There are thousands of safety topics that childcare providers and parents need to be aware of, including car seat safety, washing baby bottles correctly, or sleep safety. One topic we want to discuss is the safety of family dogs and other pets. The majority of families have either a dog, cat, tortoise, or tarantula and so learning how to keep the kids and the critters safe is extremely important! This blog will focus on safety tips with our furry four-legged friends (or furry eight-legged friends).

Children's Safety

There are three main encounters children may have with dogs while in the care of a nanny. First being around their own household dog, or coming across a dog while at the park, or potentially be introduced to the childcare providers dog or cat. Keep in mind that the majority of dog bites come from family dogs. Additionally, your dog and child could potentially have different behaviors while you are not around. Therefore, it is best to keep a set of rules for your nanny or babysitter on hand. A few examples could include: 

1. Please do not leave a child alone with the dog even for a brief moment.

2. Allow the animal its own space to eat, drink, sleep, use the bathroom.

3. Avoid any dogs or animals while outside the house. 

Caregiver Safety: 

As mentioned earlier, dogs have the potential to act differently once their owner is not around. As you first begin working with a family with a dog or cat, ask questions regarding the animal's behavior to have a good idea if you are still a good fit for the position. On your first day as their new childcare provider while walking through the house and getting familiar, try and also familiarize yourself with the dog. This helps you to establish a relationship, gain trust, and assure the dog will follow your directions and be friendly. Be sure to ask questions about caring for the animals, regarding their space or other dos and donts. 

A few tips for your own safety include:

1. Establish a relationship with the animal before the owners leave. 

2. Give the animal space to eat, drink, and snack. Dogs can become territorial or aggressive when disturbed. 

3. Use food incentives instead of force to help with listening. This is for your safety as well as the animals. Ensure you have cleared this with the owner of the dog and use similar tactics that they do to control the animal.

Animal Safety: 

The majority of families are not complete without their family pets. They are often viewed as four-legged fur babies demanding just as much love and affection as their human children! Therefore, families make the safety of their dogs or cats a priority. Since animals are unable to communicate with us, it is up to us to observe an animal's behavior and interpret what they are trying to tell you through their body language or behavior. Some common signs of stress in dogs include:

1. Pacing

2. Flat ears

3. Freezing in one spot or hiding

4. Tucked tail 

5. Continuous yawning

If a dog or animal begins to show any of these signs, it is best to help them into a safe area if they are not already in one, give them a treat, and some alone time. Dogs typically have an easier time warming up to someone if you ignore their presence and wait for them to warm up to you. 

It is important to note that some common foods for people can be toxic to dogs and other animals. Make sure to avoid leaving around any of the following foods: 

1. Chocolate

2. Onions

3. Grapes/ raisins 

4. Avocado

5. Bones

6. Apple seeds 

Poisoning in dogs has many different symptoms, such as vomiting, breathing difficulties, or excessive drooling. Typically if a dog has ingested chocolate, they will seem agitated and shaky with potential heart issues. If an animal has ingested garlic or onion, their symptoms will be drooling, and nausea. 

Call the owner of the animal, inform them the animal is sick, and ask which vet they would like you to call if they did not leave you with their vet information before leaving. 

When caring for children it is important to also take good care of the family pets. Remember to ask the owner questions if you are unsure and reach out right away if the animal seems to be acting strange.