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I voted other. There are so many factors at play - is the dog around the children? Is he trained/how will he be trained? Is the daycare provider paying attention to the puppy at the same time as the children?
I would follow up and ask a lot more questions in order to fully assess the situation. I have a dog and love dogs, but not all dogs are good with young children so I would need to know a lot more in order to be comfortable with the situation.
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I would prefer a big dog over a small one, to be honest! And while my puppy, a German Shepherd, was a lot of work, some dogs are much more mellow and easy to care for.
It's not a yes or no question for me, but more a question of how it will be handled, like others have said. I couldn't answer that until I had more information. But I think a well-trained dog and kids are a great combination!
@locavore_mama: that's true, but most dogs do give warning signs--people just choose to ignore it or don't recognize the signs.
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I have two dogs but I wouldn't. Puppies are a ton of work. I wouldn't feel comfortable because I'm not familiar with the dog.
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@Happygal: exactly. It's the people that scare me; not the animals.
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@jetsa: thanks it's great to hear views from people who are in this situation.
@Littlebit: so I guess having the dog crated is not out of the question. I have heard that the dog is already great with kids. The day care family's children are 5 and 7 years old. The day care kids range from 1-3.
@alohaorchid: yes I'd definitely feel,differently if we had dogs ourselves! It's just such a new territory for us.
@locavore_mama: I totally agree. We like the provider but we don't really know her and have no idea how responsible they are with a dog.
@Ocean girl: I do wonder how other families feel. I wish they had talked to us all before. I do know one of the other families so I've texted to see her opinion. Her son is starting in December when he turns one so there in a similar situation age-wise as us. Thanks for your support, it is stressful.
@Adira: thanks so much. I'm just so torn. I think we will have to go first and check out the dog situation before making decisions but I feel as though our relationship now is already tainted since we feel a little misled and there is a very good possibility we wouldn't have chosen them in the first place. There are just so many positives to this day care though. It is a day care for teachers so we don't have to send her in the summer or holidays when we aren't working which financially is a bonus for us. Everything is on the main floor and a lot of the home daycares around here have the kids in the basement. The kids all have their own sleeping space and her menus are amazing. Ugh.
@grizz: thank you. It's just one more thing to worry about you know? I can't even fathom having to try and find new care right now. I think I will call her and discuss our concerns just so she knows we are uneasy and then we can go and visit the home again and watch LO with the puppy.
@yoursilverlining: I tend to think it's irresponsible of her to add a puppy into the mix too. The exact breed is bichon shih-poo and she said it's hypo-allergenic but I have no idea if that's true. I have zero experience with dogs. I think little dogs are adorable but DH and I tend to shy away from big dogs when we cross paths and will walk to the other side of the street when we see one and we have our LO with us. This has totally been sprung on us out of nowhere, we wish we had some warning or a chance to express our concerns before they got the puppy. -
@locavore_mama: gotcha! I see pictures that make me cringe where people are so proud of their dog's patience with children. I want to say, "Look at your dog's face and those ears! He does not like to be ridden like a horse!" I won't get going, but yeah, there's lots of poor owners out there.
@delight: hypo-allergenic dogs are a dreamy idea, but sadly, just that! http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/the-myth-of-the-allergy-free-dog/
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@hotchildinthecity: Very interesting! Thanks!
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@delight: We have a little dog and we crate it but only when we aren't home. I'm not sure how people do it when home?
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I would ask where they plan to keep the dog. Our last daycare had a small dog but they kept him gated in the non-daycare part of the house so he was never around.
We have a dog (and are adopting another one tomorrow!), and I love seeing LO grow up around dogs. However, I would never want to be responsible for multiple toddlers around a dog. I think it is unrealistic for the daycare teacher to expect a dog to co-exist peacefully in a room with rowdy toddlers all day long! If she plans to separate the dog for most of the day, and only let him near the kids for short supervised visits, I think it's okay.
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It's not my first choice, but our home daycare does have larger dogs in the house (it's a huge house on a farm so they probably won't be in contact all that much, but it is possible). I met them though and was comfortable with how they were behaved around me, as well as around the children. It helps that the daycare provider has an infant 2 months younger than my daughter, so I know that she knows what she's doing when it comes to dogs and babies.
I will admit I am "dogist" against certain breeds and would not be comfortable sending my baby to a home with a pitbull, etc. I also do not like large dogs in general, but as I said these dogs were very calm and obedient.
Good daycares (with infant availability) are hard to come by, so I wouldn't automatically count one out for a dog.
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Nope. I love dogs, and I want my LO to love dogs. BUT dogs (especially small dogs, and especially puppies) can be jumpy around kids, especially young kids and there's no way I would trust my LO to treat a puppy properly, nor do I want take the chance that the puppy could escape a gated area and be around the children.
I personally also think it's really irresponsible of those people to get a puppy with small children in the house (as their business). Puppies are hard work--how are they planning to house train and obedience train while also watching children full time?
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I think a puppy would be better. Id be more nervous sending LO to a daycare with an older dog that migt be snappy.
A puppy will be used to kids. It will be nippy at first though. I think it would be ok!
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Since we do not have a dog at home, I would not send her to a daycare with a dog.
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The fact that the dog is brand new is by far the biggest concern here. A dog that had lived with them for a while and was used to their routines and having lots of strange kids around, I'd probably be fine with. A new puppy - that seems crazy. They need to train that puppy before it's exposed to a million strange kids. Lots of potential for negative interactions there.
Size of the dog definitely is not a factor. Big dogs are typically less aggressive and better with kids than small dogs.
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@hilsy85: This. It's irresponsible to get a puppy when you run a daycare out of your home. Puppies are a LOT of work!
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@Mrs. Champagne: how would a puppy be used to kids?
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I guess for me, it would depend on where the dog is kept all day. I am a dog lover - we have three at home (2 small Yorkies and a Golden) - but when we have playdates, I keep them either in our bedroom or in the backyard. They do fine w/my own kiddo, of course, but I wouldn't want them around unfamiliar toddlers. Honestly, it's for my protection as much as theirs - I don't want to be responsible for anything happening, and kids & dogs can both be unpredictable. My Golden Retriever is probably the most patient creature on Earth, but her tail wags like crazy when she's excited and it could definitely knock a little toddler over.
I wouldn't expect a family running an in-home daycare to be dog-free, but I would expect them to keep the dog separated from the children during the day. Personally, it just seems like a liability issue to me.
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Our daughter's daycare has two small dogs and one was a puppy when she first started there (but a tiny dog). She was very leery of dogs prior to this daycare and now LOVES them 7 months later. It's made it so easier when visiting family and friends that she isn't crying the entire time. But, I would definitely ask if the puppy would be separated from the daycare kiddos (or at least initially). When they are puppies, they can definitely be unpredictable.
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I voted yes to any dog. Although DH and I are definitely dog people. Since the daycare is getting the dog as a puppy, and will be around children its entire life, I bet the dog will do great with the children, and in turn, I bet the children will love the dog! How great too for you to be able to get your child acclimated to dogs at such an early age too. To me it sounds like a win-win situation!
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It would totally depend on the circumstance. I agree with the comments about a puppy.... Puppies are a lot of work and tend to become unruly dogs if they are not well-trained. I would also be worried that your LO's interactions with the dog, if negative (like nipping or unintentional tripping) may instill a fear of dogs... An older, well-trained dog? No problem.
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I am a huge dog person, we have two.
I am curious about the licensing issues with the daycare, does your state have some kind of professional group for in home day care? My Mom had an in home daycare for almost 20 years. I had a pet mini rabbit. Regardless of the size of the dog, I would be a bit nervous. I wonder if they have an umbrella policy 'just in case'
My concern is that you were informed rather than asked, regardless of the fact that there is a dog. Frankly, I find this to be a bit unprofessional.
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@hilsy85: oops I meant it will get used to kids since it will grow up around them! That's what I've found so far anyways with puppies that have always been around kids
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I'd want to meet the dog and see it interact with my child before deciding. Also would want to find out if the dog would be separated or with the kids during the day, etc. before making a decision. But I think I'd be okay with it as long as the dog was okay with my child.
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I didn't read all the other responses but I voted no. I would never and I'm a dog person. I have 3 dogs! My dogs are well trained and they've inadvertently knocked down and hurt my son.
I just don't think you can trust that the dog is properly trained. I'd rather be safe than sorry - they are animals after all.
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Nope. I don't think dog owners are aware of just how icky their interactions are with their own pets.
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To start, I think it's irresponsible of the day care provider to spring it on you like this. If she was getting a dog, she should have warned current and soon to be families ahead of time. If she wants to get a puppy, that's her prerogative, but just making it a PS in a letter is not really fair.
I am a dog person, but this would make me nervous. Puppies have so much energy and are unpredictable. Toddlers are the same. It can be a great or a terrible combination. I'd need to know how they would be separated. On one hand, I do think it is wonderful and important for kids to learn how to interact with animals and to not be scared of them. On the other hand, it's a LOT of work to supervise a child playing with an animal. My 12 year old dog is very chill, and my 1 year old is getting much better with him, but it's constant supervising and keeping her from grabbing him or pulling his ears.
The size or breed makes little difference to me, though I will say it sounds like that dog won't shed on your kid. (Holy moly, cleaning up after a dog that sheds, with a crawling baby, sucks). My sister has a shih tzu who is amazing with my toddler nephews, she loves the attention and somehow doesn't seem to care if the pets are too hard.
I think you should see the puppy and your LO interacting before you make a decision, but I don't think anyone would blame you if you start looking for another place. Since we are dog people and have one at home, I'd be more comfortable with it.
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I agree 100% with @wonderstruck.
I adore dogs, but I don't trust them 100%, especially puppies. I would not feel comfortable.
What were they thinking? -
I tried to read through previous responses, but got too overwhelmed - a lot of good points and opinions!
I voted yes, because our in-home daycare does have a small dog. The dog is mid-aged, so not a puppy but not a super mellow old dog either. She's actually mildly hyper and still loves kisses and playing with kids. She is already accustomed to children, so that certainly helps. Honestly, I never really thought twice about there being a dog there!
I had hoped that this would give my child(ren) exposure to dogs so they wouldn't be afraid, but that has not been the case
L is 18 months and sees this dog more than she sees me and DH, but she's still terrified of her. But, she's also terrified of the 6 month old baby that recently started crawling, so... 
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I don't get it - what do you mean by "icky?"
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@delight: I guess it would depend for me. If it was a smaller dog I wouldn't feel uncomfortable, also if the dog didn't shed a lot. I think if there was a lot of dog hair where my kids were crawling i wouldn't like it. My mom did at home day care for a long long time and we had a small family dog that was around the kids and no one ever minded and our dog was fine with the kids. mostly ignored them. I think as a puppy the dog will grow up being very comfortable around children.
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@pinkcupcake: kissing dogs in the mouth, letting dogs lick all over and not washing hands before meal prep. That stuff icks me out.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I don't let my dogs lick me. I agree with you there. But, not all dog owners are that way.
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I'm not a dog person and I still would as long as the dog wasn't bothering/trampling over/constantly jumping on, my kiddos. Basically as long as they have control over the dog.
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@delight: We really aren't dog people. That being said, my mom has 2 shih-poos, and K absolutely LOVES them. Depending on the temperament of the dog, it could be a good situation!
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Ha, not all dog owners have "icky" interactions with their dogs. Talk about painting us all with the same brush!
To answer the question, no, I wouldn't. I have a big dog myself, and I am a total dog lover, but animals are unpredictable and without being there to supervise the interaction, I just wouldn't be comfortable with it.
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@PermaStudent: if I could I would edit and add "some" dog owners...
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I love dogs...but I wouldn't. My fear of "just that one time" (of getting scratched or bit or whatever) just would not give me peace of mind. Of course it depends on where the dog will be, but I would still be stressed.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Haha ok, yes, some dog owners are totally gross with their dogs. There is no denying that!
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@Happygal: thanks for the article,that puts things in a whole new perspective!
@QueensBee: thanks for your post. I emailed her today to express my concerns and to ask about her plans for the dog.
@catomd00: I'll definitely have to meet the dog before I take any drastic measures like pulling her. It's good to gain perspectives from people like you who do send children to daycares with dogs!
@MrsBrewer: I love your enthusiasm and helps put my mind at ease. I am definitely open to the possibility that this will be a positive experience, I just need some of my fears put to rest and I do wish it wasn't just sprung on us.
@galore5: we are worried about the nipping and any lasting affects on LO that may have.
@Amurray: we totally agree with you. We feel misled that we were told after the fact. We didn't sign up for a day care with a dog. That's one of the reasons this sucks for us so much, we already feel like our relationship with the provider has been a little tainted. I'm already nervous about sending her to daycare, as I'm sure most parents are, and this isn't helping at all. We did have great first impressions with the family though and do love the environment which is why we aren't entirely certain what we are going to do.
@Foodnerd81: I agree with everything you said. I will wait to make any decisions before we have our play dates. But like you said, it can be a great or terrible situation. I almost feel like it's becoming a lose-lose situation. I could stay there and maybe something bad will happen (dog-related) or I can leave and end up in a less than desirable day care. Or it may all work out fine....I just feel like screaming "Why the heck did you go and get a puppy?"
@wheres_c: totally. What were they thinking? Sigh.
@swurlygurl: I'm overwhelmed with all the responses too! Thanks for your perspective, it is really good to hear from people in this situation. I'm sorry L is terrified of dogs, but I'm glad to hear there are daycares out there with well trained dogs that get along well with the children.
@Amurray: I'm in Ontario and home daycares don't have to be licenced. So there really are no rules about pets. Some of the ones we visited had small animals, but that was one of the reasons we didn't go with them. And yes, I 100% agree it's irresponsible of her to spring it on us. But I liked her sooooooo much! And our little girl seemed to really take to her too
@Mrs.Pinecone316: I am hoping that this will turn into a great experience and the puppy will be just fine around all the children.
@Bao: I'll have to come back once I hear back from the provider and share what her responses are. Basically I just asked what her plan was for supervision and whether the dog will be in the children's area.
@Mrs. Oatmeal: thanks. I'm sure L would love the little puppy too. Have you ever been worried with K around the dogs?
@PermaStudent: @Ginabean3: that's a big part of our problem. I know dogs can be unpredictable. I totally have the fear of "all it takes is just one time, or just one second".Thanks everyone so much. I will report back once I have more information. I love this community, such great feedback and responses. I really have no clue what we are going to do, there are obviously many factors to weigh in on. Let me add that I really have nothing against dogs, although I am not a dog person, I can appreciate why people like having pets. I am truthfully scared of many big dogs but I find little dogs adorable and personally don't mind being around them. I am really just torn in this situation.
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I thought it was about time that I updated on this situation. I ended up emailing the provider and letting her know DH and I had some concerns but we still wanted to have a play date. She also mentioned to me in her response that she was planning on crating her dog when she couldn't give the kids 100% attention like when she is cooking lunch.
Both of our moms said that we shouldn't let the dog deter us away from the daycare because we really liked the provider. Anyways, I brought LO to daycare for a play date and the dog seemed really sweet and calm. She was crated and slept for awhile, and never was in LOs space. DH and I decided we would go forward with sending her there, although he was less sure of this than I was. Two weeks later we started daycare only to find out the dog had died the DAY we were there for the play date. Apparently, it had a genetic disorder. Anyways we are very sad for the family, they have two daughters who are devastated. I would never go as far to say I am relieved, because it was a sweet dog, but this has all turned into a non issue. Unless they decide to get another dog, however, I hope next time they would consult with parents.
Thanks again everyone for weighing in.
L is 18 months and sees this dog more than she sees me and DH, but she's still terrified of her. But, she's also terrified of the 6 month old baby that recently started crawling, so... 
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