Am I a Nanny for the Pets, too?
Working as a nanny is supposed to mean taking care of kids. However, household duties often make their way into the job description, and sometimes pets land on your plate as well. Are they supposed to?
Here’s what you need to know about feeding, walking, or playing with a family pet when you’re a nanny.
When Pet Care Becomes Part of the Job
It's important to clarify with the parents whether pet care is expected as part of your duties. If pets are involved, this should ideally be outlined in your initial or revised job agreement. Including pet care can sometimes mean extra work, and discussing whether this affects compensation upfront can help avoid misunderstandings later on.
Compensation for Pet Care:
If you find yourself taking on significant pet-related tasks, it's reasonable to discuss additional compensation. This is especially true if the care involves extra time or special requirements, like walking a dog during your work hours. Remember, it’s okay to renegotiate terms if your workload increases.
Watch Out for Scope Creep
Clear communication and a job description in writing usually go a long way to make this a non-issue.
Pet care might not be part of your duties even when there’s a pet in the home. Many families employ dog walkers or are able to get thet pet care taken care of themselves.
So what do you do if a parent texts you, asking if you can take the dog for a quick walk before you go, just this once because they are running late? While this may seem minor as a one-off, if it starts happening regularly, it can add up and affect your primary responsibility: caring for the children, or make you late to clock out.
If this becomes a regular request, it’s appropriate to bring it up in a discussion with the parents to clarify expectations and possibly adjust your compensation or duties in writing. Keep in mind, parents are rarely trying to use you to get extra help, they might just not realize how much it affects your work or what they are asking you to take on. Clear communication and a job description in writing usually go a long way to make this a non-issue.
Handling Pets and Kids Together
Managing both children and pets can sometimes complicate logistics. For example, not all transportation options are pet-friendly, which can be an issue during unexpected weather changes or if you need to travel with the kids and the pet simultaneously. Planning ahead for these situations can help you manage them more effectively when they arise.
How to Make Kids and Pets Besties
Even if you are not responsible for the pet care, part of your job as a nanny might be to foster and encourage positive interactions between the kiddo(s) and the family pet. Your role might involve helping children learn how to interact safely and respectfully with animals. Teaching kids gentle handling and recognizing signs of discomfort in pets can foster a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone.
Always supervise interactions between pets and children, especially with younger kids who may not yet understand how to behave around animals. This ensures safety and helps prevent accidents or distress to either party.
Show the kiddo how to be gentle with the animal on a level appropriate for their age. This may mean showing the kid how you pet the dog, helping hold their hand while they pet the dog, or explaining to a child that it doesn’t feel nice to be bonked hard on the head.
Help the kiddo learn to read the pet's body language. Sometimes we have to give animals space, because they can’t use their words. Make sure the pet also has somewhere they can go where they kiddo can’t follow them.
Do You Love Kids and Pets?
If working with kiddos and pets is your jam, there are certainly loads of families who have both. Working in a home with pets can add a layer of complexity to your nanny duties, but with clear communication and proper planning, it can also be a rewarding experience. Do you feel ready for that rewarding experience? Then you’ve come to the right place.
Our nanny agency has helped thousands of nannies book babysitting and nanny jobs that align with their skills and ideal set-ups, with and without furry friends in the job description. We believe that by making thoughtful matches between nannies and families, we’re giving both sides the very best chance at a successful, rewarding, and fun working relationship – which means a great place for kiddos to grow up. If you think you have what it takes, apply to become a SmartSitter today.
Ps. For more guidance about all things nannying, sign up for our regular newsletter!