For Those who Have Dogs

[littlemommy]

Do you allow your dogs in the same room as the DCK's?

We have 2 chihuahuas and a cat. They are allowed in the same rooms as the DCK's, as long as I am there to supervise them. The kids know to leave the animals alone. I'm afraid if the kids get in the habits of petting the dogs, they will get annoyed and start disliking the kids. (I don't have the most gentle kids. They aren't used to animals at home.) If I go in the kitchen, the dogs follow me.

[AnneCordelia]

I don't have dogs but I do have two cats and a few rats (caged). I don't let the DCKs near my animals. It's not worth the liability to me. I know and trust my animals, but should the worst happen and a DCK got bit then I would be very sorry for my animal and that I put them in that position (and of course sorry for the child who was bit too).

But then, it's easy to say with only cats. I put them outside and am done with it. We don't bring the rats in the dc area either. It would be harder with a more social animal like a dog.

[Cat Herder]

Yes

Mine went in to visit about once a month and for photo ops.

I liked to put party hats on her and had her sit at the birthday table for the kids albums. The pics are hysterical and parents love it.

Granted, mine was a trained search dog. The parents knew if their kid went missing, she'd be out there looking.

[Holladee]

We have a dog that is great with our five year old, but when I start daycare in two weeks will be contained to the laundry room during daycare hours.

I don't feel like she would hurt any of the kids, but that's not a chance I'm willing to take. Beyond that, when she is out all day I have to sweep twice a day to keep the floors clean (and she is a beagle - doesn't shed too much). I can't stand dog hair on anything so it will be easier on me if she is contained.

[rjskids]

I try as much as possible to keep my dog seperate. He is not allowed in the downstairs daycare area and when we are upstairs I babygate him in our hallway or he's in my bedroom sleeping with my husband (he works third). But we have a big dog. LOVABLE but can be clumsy. So far the kids I have all have a big dog themselves so they absolutely love him. I sometimes give him a break and let him in the family area if I only have one kid (like right now the little ones are napping and I just have one older child playing with the dollhouse and our dog is just laying on the rug). But I absolutely won't ever let him around without supervision. I don't want to take any chances.

[laundrymom]

I allow my dog free rein in my home except for meal times. Right now he is laying beside the 4 yr olds watching them play legos. He is a medium size (18#) poodle mix. Been in the daycare since 6 weeks old. He is 5 the 23 of aug. He is just one of the kids. He is our pet. Part of our curriculum, part of our family. Most the kids I have don't have pets at home so I share mine. I am always in sight and sound of the kids so they are always supervised with him.

[MG&Lsmom]

Our cat has free reign of the house, but steers clear of the dcks and my 2yo. She will lash out if they get too rough so I try to shoo either her or the dcks away. Mostly she sits in the window high enough away to not be touched, but where she can watch the goings on.

We have a dog on the weekends. He's a service dog in training. He's here Friday afternoons and 1 Monday a month. He's also allowed to roam free now. He's huge and could knock them over, but by 10am the novelty has worn off and the kids just ignore him & he ignores them.

[morgan24]

I have a Westie and she is allowed everywhere. She steals the toys from the kids and takes them upstairs. The kids have always been use to having her around. I do keep a close eye on her, if she gets tired of them she gets in a chair and the dcks know they have to leave her alone. When they eat she has to stay out of the kitchen until they are done.

[Crystal]

I allow my dog free rein in my home except for meal times. Right now he is laying beside the 4 yr olds watching them play legos. He is a medium size (18#) poodle mix. Been in the daycare since 6 weeks old. He is 5 the 23 of aug. He is just one of the kids. He is our pet. Part of our curriculum, part of our family. Most the kids I have don't have pets at home so I share mine. I am always in sight and sound of the kids so they are always supervised with him.

Pretty much the same here. I have a 10 year old lab mix and an almost 1 year old Shar-pei. The kids and parents love them. I have had an interview in the past that the parent asked me to kennel my dogs during daycare hours. I passed on that client and would do it again. The dogs are very much a part of our daycare family and I beleive that children NEED to be around animals frequently so that they learn how to treat animals and just becaus it is good for them.

[Zoe]

I have 3 dogs, yep, 3. They're all different with the kids so they're all treated differently. The lab mix is the most gentle thing on the planet and is just a big lump so she is in the living room (our daycare area) most of the day. The kids love her but leave her alone for the most part anyway. They're too busy playing!

The pomeranian is a typical little dog and gets overwhelmed by the kids so if she's inside she has a place under our desk that she goes to get away and is left alone there as well. She's my shadow and I'm able to closely supervise her.

The lab puppy is sweet but obviously has more energy so she is outside all day. I bring her in during nap time so she can have some bonding time with me, but other than that. I don't trust her with the daycare toys and it's not worth the stress to watch her as well as the kids.

Yes, there is risk, but with the group I have (all over 3) I am comfortable with the 2 dogs being in the daycare. If I got younger kids, I would have them outside or in our mud room (closed off porch separate from the rest of the house) all day.

I think you have to know your kids and know your dog. If you aren't sure, then separate. I chose to have dogs and chose to do daycare so I try to integrate them as much as possible. You have to be an animal lover to come here!!

[littlemommy]

Pretty much the same here. I have a 10 year old lab mix and an almost 1 year old Shar-pei. The kids and parents love them. I have had an interview in the past that the parent asked me to kennel my dogs during daycare hours. I passed on that client and would do it again. The dogs are very much a part of our daycare family and I beleive that children NEED to be around animals frequently so that they learn how to treat animals and just becaus it is good for them.

I used to keep my bigger Chihuahua in a room, where she was by herself behind a closed door. After the last kid would leave, I'd let her out, and she would go and pee or poo on the bathroom floor. I talked to the vet about it, and she said that she's looking for attention because she's lonely all day. Now she has free reign with the other dog and cat, but tends to keep to herself. I can tell she's happier overall though. She's family and deserves to be out with us!

The kids don't have pets at home, and the parents love the fact that they are around pets here.

[Meeko]

I have a 209 pound, 4 year old Newfoundland who comes to visit at the day care. He loves it and the kids love it. Newfs are naturally drawn to children and are so incredibly gentle. The kids climb all over him and he is fine with it. He would also go to my daughters' school when they were in middle school. He got adopted as unofficial mascot and was always surrounded by dozens of kids. He didn't care...infact he would get so excited when I pulled into the parking lot because he knew that meant loves and hugs! He does the same when my husband brings him to day care. We just got a Westie pup last weekend too! He will visit the day care when he's a bit bigger. The socialization is important to him.

[wdmmom]

I have a golden retriever. Most of the parents don't mind if the dog is around the kids, however, there is one that has an issue with it. My dog is so laid back (and fat) that she spends most of her day laying down. The kids use her as a pillow and she doesn't mind. I do keep her blocked off from the room for the majority of the day. She gets maybe an hours worth of time in there each day. She isn't allowed in the lower level either.

My cat has free reign of the house. He can go wherever he wants to...and that's no where near kids! ::

[morgan24]

I have a 209 pound, 4 year old Newfoundland who comes to visit at the day care. He loves it and the kids love it. Newfs are naturally drawn to children and are so incredibly gentle. The kids climb all over him and he is fine with it. He would also go to my daughters' school when they were in middle school. He got adopted as unofficial mascot and was always surrounded by dozens of kids. He didn't care...infact he would get so excited when I pulled into the parking lot because he knew that meant loves and hugs! He does the same when my husband brings him to day care. We just got a Westie pup last weekend too! He will visit the day care when he's a bit bigger. The socialization is important to him.

When I first started daycare my neighbors had Newfoundlands and they were in a fenced in yard. The only time they ever jumped the fence was when my dcks were outside playing and laughing. They were in a fenced in play area, so I had to watch the dogs so they didn't jump my fence. The dogs could only hear the kids not see them. It was funny

[Meeko]

Last Christmas, I only had 3 kids that needed care between Christmas and New years. So instead of me going to my day care, I just had the parents bring their kids to my house for those few days. My Newfie would stand and let the kids hold his tail and he would gently pull them around the house. If they let go, he would stop and wait for them to hold on again and then off they would go! He was their provider most of the time! Just like Nana from Peter Pan (who was a Landseer (black/white Newfoundland!)!

This my gentle boy...