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Whats your thoughts on taking a puppy on the school run

185 replies

Lichensclerosus · 01/11/2022 12:21

I've been taking my 3month pup with me on the school run in the mornings. I don't take him into the playground or school grounds. I stand outside the gate and watch my 2 kids go in and try to keep out of the way of people as much as possible nor let him jump up and if he does then of course I apologise and address him to sit ect.

Im just interested to know your thoughts would you take a puppy on the school run? Not going to lie I have found it a bit stressful the last few times his quite a large puppy already(golden retriever mix) so does take a lot of strength to control him but then at the same time its great to socialise him with other children and get him use to the morning traffic /noises ect

OP posts:
CharlesChihuahua · 01/11/2022 13:46

“I have control of him he doesn't just jump at every kid. When people come up to him with their hands up high being high pitched tones is when he will jump and thats when I re address him back into a sit and apologise

Just seen this quote from you OP.
I don’t think that’s okay.
Its understandable, he’s a puppy and people are behaving in an excitable way near him so understandable that he’d try and jump.
But unacceptable.

i think that If you can’t stop that by luring with treats or body blocking him I think he needs to be further away.

The more he practices that jumping behaviour the more ingrained it will become and if he’s a golden, it won’t be long before he’s a pretty big and strong dog x

tonsilitis · 01/11/2022 13:46

I think it's selfish. My kids are nervous around digs and it just adds a level of stress to the school run for us.

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 01/11/2022 13:47

I have a mixed feeling about this.
I love dogs, and I really don't mind people with dogs on the school run. But my dc was very afraid of dogs when he was younger(not anymore), and have an experience of the dog tried to jump on him on a narrow pavement and he run into the road, while the owner was chatting away with other parents. So, if you can keep him under control, I think it's fine, but I really expect them to be always vigilant.

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2bazookas · 01/11/2022 13:52

Lichensclerosus · 01/11/2022 13:32

Nope I didn't say that at all I said it takes a lot of strength to control him didn't say anything that I cant do it

" and if he does (jump up) then of course I apologise"

Tells us in your own words, that he DOES jump up, and you don't always control him.

Sirzy · 01/11/2022 13:53

The reason DS developed a fear of dogs was because an inconsiderate owner let her dog jump up at him and it petrified him. It took me years to get him to overcome it.

the school run isn’t the place to socialise your dog.

Mariposista · 01/11/2022 13:54

MN hates dogs. Having raised a labrador puppy, I know the importance of exposing him to noisy, busy situations (that he will have to be used to as an adult dog) at a very young age. If you can manage your kids and the dog on the lead at the same time, go for it! Maybe not everyday but once or twice a week is fine.

threegoodthings · 01/11/2022 13:57

MN isn't a hive mind

BogRollBOGOF · 01/11/2022 14:00

When my DCs started at school, there was only one or two dogs walked to school which was fine. Now the main exit gate is much busier with dogs on leads, and it's already busy with prams, toddlers and school age children.

Forunately my children are bigger now and cope better than they they were closer in height to most dogs and we haven't had any incidents at the school gate. I'm confident with dogs having grown up with large dogs, but both of my children have been scared entirely because of poorly controlled "friendly" dogs that have been permitted to jump up, lick faces in prams, raid picnics and bowl them over as young children- often the owner wasn't even in sight and even when they were, half weren't even apologetic. That has left both my children very wary around lively, jumpy dogs, especially my child with ASD. If I wasn't calm around dogs and balanced my children's fear with demonstrating how to behave around dogs, their reaction would be worse. It's a difficult irony that the panic reaction of children makes the dog's behaviour worse, and the owner is entirely responsible for preventing their dog from distressing children. Children can not be rationally responsible for their fear.

When we had to hold our youth group in the park because of Covid restrictions, every week there was an incident where a dog was allowed to run into the area we were using, and every time there was a small number of children distressed by that.

If you must walk your dog to school, it must be firmly under control. No jumping. No barking. No snapping. It's deeply unfair to the children who attend the school to be put at risk of making their fear worse by being forced to go past poorly controlled dogs. School is a place for children and their wellbeing is a priority. Dogs are an extra.

I like dogs... the well behaved ones with responsible owners. It's infuriating how much damage a core of sloppy owners can cause with their poorly controlled dogs.

Lichensclerosus · 01/11/2022 14:00

Mariposista · 01/11/2022 13:54

MN hates dogs. Having raised a labrador puppy, I know the importance of exposing him to noisy, busy situations (that he will have to be used to as an adult dog) at a very young age. If you can manage your kids and the dog on the lead at the same time, go for it! Maybe not everyday but once or twice a week is fine.

Thanks ive come to realise there's some people on here who dislike dogs and the way they speak absolutely disgusting its so rude and not needed at all Yes!

I only take him once a morning in the week on my day off so its not every day

OP posts:
AnnieMay55 · 01/11/2022 14:03

Puppies only learn how to behave by having experience of different situations. As long as you remember to stand well away from everyone else and let your children come over to you it should be fine. At our primary school where dogs were not allowed on the playground someone used to tie their dog up at the school gate. This was unacceptable as children had to walk right passed it and it would often bark at them. The Head told them they should not tie it up near there. As long as you don't ever need to go in to see the teacher when you have it with you, it should be ok .
I actually sometimes take my dog out deliberately at end of school time as my very friendly big softie golden retriever loves children and they all coming rushing up to give him a fuss. Some children I know were not sure to start with as he is big but they have seen how calm he is so now are happy to stroke him. It has eased their fears. He is of course on a lead and they are with their parents. He is very popular with everyone and never jumps up. If he had rarely experienced a group of children he may not have been so accepting of them.

DuoLingoMakesMeBingo · 01/11/2022 14:03

I also don’t talk about the above experiences with other people. I don’t say anything to owners of poorly controlled dogs unless they physically injure me or my children. I smile and show polite interest in peoples dogs. I still absolutely do not want to have to negotiate someone else’s dog on school run.

I think people very much underestimate how many people dislike being in close contact with other peoples dogs.

Mariposista · 01/11/2022 14:05

Lichensclerosus · 01/11/2022 14:00

Thanks ive come to realise there's some people on here who dislike dogs and the way they speak absolutely disgusting its so rude and not needed at all Yes!

I only take him once a morning in the week on my day off so its not every day

Exactly. There are dog owners and dog owners (just as there are parents and parents haha). You will know that you need to keep pup on a close lead, leave plenty of time to get there (puppies like to sniff/park their bums on the ground/poo at random intervals), and to not let him charge about and be bonkers around people or cars. You will know how to keep your pup and people safe.
As for people 'being scared', well sorry but the world can't stop for them.

howaboutchocolate · 01/11/2022 14:05

Lichensclerosus · 01/11/2022 13:32

Nope I didn't say that at all I said it takes a lot of strength to control him didn't say anything that I cant do it

He shouldn't be jumping up at all! Even if he jumps up at one kid, that's not OK. Children aren't pawns in your dog training regime. Until you can guarantee he won't jump up around children, he shouldn't be near children.

DuoLingoMakesMeBingo · 01/11/2022 14:06

Lichensclerosus · 01/11/2022 14:00

Thanks ive come to realise there's some people on here who dislike dogs and the way they speak absolutely disgusting its so rude and not needed at all Yes!

I only take him once a morning in the week on my day off so its not every day

This to me indicates you have not really imagined what it is like to be in my shoes and wanted everyone to agree with you. I do not dislike dogs

BogRollBOGOF · 01/11/2022 14:08

I have control of him he doesn't just jump at every kid. When people come up to him with their hands up high being high pitched tones is when he will jump and thats when I re address him back into a sit and apologise

That's not being under control. Your dog jumps at some children.

Hands up high and high pitched tones can often be a fear reaction. Your dog is likely to jump up at children who are already scared.
Apologising doesn't undo the distress to a child. If you were actually sorry you wouldn't take the dog back to school until you were confident that it was fully trained.
Letting the dog repeat the behaviour and minimising it is not an act of apology and leaves "sorry" as a meaningless word. You're not sorry and you're putting your convenience before the children's needs.

howaboutchocolate · 01/11/2022 14:09

People can love dogs and also dislike entitled people using other people's children to help train their jumpy puppies.
People can love dogs and also understand that not everyone does, and a school run is a congested place where it can be hard to avoid dogs right by a gate.

oakleaffy · 01/11/2022 14:11

A big jumpy up out of control dog of any age at a school gate is not on.
Jumping up is bloody annoying and can really scare kids.
Keep well away from school gates.

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 01/11/2022 14:15

Thanks ive come to realise there's some people on here who dislike dogs and the way they speak absolutely disgusting its so rude and not needed at all Yes!

Wow, this says it all. Yes, there are people who dislike dogs or afraid of dogs. They are entitled to their own opinions and feelings too. It's not disgusting or rude to dislike something.

threegoodthings · 01/11/2022 14:17

Lichensclerosus · 01/11/2022 14:00

Thanks ive come to realise there's some people on here who dislike dogs and the way they speak absolutely disgusting its so rude and not needed at all Yes!

I only take him once a morning in the week on my day off so its not every day

You take your jumpy dog once a week on the school run...do you know what I do once a week? Take my DD to CBT to try and help deal with her dog phobia. A phobia which was caused by people like you.

If you had any sense of decency whatsoever you would think long and hard about why you've elicited certain responses.

PaPaCem · 01/11/2022 14:18

A jumping dog on the school run is a big fat no no. Ditto in the park, control your dog.

Sirzy · 01/11/2022 14:19

Mariposista · 01/11/2022 14:05

Exactly. There are dog owners and dog owners (just as there are parents and parents haha). You will know that you need to keep pup on a close lead, leave plenty of time to get there (puppies like to sniff/park their bums on the ground/poo at random intervals), and to not let him charge about and be bonkers around people or cars. You will know how to keep your pup and people safe.
As for people 'being scared', well sorry but the world can't stop for them.

But she isn’t controlling him because he jumps up at people. She can change the story as much as she likes but she has already said he is hard to control and he jumps up at people.

that really isn’t outside school types level of control.

i am a dog lover but their is a time and a place for training them and outside a school isn’t it!

GoodVibesHere · 01/11/2022 14:24

AlwaysLatte · 01/11/2022 12:45

The playground is not really an appropriate environment for dogs.
That's why the OP doesn't take the puppy into the playground.
We took our puppies up to the gate, but not in school grounds, too. It's very good socialisation and lots of the kids love it!

And lots of the kids don't!

kingtamponthefurred · 01/11/2022 14:35

You need to learn to control your dog before you take it into a congested area where small children are milling around.

Bazinga007 · 01/11/2022 14:42

I hate disobedient dogs. Why should my child be used as a training tool for your inadequate ownership of your pet. If your dog jumped up at my child and scratched or nipped them I would be straight onto the police.

SpentDandelion · 01/11/2022 14:44

I live very close to two schools and l try to avoid walking my lurcher during school runs, she is 13 now, deaf and slow on her feet, not in the least interested in people or other dogs, yet the hysteria from other parents has grown ten fold since l had her from 18 months old.
Dog walking like any other activity has become very complicated, even when you have an easy going, relaxed dog like mine. I walk mine in remote woods so much easier than having the sour faced miseries glaring at you.
Good luck with your dog.

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