Pitbulls in Daycare

[Unregistered]

I know this is going to get some people riled up, but how do you feel about pitbulls being fostered for a rescue group in a daycare home?

I know the breed can be wonderful dogs, but I also know that those with difficult temperaments can be extremely dangerous. I have a friend with a child in a daycare where the fostered pitbulls are out and about with the kids, and she is really concerned.

As providers, what are your thoughts?

[littlemissmuffet]

I personally would not have any kind of dog while running a daycare. It's too much of a risk FOR ME, but I fully support other childcare providers having dogs while doing childcare.

[caregiver]

Personally, myself I wouldn't do it. My son and his wife have a pit bull mix breed dog and he is the most friendly dog I have ever known, but they have no children, but that is not always the case with pit bulls. I guess if I was that Mom I would be concerned too.

[Unregistered]

I had a daycare family that had 2 pit bulls and they can be wonderful dogs. But personally I am afraid of them. If you raise them as puppies you have a much better chance of the dog growing up to be a good dog. But with fostering IMO is to risky and dangerous to be in a daycare environment. You would be bringing in an adult pit bull with unknown behavior and personality.

It can still be risky for any other type of dog also not just put bulls. I used to have a little dog in my daycare. He was wonderful with the children! But after 2 years I couldn't break him of the habit of chewing up everything

[jenboo]

I would keep them separate from the kids. I have two miniature poodles and i don't let them near the kids during the day even though they are super friendly!

[Play Care]

I personally would not have any kind of dog while running a daycare. It's too much of a risk FOR ME, but I fully support other childcare providers having dogs while doing childcare.

[itlw8]

my childcare ins will not cover injuries or liability from some breeds including pit bulls. I would NEVER have any kind of dog I was fostering near children in childcare. WAY to RISKY no matter what the breed.

[Jagen]

We don't allow our dogs (regardless of breed) to interact with others' children. Our dogs love LOVE children, but - one wiggly butt wag and down goes a toddler. Or a huge possibly of a foot to the face. Always seems like a huge liability and if nothing else, it eases my mind that I am not having to worry about the dogs and the kids all at once.

[Scout]

Personal opinion here, I don't feel that any dog has a place around dck's. If I had a dog I would keep it in a seperate portion of the house. As a parent of kids that used to go to a home dc, I chose her over another because she did not have dogs. Kids are kids, and dogs are dogs and even the best providers can not watch everything at every moment. All it takes is one pull of the ear or tail and ANY breed of dog, not just pitbulls, can bite a child. Not worth the worry as a parent or the liability as a provider, IMO.

[Familycare71]

Early on I actually fostered dogs and had them out with my dck! :confused: I have no idea what I was thinking!!! I had no history on these dogs. I was actually attacked by one of the fostered dogs. It was a jack russle- after that... I learned!
I would personally not allow my child in a dc that had any type of unknown dog around them- it just isn't safe!
FYI- I have 5 dogs- I LOVE dogs (including pitbulls) None of my dogs are with dck- it is more for my dogs protection than the dck- but it really ensures everyone's safety!

[Leigh]

I think that ANY dog around the daycare kids is not a good idea. I have dogs that are very gentle, love kids, and are obedient. I would never have them around my daycare kids. I would never leave them unsupervised with my OWN kid.

Kids' interactions with dogs need to be supervised when kids are under school age. ANY dog can bite. Most kids that get bit by dogs provoked it themselves, even if accidentally. I love my dogs too much to risk having to euthanize them because of a bite that could have been prevented.

I would especially not want a fostered dog around the kids, as the dog's breeding and background is usually not known.

As far as pit-bull types go, aggression can be caused by both nature AND nurture. Some dogs become aggressive because of the way that they are raised. A lot of dogs become aggressive because of genetics. For many years, aggressive traits were desirable in these dogs because they were used for fighting. These dogs are often very irresponsibly bred by owners who neglect to spay/neuter or breed for the fun of it, or just to try to make some cash. These breeders don't take care in selecting a mate for their dogs based on complementary traits, but rather breed through negligence or because of greed or selfishness.

Those irresponsible breeders give today's "pit-bull" a bad name. You'll find some wonderful APBT's, Staffies, and mixed pit-bull types who are wonderful dogs. You'll find plenty of unstable dogs, as well. These unstable dogs are found in many breeds-and are usually the direct result of human negligence.

I wouldn't worry about the breed of dog, but rather about ANY dog in daycare.

[caregiver]

This is not really the topic that was started, but still is related. I guess for me, having a dog in my home as a pet and doing daycare would not bother me, but it would have to be a small dog. I do not currently have a dog, but do have a very friendly cat, who loves being around the kids, is very good with the kids and my dck's love her. I think that having a pet in the house,something that is small, NOT a pitbull, but like a poodle or something that size or a cat is really good for the kids. It teaches them how to respect & treat a pet. I think it is a good learning experience for them. I teach the kids how to be gentle and how to pet my cat. Some of my dck's in the past have pets at home,so they are used to being around them.
I do believe that it is important to keep your pet up to date with yearly exams and shots, which I do so that my dcp's know that they are healthy and not carrying any disease around the kids. My cat gets her rabies and distemper shot every year so that parents know she is good with that.
So I think that it is a personal choice if you want to have a dog in your home doing daycare,but it is important to teach the kids how to treat and respect that pet. Also for me, a pet of any kind adds SO much to your life. They make you laugh when they do funny things and give you that unconditional love. They are a joy for me and my cat is so much part of my family, she is family.
Oh and when I do interviews, I am up front with parents about what pets I have or would be getting and then they can decide it they want their child here for daycare. Most of the dcp's have had no problems with their kids here with my cat or even with dogs would be no problem for them. Animals are a part of life and kids are going to have to learn how deal with them in their life at some time. I think it is how we as providers teach the kids about animals and show them the right way to treat them. But if I did have a dog that wasn't good with kids, then I guess I would not do daycare,which would be just common sense,so I would have to have a good pet with kids or it would not make sense to have kids around it, and it would not be kind to the animal to have it put in another room all day. Just my opinion on the issue,not making any judgements on anyone.

[Unregistered]

I'm a member but logged out. I have dogs in daycare. 2 actually. One is a "dalmation Mix" but it clearly a pure bred pit. I trust my dogs fully. But I do not trust the children. Children are stressful. We all know that. It only takes one split moment when the stress has built up that will cause a dog, who has no other history of aggression, to bite. Its not the dogs fault. But its a liability. My dogs are kept separate from the kids during care hours. Mostly to protect them. With fostering dogs, I would be extremely concerned about the dogs being out and about with the children. Not necessarily with the pitbull breed specifically, but with any dog. Pit bulls are more likely to show aggression towards other dogs than children, in fact, they were the babysitters of history. Very tolerant towards children. Still, I would not trust the stress layered up on the dog, presented by children. With fostering any breed you are unaware of their history, temperament and tolerance of stress. A lot of insurances also do not cover "Bully" breeds. Pit bulls definitely fall under this category which is why I have logged out. As far as we know, on all her paper work and vet records, she's a Dalmatian mix and is covered on our insurance. We've never presented her as any thing else. I would definitely express concern about where the dogs are kept during care hours. If they are unwilling to keep the dogs separate I would find care elsewhere.

[SSWonders]

Honestly, ANY dog in daycare is a risk. I had a ****er spaniel many years ago. He was a "good" dog, until he bit a one year old dck in the face. She had two puncture wounds, one on each side of her mouth. She is now 24 years old and her face is scarred. To this day I feel horrible about it. The dog was rehomed immediately to my in-laws. However, even while there he tried to bite my daughter when she reached for one of his toys. She was the same age as the dck. Unfortunately, even though he was no longer in our home, we couldn't take any more risks and had to put him down. I wouldn't want cats around the children either as my son needed a plastic surgeon to put his face back together when he was 3, after he tried to pick up our cat by the tail. At 22, his face is also scarred. In my opinion it is not worth the risk. UNLESS, there is a way to insure that the dogs are kept away from the children at all times.

[caregiver]

I'm sorry, but I don't agree with not having pets of any kind in your home if you are doing daycare. It is HOW you teach the kids to behave and treat a pet kindly. If they have pets at home, then they should be used to having a pet around during the day. I don't feel you should have kids around a pet that is not good with kids, so therefore you need to decide if you want the pet or want to do daycare. You can not shelter kids from animals as they are a part of life and they will have to come in contact with animals at some point in their life. So at a young age, they need to learn how to react,treat and how to get along with animals. If you don't want the dck's around any animals, then your right, don't have any in your home,but pets like I said, do add so much to your life,give you joy,love and it is all how you so to say, bring your pet up, just like a child,treat them good,give them lots of love and hopefully you can have kids and a pet. You have to know your pet and if they will be good with kids and if they won't then it is up to you to decide what you have to do. But I would not sway from having a pet just because I do daycare.