on having a dog in my home until the kids are older).

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T.C.

answers from Dallas on

We chose the breed of our dog from our girls' in-home day care. One day my husband went with me to pick up our girls, and he saw how terriffic their dog was with the kids... So, he said "We could have a Kasey...". The next month we did. We've had several "Kaseys" over the last 17 years... (Cocker Spaniels). ..along with about a dozen other breeds.

Ultimately you have to be a responsible pet owner and business owner.

#1 choose a breed that is known for being good with the kids, and well accepted by the public. (Hands down I'd personally go with a Golden Retriever)
#2 Then, be very careful when choosing the specific dog out of that breed.
#3 Although I am all about rescuing, I would NOT get an adult dog because you don't know the history. I would go on and get an older pup. 5-7, maybe 9 months old... old enough to know it's true temperment, but young enough to train quickly and have patience with little kids. You're going to need patience too, because that's the hardest time of puppyhood!!
#4 Enroll immediately in puppy kindergarten. Continue until your puppy has earned his/her Canine Good Citizen certification. That's the same certification that therapy dogs hold, and will be of benefit to put parents at ease with having the dog around their children.
#5. Then, be sure you have an area of the home that your dog can go to to get some space from the kids. Most accidental snips I've encountered have been because the dog had no reprieve from the kids and was just simply over-the-moon tired of being pulled at.

#6 My experience was that GOOD caregivers are hard to find, and the best ones usually have a waiting list. SO, if someone has a problem with your having a dog...move on down the list. Good Riddance. Your family will benefit from having a pet, and shouldn't loose out because some daycare parent doesn't prefer their kid be around a dog.

Good luck.

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