Headteachers personal dog in playground whats your opinion

Our headmistress used to bring her dog to work back in the day

No it doesn’t. It triggers my asthma. Balloon arches are a nightmare I now avoid but it’s harder than you think. But thank you for explaining my allergy to me and telling me I’m nonsensical. I’ll remember that next time I’m being ambulanced to hospital on a nebuliser.

Potentially being in contact with human disease is an unavoidable risk when going into hospital.

Being in contact with an animal that regularly sniffs other animals arses, sheds, slobbers, and carries all manner of germs is completely avoidable. Wards should be as sterile as possible. Ridiculous that flowers are no longer allowed in hospitals due to allergens but these animals are.

What a nonsensical response. Latex has to be touching your skin to cause a reaction. Dogs don't.

My sons school has a school dog. He's the headteachers little dog and they have another medium sized dog that comes in, they class them both as mentor dogs. Both have been specially trained to work in schools apparently. I love the idea, wish I had a school dog at the school I work at

I’m severely allergic to latex. Never has anyone on mn stood up for me and others like me to stop balloons being used so no I won’t pander to people who get itchy - take a piraton - because no one gives two hoots I can’t breathe because they’re celebrating with balloons.

Okay. MRSA, noro, flu, covid… but “dirt” from a dog is what concerns you?

This country has absolutely lost it's mind where dogs are concerned.

The pleasure that a few patients derive by having from having these animals around shouldn't override the concerns of those who fear, dislike or are allergic to dogs.

Completely agree, and am aghast. So disappointing, gross, yuck. Absolutely no thanks. I can't understand it being allowed.

The idea of allowing a dog and all of their associated filth wander around what should be a hygienic environment with strict infection control is revolting.

I also know of a senior teacher who got a dog as a pet and brought it in to work selling it as being good and therapeutic for the children. I don’t think people were convinced. The arrangement didn’t work and it soon fizzled out.

honestly I would have despised it. You can see a dog on your own time.

honestly I would have loved a dog being at school when I was younger

The only schools I know with dogs in daily is the autism hub locally that has a trained therapy dog and all the independent schools round here. The other schools get regular visits but not daily. I appreciate other schools may do this but that’s in line with independent schools. It calms students and improves attendance. But you can make dramatic sweeping statements all you like. I think that if the reality of having a school dog meant dc were having allergic reactions and some were traumatised, teachers would see that and stop it. I’ve never heard of dc being forced to interact with a school dog. They’re usually very low key and dc are given choice.

I think the head is rather unwise to do this, given the risks. Can you call the local police non emergency number?

@TeenLifeMum we're not talking about one hour a week, we're talking about the growing trend of bringing your dog in all day every day.

An hour a week would be perfectly fine, if properly controlled and assessed

We bring dogs into the hospital wards regularly. People really aren’t so allergic they can’t have a dog in the vicinity so long as it doesn’t go to their bedside. In 10 years of us doing this, not once has there been a reported incident. We have Shetland ponies visit too. they’re not bringing in xl bullies 😂

Not my experience. Primary head’s wife worked from home and would bring dog in for a hour once a week.

secondary school, they belong to a member of the Sen team and largely used with autistic dc. My dc rarely see them but when they do it’s their best day ever even at 13.

The independent schools generally have them as the house master/mistress who lives on site for the boarders have them.

For those who bligthly assume their school has done a dog risk assessment, ask if the following has been done:

Have parents been polled for details of allergies etc?
Is there evacuation plan in place for the dog in case of a fire drill? (This is a real thing I'm afraid, and yes, it will take a member of staff away from evacuating the children!)
Has there been a vet certificate issued for proof of vaccination/worm/flea treatment?
Have the children been notified of what to do if the dog escapes?
Will children be at risk of encountering dog mess at/inside school?
Is the dog supervised all day or is it left in an office?
Has the dog been assessed as a 'therapy dog'?
Can any member of staff bring their dog into school if they can't be bothered to pay for a dog sitter?

Ask these questions and more OP. I can already tell you the answer to 90 percent of these questions.

I will not tolerate them in a place where my pupils should be comfortable and safe.

At one school I worked at, the business manager brought both her dogs in. She had them in her office and took them up and down the corridor for a walk. They quite frequently escaped, ran off and messed, usually in the corridor, which then stank. Her office was overheated, small and also stank. I didn’t enjoy dodging dog poo whilst walking down the corridor.

A teacher brought his lab to school. His teaching room was on the ground floor, overlooking a field and he built a secure space, so the dog could run up and down. He walked it on the field at lunch time.

The first I disliked intensely, the second I didn’t mind at all.

@TeenLifeMum If it were for the benefit of the kids, I may agree.

But it never is. I've worked in schools for 20+ years and this is always for the benefit of the dog owner.

Yes I have worked in a school and part of my role was risk assessing school trips. I now work in a hospital trust.

I really think the parents who panic about this stuff need to relax. If there’s a genuine phobia then they can approach the teacher but, and I say this with 3 teenage dc (one with severe allergies and allergies myself), all 3 schools my dc have attended have had school dogs and the positive impact was huge. I was unsure initially. They have never been forced on dc who don’t want to interact but it’s been a wonderful golden retriever at primary (owned by the head teacher) and a spaniel at the two secondary schools.

I'm so surprised by the sheer number of people on mumsnet who have dog allergies in the family

That’s my point the headteacher shouldn’t be able to bring their dog in

I visit many schools as part of my work, and am seeing an increasing number of "therapy" dogs on site...
Most are absolutely fine, but there's one that stuck with me...
It was the middle of winter and about 8am, so I appeared at the front office still wearing a very average woolly hat with a pom-pom on top. I was invited in and bought round to the office to sort some paperwork, and this dog was in there. And it went absolutely bat-shit, barking and growling at me. So much so that the head teacher, the owner of said dog stuck her head out HER office, took one look at me, and went, "Oh, he's scared of people in hats."

I'm sorry? It's the middle of winter and this is a primary school. There's going to be umpteen people, including small children, wearing hats. Madness.