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Original poster

Headteachers personal dog in playground whats your opinion

206 replies

Grk · 27/02/2025 09:11

Just wondering what's your thoughts
Our headteacher will sometimes bring her dog to work with her some days and takes it from classroom to classroom and the lunch hall, she also brings it on the playground at morning drop off and afternoon pick up . This dog is a rescue personal pet, it is not a professional emotional/ support/ assistant dog (I know this as im within the school)
This really bothers me both as a parent and a colleague for many reasons
Health and safety, allergies, children are also scared of dogs, dog looks anxious and scared, hygiene issues - the children also play on the playground at playtime and lunch often sitting on the ground , and the main one being parents of the school are not allowed to bring their dogs onto the playground and this has been communicated numerous times it's not really setting an example.

Am I thinking too much into this or would this bother you also ?

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 27/02/2025 09:20

TommyShelbysRazor · 27/02/2025 09:17

At my daughters primary, the headteacher did this. She "sold" it to parents, saying the dog would be like a school pet and provide support for the children.

The little dog, a pomeranian, had no training and was clearly very agitated by the busy school environment. When children inevitably tried to pet it, he sometimes got snappy.

The whole thing left me uneasy, and I kept my children (and their little fingers) away from it.

We're at a different primary now thank goodness.

Edited

Clearly that’s not managed appropriately. Our schools have all had this and it’s been great, and helped dd2 with her fear of dogs (she was hurt by a jack Russell when she was 2). But, as I said previously, it needs to be managed.

BattIestar · 27/02/2025 09:19

Not acceptable. I wouldn't trust her judgment on other things if this is what she thinks is acceptable.
Complain. And threaten to move schools if nothing is done about it. That's an accident waiting to happen.

Moveoverdarlin · 27/02/2025 09:19

It would very much depend on the breed of the dog for me.

TeenLifeMum · 27/02/2025 09:18

Head teacher knows their dog and can risk assess appropriately. Can’t do that for parents’ dogs.

Allergies - it’s outside so minimal risk (I say that as a family with serious allergies - me and dd3).

Evidence backs up the impact of a dog being in school with improved attendance and better mental health (especially in dc with autism and adhd). So many schools have this and it’s a very positive thing so long as it’s managed appropriately.

TommyShelbysRazor · 27/02/2025 09:17

At my daughters primary, the headteacher did this. She "sold" it to parents, saying the dog would be like a school pet and provide support for the children.

The little dog, a pomeranian, had no training and was clearly very agitated by the busy school environment. When children inevitably tried to pet it, he sometimes got snappy.

The whole thing left me uneasy, and I kept my children (and their little fingers) away from it.

We're at a different primary now thank goodness.

Pillarsofsalt · 27/02/2025 09:15

I wouldn’t like it either. DS was terrified of dogs. His school now has a very well trained community dog who has helped wonders but this is a different situation as that dog is trained not to react and not to approach anyone. But all you can do is communicate your concerns and the head will probably dutifully ignore you.