Pets and Day Care Kids

[LoraJenkins]

I have my German Shepherd kept completely away from all DCKs. She stays in the kitchen behind a permanent baby gate. And when we have to go into the kitchen for preschool work, snack or lunch she automatically goes into her crate. She stays there until all kids are back behind the gate, I don't even have to say a word. This is how she was trained from the beginning. She is a sweet dog and loves children but, any dog can and will bite if pestered too much. KWIM

[AmyKidsCo]

My guess is a note disclaiming liability will not protect you. Put a barrier between the dog crate and the kids or move the dog to another room.

If I put a note like on my door I can guarantee I would lose all my families. Ultimately when the children are in my care I AM responsible for them at all times. You need to keep the dog and kids completely separated to keep them safe. I LOVE dogs but my job to keep kids safe comes first.

I totally agree. I'm not a dog person so if my DCP posted a sign like that we'd be out of there.

[Familycare71]

Sounds like the dog is experiencing something called barrier frustration.

The best dogs in the world with kids can get snarky when confined. It's why many dogs will go nuts at the door, fence line or when someone passes their crate. If the dog sees it as the threshold of "their" den or property most will defend it.


Far too many people (not you, just speaking generally!) see their dogs as human. They are a part of our families and we forget they have no sense of right and wrong. At the end of the day, as much as we love them, they are just animals.

Agree 100%!!!

[Flexmama]

Put your dogs crate in a bedroom with the door or somewhere with a shut/locked door so the kids cannot get to the dog.
I have a yorkie, all my parents know about him. He is extremely laid back and never shows an ounce of aggression. With the parents permission, I let him stay out. I only have 4 kids at a time, all of which have dogs at home so they treat him good.
However, if my dog ever started to show signs of aggression he would be put in the bedroom with the door shut while the kids where there. Same goes if a parent become uncomfortable with it. Home day cares are tricky, you want it to be how you like it but at the end of the day it's a business and you need to make sure you're making your clients happy too.