Daycare Provider Purchased Pit Bull Mix

nothing to worry about

you have nothing to worry about. her having a pitbull is just the same as her having a lab. They are just dogs and are absolutly no different then any other dog. switching day cares because they have a pitbull is the same as switching day cares because the assistant is a different race. Those dogs are VERY VERY friendly and lovable and provide an EXTREME amount of proctection. your child couldnt be in a SAFER place. there is NOTHING wrong with the situation at the day care with the dog. and as a pitbull owner it is very offensive that someone would go out of there way to report, switch day cares, and/or make a big scene about someone having a pitbull. its the same as if they had a; lab, poodle, terrier, ect.. just becuase the media has portrayed the pitbull breed to be aggressive and visious does not mean that every single pitbull you see is the same. my pitbulls play with my 1 year old neice perfectly fine and my friends children/babies play with them too. so no offence but that is my opinion. NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

SO - what do I do? We LOVE the daycare - the other kids/parents - the provider is great. It's convenient - not too expensive - etc... and now THIS. If I voice concerns and they get rid of the dog - well great, now WE'RE the jerks who made them get rid of their precious puppy - probably sending her OWN two kids to tears... I certainly wouldn't want the person watching my kids to hate their parents. I tried to look around to see if there were any laws in IL against this, or insurance issues that I could reference so as to 'help advise' her... I know in California, they'll deny insurance for any injuries caused by certain breeds of dogs... but that's it - and nothing in IL. I'm thinking my only option is to find somewhere else to go - which is going to be challenging & disappointing on many levels. Frankly, I'm ticked that she would even MAKE such a decision without so much as consulting any of her clients - it's a bad business move seeing as I am NOT the only person who would have this concern. Any advice on other options I may not be seeing would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I personally think you should come out of your bubble and stop being so ignorant. First off this is her home and her family. What she chooses to do on her off time is not your concern. She does not need to ask YOUR permission to get a family pet. Especially if the pet is being kept separate. I would NEVER get rid of a member of MY family over an ignorant daycare parent. You would go before my pet.

My advice,.. =-)

ok, honest question here, I skimmed through most responses I admit but I read you love the daycare, you love her program, her devotion to the kids, everything except for the puppy that is a part pit? part Weim,.. umm,.. sp? ,.. you know the beautiful sesame street dog, .

so you love her and how she is helping to raise your daighters,.. you love her environment and her attention to her business,.. but you are angry that her new puppy that she is raising in probably the same manner as she does your kids, and who you have seen NO aggression in whatsoever, may turn on your kids and bite them even though she is keeping the dog seperate from the daycare? I would honestly go to her, say,.. hey I love your place, I love the care you provide, but the new pup concerns me,.. Im afriad of pit bulls. I was not aware that you were considering a dog let alone this particular mix of breeds. Why did you choose "this" dog, and how can you assure me that it will be a safe playmate for my children? I have to be honest with you, I am uncomfortable with the idea of a pitbull mix, no matter the mix in a childcare home and am wanting you to know that I am leaning towards looking for alternative care. While I respect your choice to have a dog, and have this dog, you must respect my choice to have childcare without one. I wanted you to know up front how I feel to minimize any hard feelings, or surprises that may come about. I also want you to be prepared in case other parents react the same way. I respect you as a provider and want to make sure you are aware of my feelings.

I love this way of saying it.

[cillybean83]

I wouldn't involve other parents, because some might freak out that any dog is on the property, others might not care if a pure bred pit bull was laying in their childs lap. What other parents think has nothing to do with what you feel is appropriate for your own children. Personally, I have no issues with any breed, I don't think there are "bad" breeds, but as a daycare provider AND a mother, I wouldn't feel comfortable having my kids around a pit bull, even if it was harmless, because of all the horror stories I've heard...thats just me!

I have a little dog (chihuahua) and we just added a 2nd little dog (Terrier mix) who was introduced to parents and children. We gate off our daycare area so there is no doggy/baby overlap, so it isn't really an issue (our dogs are less than 20 pounds...combined).

If you have a bad feeling about the dog, you should either look around for another provider or have the provider sign something stating that the dog will never be around your children and if you can't trust her to keep up her end of the bargain, then honestly, you shouldn't be trusting her with your kids.

Good luck!

[Symphony]

If you are uncomfortable with the situation, by all means communicate with your provider and let her know your concerns! There isn't much we can do if we aren't aware of the problem. I would never want a family to come here that didn't feel safe. I would also never get a pit bull while being a provider. I do not have a problem with them personally, but I don't think it would be good for business.


That being said, I have two dogs, a 10 year old Doberman and a 2 year old shih tzu. They have NEVER, not once, EVER EVER been in the same vicinity as my daycare children. My little dog spends his days in the master bedroom which is upstairs seperated by two gates from my downstairs where daycare is, (Daycare is almost completely seperate from my family's living space). I carry him, in my arms, outside to potty at naptime. If I have a day where they don't all nap together, he waits till closing. My big dog stays outside all day and when we go outside he goes into the dog run with a 6 foot fence. I open the back door, say "kennel" he runs to the back and I lock it up.


To be perfectly honest, I do all this for my dog's safety! My own 4 kids climb all over them, pull ears and tails, play dentist, etc etc. The poor babies need a break from exploring fingers!

Talk to your provider, she may have more safety measures in place than you are aware of, she may be oblivious to your concerns, or it may be time to part ways. Keeping mum though doesn't solve anything.

[Candyland]

As a parent, I would RUN the other way and look for another place. Yes, you stated that your child is happy there and you love the day care provider, but right now you have hesitations and questions which are perfectly legitimate. How is it all going to pan out if and when something should ever happen to your child or another child and you had these qualms and didn't move on them? Your gut feeling is telling you something.
As a day care teacher, I, myself, would never put my child, another child or myself in "jeopardy" with a pet. I, would love to have a little pet in class (is that even allowed??), but I never have and don't want to be held liable if that cute little pet bits one of my students.

Mr. Slint, there are other wonderful places where your child will be happy and so will you and your wife.
Please let us know of your decision.

[caitlin]

I haven't read the whole thread, but my first thought is...

If you are trusting her to help raise your daughter and you can't trust her to raise/train a puppy and keep it seperated then I think that you need to reevaluate your daycare decesion.

If she can show you where the pup is going to stay during the day, and the methods she is using to keep the pup seperate from the children I can see no problem with this. However, if she is keeping the pup in a small crate all day, I would be angry. But, if the pup has a fenced off area in the yard to play and is otherwise kept gated in a paticular area of the house I would say "Awesome!"

[nannyde]

Wow, I was right - you really ARE in a fortunate position to be able to charge really high rates, be so selective on clients you accept, rule with an iron fist & have a long waiting list to boot.

Fair enough - I'll take your warnings under advisement.... but here's one for you. Now, obviously you've got the market - if not cornered, certainly bent over a barrel - and that's great for you or ANY business really. But wherever there's pent up demand, supply can & usually does follow at some point. So if the competitive landscape does change (and it may not) - people may not be so willing to accept your terms as they exist today.

I'm not being contentious with you Mr Sint. You seem like a great Dude. I just think your thoughts to team up with someone would be a big turn off to a little provider. If you were in a Center it might be what it takes to get their attention. If you are in a small group YOU are enough to get their attention.

Just go to her and tell her what you want. I wouldn't want my newborn in a house that has a pitt bull because I AM AFRAID OF THEM. Tell her you are afraid of them and that's that. Don't buy the "keep them separate". I do that every day with my dogs and it is a ton of work with little tiny teddy bear puppies.

You just have to be willing to have her say that she won't do it and will accept your notice. There is a high liklihood that could happen.

[MrSint]

Yes QualiT

This is why I don't take parents that know each other. I have only made an exception to that once in my 17 years.

Wow, I was right - you really ARE in a fortunate position to be able to charge really high rates, be so selective on clients you accept, rule with an iron fist & have a long waiting list to boot.

Fair enough - I'll take your warnings under advisement.... but here's one for you. Now, obviously you've got the market - if not cornered, certainly bent over a barrel - and that's great for you or ANY business really. But wherever there's pent up demand, supply can & usually does follow at some point. So if the competitive landscape does change (and it may not) - people may not be so willing to accept your terms as they exist today.

[nannyde]

yeah, a home daycare is different than a center, but the point is the same. in fact, i think if it were a home daycare it would make even more of a difference. what are 3 or 4 kids to a daycare center? not a lot. 3 or 4 kids to a home daycare might be half of the provider's income so it would be harder to just terminate. of course, termination IS the answer for everything.

Yes QualiT

That's exactly what I'm saying. Because each individual contract is such a high percentage of the income in a home day care it makes it even that much more important that the parents don't RALLY together.

This is why I don't take parents that know each other. I have only made an exception to that once in my 17 years.

[QualiTcare]

The dog is still a puppy so I think notice should be given.

I think the day care center analogy is different. It is a public place where each kid may be one percent of the total income or a half percent of the total income. Having parents band together when they are one of MANY is very different than them banding together when they are a small group in the first place.

If I found out my parents were working together to work on me about something I would terminate. It would mean that the relationship I thought we had wasn't really there so caring for their kid in the future wouldn't be right for me.

yeah, a home daycare is different than a center, but the point is the same. in fact, i think if it were a home daycare it would make even more of a difference. what are 3 or 4 kids to a daycare center? not a lot. 3 or 4 kids to a home daycare might be half of the provider's income so it would be harder to just terminate. of course, termination IS the answer for everything.

[nannyde]

And if I found out - and in our case, everybody WOULD find out - my DCP had terminated someone because they discussed safety concerns with other parents, I would terminate the DCP. In fact - if you could let me know if you happen to be located in IL perhaps we can make arrangements so as to make sure we avoid accidentally doing business together in the future.

Oh not to worry. You would have to sit on a long wait list... get thru a gruelling three step five hour interview process... pay a fat amount of money upfront for two kids... and pay a princely sum for care as we aren't affordable.

I think we are both safe. ::

Seriously it's a BAD move to rally the other clients. If you have a good money gig going there I would just talk to her by yourself.

[Blackcat31]

My advice,.. =-)

ok, honest question here, I skimmed through most responses I admit but I read you love the daycare, you love her program, her devotion to the kids, everything except for the puppy that is a part pit? part Weim,.. umm,.. sp? ,.. you know the beautiful sesame street dog, .

so you love her and how she is helping to raise your daighters,.. you love her environment and her attention to her business,.. but you are angry that her new puppy that she is raising in probably the same manner as she does your kids, and who you have seen NO aggression in whatsoever, may turn on your kids and bite them even though she is keeping the dog seperate from the daycare? I would honestly go to her, say,.. hey I love your place, I love the care you provide, but the new pup concerns me,.. Im afriad of pit bulls. I was not aware that you were considering a dog let alone this particular mix of breeds. Why did you choose "this" dog, and how can you assure me that it will be a safe playmate for my children? I have to be honest with you, I am uncomfortable with the idea of a pitbull mix, no matter the mix in a childcare home and am wanting you to know that I am leaning towards looking for alternative care. While I respect your choice to have a dog, and have this dog, you must respect my choice to have childcare without one. I wanted you to know up front how I feel to minimize any hard feelings, or surprises that may come about. I also want you to be prepared in case other parents react the same way. I respect you as a provider and want to make sure you are aware of my feelings.

35 posts later and this is exactly what should be said. Honesty and open communication between a provider and a parent (not group of them). If we all had the honesty and open communication laundrymom has suggested, most of us wouldn't be on this forum venting. I am the owner of a large breed dog with a bad reputation also (St. Bernard) and I personally wouldn't have gone out and got a dog without thinking about the big picture (i.e effects on business and family) but it is done and dog is there so the only logical next step would be open and honest communication between provider and parent. Provider can't fix, modify, ignore or hear complaints or comments until they are said to her and parent can't stay or go until they know where provider is coming from and what if anything she is going to do to address the issue. Dogs are dogs and kids are kids. BOTH are unpredictable in behavior NO MATTER how they are raised (or what breed they are).

[MrSint]

If I found out my parents were working together to work on me about something I would terminate. It would mean that the relationship I thought we had wasn't really there so caring for their kid in the future wouldn't be right for me.

And if I found out - and in our case, everybody WOULD find out - my DCP had terminated someone because they discussed safety concerns with other parents, I would terminate the DCP. In fact - if you could let me know if you happen to be located in IL perhaps we can make arrangements so as to make sure we avoid accidentally doing business together in the future.

[MrSint]

It's a small puppy at this point - I've got time before it gets to any dangerous size.

And to the other posters response, I would expect that if my daughter were doing something that posed a safety risk for other children - and the parents of the other children discussed this amongst themselves & with the DCP - then approached me about it - I would hope to have the maturity, rationality & compassion to appreciate why they had done so & take measures to help resolve the problem if possible. Sure, I supposed I could feel ganged up on, attacked, ambushed, etc... but I generally operate with a level head - that's just me - although experience has taught me that there are many people in this world who do not. As such, I often have to navigate carefully on certain matters so as not to set off the emotionally unstable among us which may negatively affect my wife and/or children.