Dogs on School Run

[Walney]

I was just wondering what people's opinions are on taking their dog on the school run.

I usually take mine on both school runs as we walk to school and it's convenient. Mine is quiet (so I'm lucky) and I make sure to tie her up at a place where it's far from the gates so children don't walk past her to get to school (primary). If she was a problem I'd leave her at home and walk separately.

A fellow dog owner complains because the head teacher quite reasonably tells her that her dog is loud and scares children. School staff have a duty of care for children, so a yappy dog jumping at children is definitely something that should t be allowed. I just bit my tongue instead of replying, but I really think the dog owner should leave her dog at home if it's scaring children, but I know it won't. Owner also is in denial as they blame parents for their children being scared of her dog.

[Yokohamajojo]

Our school banned all dogs in playground due to that behaviour and scared children, which is fair enough as I would never have brought mine into the actual playground anyway. If I do bring the dog on pick up I wait well outside away from children and I don't see a problem with that as it's a public road.

[Fucksandflowers]

My DS school is dog friendly and I used to take my dog.

She is very child safe and sits quietly and bothers no one.

I don't take her anymore because DD school which is very close by is not dog friendly and I won't leave mine tied up.

Unfortunately though, I don't think I agree with it ultimately as the teachers don't have the time to police it properly to keep everyone safe.

I have witnessed a dog at DS school lunge and bark aggressively on two separate occasions at women walking past and seen plenty of dogs looking immensely stressed and pacing about instead of sitting quietly.
It is a very noisy, high energy situation and one that I think a lot of dogs don't cope too well with.

I also find that other parents sometimes assume that child friendly = dog friendly.

One of the other mums never speaks to me when she sees me now because she came over with her dog when I was sat with mine.
It was incredibly busy, I was surrounded with children with no where really to go and was very tense and moved my dog away with my leg, didn't really converse and made my excuses to leave.

I am quite sure she must think me extremely rude, I am very sure I must have come across that way but I have severe anxiety disorder (not that she knows that) and was borderline about to have a panic attack thinking my dog would end up 'going' and a big fight could break out with all those children nearby and I just wanted to get the hell out of there.

[LochJessMonster]

I don't think they can ban dog from waiting on the public road outside the school.
In a busy school playground then I don't think dogs should be brought in.
I take mine on the school run, say goodbye at the gates, and meet them outside the gates on pick up.

In regards to the other mums dog- depend exactly what the dog is doing. Barking is ok. Lunging at children is not.

[Walney]

They aren't allowed on the playground or inside school gates. Mine is left outside where I can still see her, but far enough away that parents and children don't walk past her.

Other dog barks a lot and children are visibly scared by this. Also jumps a lot at anyone going near it. It is a very friendly dog, but for small children not a pleasant experience. I just think around a school the children take priority over dogs, so to complain about a head teacher prioritising children isn't the right attitude.

[Phillipa12]

At our school dogs are not allowed on school grounds nor are they allowed to be left unattended outside the school gates. (school owns the path that is the entrance to the playground) last year a reception child got nipped as he was walking past a dog, the dog had been tied up to close to the entrance and got overwhelmed by so many children walking near him and could not escape. Luckily child was ok, it wasnt dogs fault and the owner was spoken to by the head, everybody now obeys the new rules.

[Walney]

The entrance is quite good as it means there is plenty of space far away from the gate, and I can keep an eye on her whilst being in an area where no one would walk past her. She has also been doing this with us since a young age, and staff have told me that where I leave her is fine (I checked).

However some dogs are tied up directly in front of the gates where children have no choice but to walk past it to get to the playground and classrooms. Notices have been sent out before about being more careful. It would be annoying if dogs were banned, although I would accept it as its not the end of the world having to do the school run and walk at different times of the day.

[Delatron]

Ours aren’t allowed in the playground so we all wait outside school gates.
The morning is fine as no standing around so I drop, about turn and head home.

I do try and avoid school pick up as my lab is 8 months old and just wants to bother other dogs, sniff children and say hi to everyone which is stressful. Agree it’s too much for their senses some times, especially when young. Training goes out of the window.

[spot102]

Dogs and kids always a volatile mix. My last dog was happy to be tied up at a distance from school gate (where no-one HAD to come within 25m of her) but not so keen on children running up to her. In my day (yes I am old) we were all taught not to go near other people's dogs as they could be unpredictable. This seemed to have gone out the window and it's every kids right to accost (even throw sticks at) your dog and woe betide you if your dog reacts.
Yes, glad I'm not doing that anymore!
The thing is whilst ideally all dogs would be nice and non-reactive, in some cases it takes a lot of training and others never get there and there seems to be little awareness of this amongst the general public. Not at all saying highly reactive dogs should be at the school gate, just to be clear, but the reaction of 'ooh there's a nice dog let me run up and stroke it' should be discouraged. But of course much easier to blame the dog than supervise the child.

[Maxineputyourredshoeson]

Our puppy (7mths) has always gone on the school run from when we’ve had him - DH used to carry him before his jabs. DH doesn’t take him into the playground, he waits outside the school gates. We do live in a small village with a small primary school. Only a handful of people use the gate we do and so it is quite calm for him.

[Booboostwo]

Think about this:
You are leaving your dog unattended in a public place...
surrounded by children who may be scared of dogs, unused to dogs, be overwhelming for dogs...
with other, possibly stressed dogs around...
and tied up, which increases any dogs stress levels.

Can’t see what could possibly go wrong, can you?

[Walney]

Mine isn't surrounded by children, I leave her where children and parents don't go past her, also where I can still see her. We've been doing this routine since she was 4-5 months old (dog) so she doesn't get stressed and it's part of her routine. In the afternoon she definitely gets excited near school as my dog has a great bond with our daughter. I specifically leave her far from the gates/children as I am very aware not all children or parents like dogs. Dog is laid back and has no issues with waiting while I drop off or collect my daughter.

[Booboostwo]

Sounds fool proof.

[Hoppinggreen]

I sometimes take ours but we wait for DS outside the school gates in a corner where nobody has to walk past unless they want to come and say hello to ddog. 99% of the kids ask before touching him but the odd one doesn’t unfortunately (he’s friendly but big and clumsy so I like to make sure he’s well controlled if approached).
I would never tie him up or take him into the playground

[LolaSmiles]

No dogs in the playground sounds legit to me.

I'm not a fan of seeing dogs tied up places personally and would think it a risk to leave any dog tied up in a situation with lots of people and other dogs. If the dog gets scared then they could feel trapped and lash out and that can happen to any dog if the right provocation happens.
Given you can't control other people and other dogs it seems like an unnecessary risk to take to me. I'd have no issue with someone waiting with a dog on the footpath near the school though.