For Those who Have Dogs

[MG&Lsmom]

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.

I wish I had a house big enough for a Newfi! Or a Great Pry. They make such wonderful therapy dogs. But what does my Aspie daughter want, a toy poodle. Um, no thanks.

[laundrymom]

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...

I love him!!!

[Meeko]

two of my children..::

[mom2many]

We had a cat for 15 years that we'd gotten as a kitten when my own kids were very little. It was used to being around all of the kids and they'd put her in the doll stroller and push her around. She was the best cat!

When she passed away it was so heartbreaking and my husband finally relented and surprised me at Christmas with a shih tzu puppy and she is now 4 years old.

A few years later we got a miniature dachshund puppy for my daughter. Both dogs absolutely adore the dcks and the kids love playing ball with them. I've taught the dcks to be gentle and nice to them ---no pulling hair, tail or ears and both dogs have the most lovable and easy going personalities. They grew up surrounded by kids daily and get so excited when the dcks begin to arrive.

Many of the families would love to have dogs of their own for their kids to play with, but with being gone all day decided against it. They are thrilled with the fact that their children have pets to interact with here!

[MG&Lsmom]

I love him!!!

Me too!

I have to say, that every breed can be good or bad and it all depends on how they are socialized, raised and ultimately their temperament. The trainers we work with always tell us, they can fix obedience, but they can't fix temperament after a certain point. I've seen pit bulls be awesome service dogs and Goldens that would rip you to shreds. You have to know your dog.

[sharlan]

I am not a dog person, but we have an overabundance of cats (5), a ****atoo, and 2 desert tortoises..

The kids have access to the cats, except for 2. One doesn't like kids so she never comes downstairs. The other one is really old and doesn't leave my niece's bedroom, so the kids have no contact with her.

The ****atoo never comes out unless my niece is home. She'll hold the bird and let the kids pet him, but he's never loose outside her bedroom.

The tortoises just cruise around the backyard, but I have to watch the boys. They get too rough with the tortoises.

We had a dwarf bunnie. He was ok with the kids, but had plenty of hiding spots they couldn't get to if he had enough of them.

[dEHmom]

I have 2 dogs and a cat. They spend lots of time around the dck's and my own kids. They are very gentle with the kids, but sometimes can plow them over accidentally. The dck's grab their ears, lips and pull on them, they sit on them and try ride them like a pony.

They are both big dogs, and would NEVER hurt the kids, and I trust that 100%. No doubt in my mind. But I am always there when the dogs are near the kids. Normally the dogs are either outside or locked in the kitchen, but I do socialize them with everyone so they are not afraid of them when they do have to share a space.

The dogs and the dcp's are a different story. I never allow my dogs near dcp's because my dogs are stupid for attention when adults are around, and they jump up for hugs and such, but i don't like that. So the dogs are either outside or locked up when dcp's are around. There are times where dcp's walk into the backyard when we are outside and the dogs are with us, and it's usually a struggle for me to get the dogs IN the house.

[KBCsMommy]

We have a Mastiff! She has free reign of our house. But she sleeps more than anything. She does have to go outside during drop off and pick up time and all meal times.
She barks at the parents when they pull up so she has to stay outside. And she begs for food at at snack and lunch time. I usually let her in after to clean the floor ::!
Shes great with the kids, she lets them climb all over her, pull her ears, open her mouth!! She doesnt care she loves the attention!!

[CheekyChick]

I have dogs and they NEVER see the DCK's. Although my dogs are sweet, they are still animals and I would never run the risk of a child getting hurt or bit in my care. So, my dogs have their own room and that's where they live during the day.

[KEG123]

I only have cats, and chinchillas. The cats are free reign, and if the kids start bothering them, they just run away. No issues. Both my families have dogs and one has cats, so they're used to animals.

[erinalexmom]

I keep them seperate generally but oh how they LOVE my dog! My dogs name is Annie. One day care mom said that the 2yr old dcg calls all dogs Annie now LOL. That little girl has to stop and pet Annie every evening before she leaves. Im ok with it because mom is there with dcg. Yesterday we had a 10yr old here "drop-in care" (summer camp ended last week and school starts next) and during nap he went outside and played ball with Annie but I stood beside him. He had loads of fun with that
The other day a dcd was outside and he was talking to Annie and petting her. I thought it was sweet. He then became my favorite dcd :: If you are nice to my doggie we are gonna be friends

[Meeko]

We have a Mastiff! She has free reign of our house. But she sleeps more than anything. She does have to go outside during drop off and pick up time and all meal times.
She barks at the parents when they pull up so she has to stay outside. And she begs for food at at snack and lunch time. I usually let her in after to clean the floor ::!
Shes great with the kids, she lets them climb all over her, pull her ears, open her mouth!! She doesnt care she loves the attention!!

Ah! Another gentle giant owner! Haven't had a mastiff (yet!) I've had 3 saints and a newfie!

[laundrymom]

Ah! Another gentle giant owner! Haven't had a mastiff (yet!) I've had 3 saints and a newfie!

My Goodness POOP patrol at your houses must involve a shovel!!! rofl!

[Angelwings36]

I have two 5 month old cats that have free roam of the house. All the parents are well aware in the initial interview that I have cats and they interact with the children. This is their home first and I would never take on a client that was not ok with having a cat around their child. My kittes have been trained to play with a human with their claws in, I start this the very first day they come home. I have had absoulotely not one scratch on any one of daycare children in the three and a half months that this set of kitties has been with us. My kitties are extremely affectionate and love attention so the daycare children are allowed to pick them up and cuddle with them if they would like. However, if I notice that a child has been playing with a kitty for two long I tell that child to let 'x' kitty go as they might have to pee, eat or drink or want to have a sleep. I have always raised my kitties along side the daycare kids and maybe that's what makes the difference. Some of the cats I have had over the years where born in my home. They are allowed with the children at about two months and the children are allowed to begin picking them up at around three months.

I have had prospective clients ask about the cats and scratching. Same answer every time; I can't guarantee that the children won't get scratched, although it doesn't usually happen, but if a child is extremely rough with my kitties there is a chance the child might get scratched. In a situation like this I would do all I could to make sure that the child was not pulling at, squeezing or sitting on the cat. But when it comes down to it cats have to have a way to defend themselves too and if a child is being cruel they could potentially end up scratched. Bottom line children need to learn how to interact with animals in a caring, respectful and friendly manner.

[Meeko]

My Goodness POOP patrol at your houses must involve a shovel!!! rofl!

We just have the newf and an 8 week old westie now!

But when potty training our dogs, they are only allowed to go in the "potty spot" which is a grass area beside our shed. They were never allowed to potty anywhere else and never tried after they were trained. We can run around the yard and never have to worry about stepping in a missed pile! It was intense training...but so worth it. The dog ALWAYS runs to his potty spot to do his business.

but yes.......clean up still requires a shovel!!::::