Teacher’s dogs in classroom?

I can believe it. At my kids' state primary the head (who was a law unto herself) used to bring her dog in every day, insisting that all the kids would adore it. She was divorced so "couldn't" leave him at home alone. Small dog but untrained and allowed to run around the school and playground unchecked. Nipped a couple of children and the head brushed it off.

In a twist of fate the dog died suddenly, only about a year old due to a previously unidentified heart condition. Head put an awful emotive message on the school FB page saying she supposed all the parents who'd complained would be glad. Few months later she announced she was getting a new puppy. The governors got involved and although the new dog made an occasional appearance, it was kept much more under control.

Additionally, one of the form teachers used to bring her two large dogs to school fairs, discos etc with the nutty head's permission. They were generally well behaved but really greedy around food and would nick it if they spotted it. One of them jumped up and grabbed an ice cream cone out of a toddlers hand - could have been really nasty if he'd bitten her hand.

I actually like dogs but this is so, so inappropriate and unprofessional and potentially dangerous.

Seriously? @Pennyfan

The UK is fucked because a teacher wants to bring her dog into the classroom and some parents are worried about risk?

Are you a parent?

Have you ever seen a person having an extreme reaction to dog hair?
Akin to an asthma attack.

Talk to the head teacher and if that doesn't' work write to the governors.

It's frankly ridiculous for a teacher to bring her dogs into a classroom.

There may be children who are allergic to dog hair (someone I know is very allergic.) Let alone the risk of biting.

I've only known this once and that was 50 years ago. My head teacher brought her westie to school every day, but you only saw it if you went to her office.
There are lots of positives to your situation but sadly the risks are also there. Risks for both dog and children. I'm amazed the school thinks that this is acceptable.
I think I would have to be that parent. I say that as a huge dog lover.
Children are too unpredictable at this age. If the dog snaps out of fear or pain, the consequences for everyone would be huge.
A carefully supervised dog visit is very different of course.
I volunteer in a primary school. Levels of need/support are much higher than many might expect if based on their own schooling.

If you're not happy OP then voice your concerns before school starts in September.

That said, my son would have loved this so much! It would make him want to go to school. I'm probably desensitised to this subject though as his school had lambs in the classroom sometimes and pet chickens. Also I have a "work" dog!

I had a class hamster when I was at school but no way would I have been comfortable with two dogs. It's going to be certain children's main anxiety and will be incredibly distracting.

Peanuts can kill but in your eyes it's I don't give a fuck, my child will bring peanuts to school if they wish. Children can be highly allergic to dogs but in your eyes it's I don't give a fuck, dogs should be allowed in schools.

It's attitudes like this which are detrimental to society in the UK. If it becomes the law to allow dogs in the classroom there will be absolute outrage amongst parents whose children have serious asthma exasperated by dogs or whose children are highly allergic to dogs and rightly so. It will never happen.

As the owner of a dog who is used to noisy children and very child friendly, i think it is an absolutely crazy idea to add 2 daschunds into a reception classroom. I'm amazed that the head would allow this. How is she possibly going to supervise even 1 dog while meeting the needs of 20-30 young children. These children may have allergies to dogs, be from a culture that regards dogs as unclean, be afraid of dogs etc. How can she ensure that the dogs go nowhere nesr them? I would also be concerned about the welfare of the dogs- no responsible owner would subject their dogs to a large group of noisy children all day. They will get stressed and are likely to bite, daschunds are not the most docile of dogs. I would certainly contact the school head and raise concerns, and am sure you won't be the only one.

Is this is actually true? I think back to the many headteachers I worked for they would not have allowed a teacher to bring in two dogs every day. Two small dogs and a class of four year old children! What could possibly go wrong😱.

https://docs.dogstrust.org.uk/school-dogs-guide-2025.pdf

https://www.nationalschooldogalliance.co.uk

My dc' high achieving state primary has had school dogs belonging to a member of staff for over ten years. They are very loved and when children behave well they get rewarded with walking the dog it s a huge honour to them. My dc adores the dogs. It's the highlight really.
There also was a pet fish in year 4 and one of the children was allowed to take pet fish home in the tank over Christmas as the teacher was travelling. Perfect

But not in his classroom. Why should he?

My daughter’s regular primary school has 3 dogs. One is a puppy and one is a lab who stays in the office. The third is a golden retriever who is basically a pupil and often does pe with the kids they love it. My sons special independent school has a sausage dog as a therapy dog in training but he is not let loose around the school. My daughters school also has chickens and other small animals that the classes take turns on looking after it’s really great for the kids.

I'm so fed up of dog owners imposing their choices on everyone else and then making out that everyone else is the issue.

Two dachshunds in a Reception classroom is inappropriate. It's distracting for everyone, plus they can be yappy and bitey.

I went to a large primary school just before half term to take part in a CIN meeting. There were 4 dogs there in different parts of the school. It is the first time I've come across that many. Its been quite common in the last couple of years to see one but I've never seen more than that!.
I know one dog was part of the forest school unit, I'm not sure about the other three.

Experience might be good - but presumably not with one of the most aggressive breeds out there. Dachshunds aren’t known for obedience, and are stubborn hunting dogs - they’re notoriously difficult to train and prone to reactivity. They’re not a breed I’d be throwing into a classroom, especially not two of them.

Both myself and oldest are allergic, so no I would not be happy with that.
I would raise it with the school.

It’s only going to take one child tripping and falling on or near enough the dog to scare it for a perfectly kind,gentle dog to bite from fear or pain. Or dropping something. Or screaching. Or roughly handling one by mistake. Or countless other things

I like dogs, my kids like dogs.
should my 4 year old have to spend 5 days a week with 2 dogs running round when they’re supposed to be learning at school, no

Many years ago but when I was in year 3, my teacher used to sometimes bring her dog in. It was a biggish dog but I think quite docile. I was terrified of dogs, every time she brought it in, I was in a state of flight or flight all day - I remember the fear I felt as it used to sit under the tables and I never knew if it was near me, I was so afraid - but I had to pretend I was fine because it was (just about) the 90s - I suppose I don't really have a view on this other than to those posters saying kids need to get used to it - I really don't think this is the way to do it.

As a parent, grandparent, and retired teacher - I think it's uutterly ridiiculous. I think I would be 'that parent'*!

Yes, it would be nice if the teacher didn’t assume that everyone loved her dog and allowed children who didn’t want to be around dogs to live and let live. Last time I checked schools were for the benefit of all children, not just those who like dogs?

I actually think therapy dogs are a great idea in schools, but the difference is no child is forced to be around them if they don’t want to be - and they are properly trained.

i also have never met a dachshund that isn’t snappy and / or yappy - surely there would be more appropriate breeds to bring into schools.

Calm down dear and take your own advice. 🙄

Hard no from me as this sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Dogs + 30 reception aged children in an enclosed space. What could go wrong?

Safety of the children aside, I think the teacher is being an irresponsible pet owner - that level of stress for a highly strung breed like a Dachshund is not in the best interests of the dog. The teacher will be distracted by caring for them - what will she do if they need the toilet mid lesson?

I adore dogs and work in a pet friendly office - but I would be having strong words in writing with the head about this.

Crackers.

Don’t be silly. There’s a world of difference between gaining some experience of dogs generally and a classroom with two untrained dogs basically unsupervised in a roomful of pre schoolers.
Only the truly naive and uneducated would not recognise this as the huge problem that it is. I say this as a dog trainer who sees problems daily caused by well meaning but dumb child/dog interactions
Therapy dog picked specifically and trained to the task - well managed and with small groups of children irregularly ✅
2 untrained daccies loose in class full time FUCK NO!!!