Do any of you bring your young children on drop in visits/ dog walks? [closed]

As an animal care professional I would say that is a big no no, too many things can go wrong here. Even if you know the dog, you never know what you will run into on any specific day. Never mind the potential risks to your child but if something does happen with the dog or to the dog, having a 4 month old baby would make it difficult for you to handle the situation. What if a dog runs away, how would you run after it with a baby in your arm or in a car seat, what if a dog gets into a fight with another dog he lives with, how would you handle that with a baby around, what if you get into the the house and the dog is sick or injured, etc. In this business, we deal with living creatures and so many variables, it is not a job where it safe or smart to bring a 4 month old baby along.

As a dog owner, I would not be happy or comfortable with you bringing a baby while I pay you to care for my animals, not your child. I know it sounds harsh but caring for your baby will always come first so easily interfere with the job I pay you to do.

It simply isnt professional or safe.

As Rover's insurance does not cover any injury that could occur to your son, I personally wouldn't recommend taking him. I understand that he will be in a stroller or car seat, but that doesn't mean a dog couldn't jump up and scratch him. It may also be more difficult to fit those through the door versus just yourself in the event that you sit for a dog who has a history of escaping through the door or something. As a dog owner myself, I would not want you to bring him with you, as I know that my dogs are not kid friendly, so I would have to choose someone else, so this may deter new clients. Also, while a client may state that their dog(s) is kid friendly, that may be with the children who live with them, but not necessarily for a new baby coming in. If you do end up doing so, I would make this the highlight of your profile, within the first three sentences so that clients are aware, and even bring it up again during the initial contact to ensure that this is something they'd be comfortable with.