Teacher’s dogs in classroom?

At all of my 3 (private) schools there were always dogs around. It's nice for the dogs and the children learn how to act around dogs and (hopefully) enjoy being with them.

When I was a kid my doctor had three dogs in three wicker baskets in the consulting room. I used to stroke their heads as he talked to my Mum. I remember them watching as the dc listened to my chest etc. Even as a tiny kid, I told my Mum that when I left home, I wanted a dog of the same breed and that is exactly what I did. I am still obsessed with the breed even though they are not everybody's cup of tea.

I think it's lovely actually.

I do find it a bit strange.. but i have a sausage do and its the most docile dog you'll ever meet. She would never bark in this situation and she would love the attention. She sleeps ALL day long so wouldn't be disruptive but she is also very well trained. It will be good for your son to be introduced to dogs but i do still find it strange... our school is a dog free zone and i can't even take her into the playground even in my arms..

How do you know that? They are apparently not being put in a cage. Are they going to sit on a mat for 6 hours? Free play in a reception classroom means children are everywhere being busy and noisy. Its not an environment for dogs.
The sausage dog I know owned by one of my relatives has to be kept away from children as she's aggresive, as was her predecessor.
Such a stupid idea.

Allergies? If the dog is in every day it will be shedding hair and it will build up over time. I have two kids and a husband who allergic to dogs (and we have outside farm yard dogs) and it’s the build up not the single interaction that’s the issue. Classrooms aren’t known for being that well ventilated and the dander will start to build up.

Why ? why do these staff members think they have the right to bring their pets into school, what next ? Maybe they don't want to pay for childcare so they will just rock up at school with their babies and toddlers. They are supposed to be working in a professional capacity.

This is very unusual,I was at a private school which let one of the heads of dept keep two dogs in her office, but they didn’t come with her to teach. If your son is nervous around dogs this might be an opportunity to get him used to them in a safe secure space - I’m assuming they’re well behaved or the school wouldn’t allow it. Even if you don’t like dogs being able to stay calm and confident around them is actually quite useful: dogs frequently misinterpret flinching or sudden arm-jerks as a game so if you want them to bugger off you need to know understand how.

Also weird to think that the teacher will know her new class of reception children so well. It takes time.
I've come out of parents evenings where it has been clear that the teacher knew very little about my child!

I think there is a difference between bringing a dog in for children to meet it, spend time with it supervised etc and bringing dogs in that aren't used to children and just having them in the classroom whilst teaching. Particularly for that age group as there is a lot of learning through play and moving about at that age, it's not like the kids will be sitting at their desks all day and the dog will be sitting in a corner. How is the teacher meant to keep a close eye on two dogs with 30 4 year olds running around? Even if they're good tempered dogs how is she going to stop the kids that have issues or haven't learned to control their impulses from getting in the dogs space, annoying it etc. How is the teacher meant to make sure the dog isn't showing any warning signs that they aren't comfortable with any of the pupils behaviour?

Overall I think it can be a positive thing if managed well but I don't think 2 dogs, one who has never been around kids, in a room with 30 4 year olds playing, is well thought through. If this trend continues to grow one day a dog will have enough and bite. And then everyone will be asking how it was allowed to happen

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Maybe its something like this. There are a couple of schools near me that have them. They are usually owned by one of the teachers.

I work a bit in an Sen school with a dog who just wanders around. I do wonder about the kids who won’t like him.

I dont think 'dogs running all over the place' is what will be happening.

The idea of pets in schools is not new. Hamsters, tortoise etc.
But dogs. Assistance dogs only. What breed of dog will be allowed ? Or will it just be up to the teacher.
This I think is because the teacher hasn’t got someone to look after it in the day and is dressing it up as ‘good for the children’. A cheap option.
Until one bites a child.

How odd, I’ve never heard of this set up before!

You don’t have to be highly allergic for dogs to cause problems. I have one child who is highly allergic to dogs, and another who is less so. They still negatively affect the second child. More asthma etc. I’d prefer not to have him living on anti-histamines too.

School is not the place for dogs.

In general people can be fairly dismissive of allergies so I wouldn’t be at all sure a teacher would understand their true impact on a child.

Weird assumption there that liking dogs is the default!

I do know a school where this is common. It’s a bit of a funny case though and they advertise it very widely so you wouldn’t apply not knowing.

I completely agree it’s inappropriate.

Distracting for the children.

Not fair on the dogs.

No thought for allergies.

As an ex reception teacher looking after and welcoming 30 new little people to a new classroom is challenge enough. Dogs running all over the place is so inappropriate and frankly dangerous. I would most definitely be 'that' parent.

And I'm sure the teacher knows her class well enough to ensure that non are highly allergic. As for your none so blind as those who will not see rubbish, I could bat it right back. The class will absolutely love having a dog in. The teacher will ensure that there are no highly allergic children before doing so and she'll ensure nervous pupils don't have close contact unless they want to.

We'd never do anything fun is we constantly over analysed everything.

I have a friend who's really nervous around dogs. She has really struggled with not passing this fear onto her kids. She knows logically that most dogs pose little threat and she's desperate for her kids not to experience her fear, but her kids pick up her unconscious gestures regardless of what she tells them.

If the dogs are good with children, this scenario could be an absolute gift for your family IMO.

Our primary school regularly has one of the teachers dogs in the nursery/ reception class, obviously its well behaved, is predominantly on its lead but they do interactive sessions with it, all the kids love it.

She also said that if any parents were uncomfortable she’d try and work something out.

What on earth is that supposed to mean?

Was it a guilt trip?

Honestly, unless they are part of the curriculum I don't think that they should be there.

Sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

Yes. It was a thing in the 80s. The Nursery Teacher I took over from in 1985 kept her dog in the stock cupboard. Maybe it was the same school 🤣

Unless it's been trained specifically for the classroom environment with this age group, I would be very unhappy to accept this, and would not be putting my child into this situation.
Just because it's 'fairly common' doesn't make it appropriate.