Whats your thoughts on taking a puppy on the school run

[Lichensclerosus]

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

Very much agree with this

Also choice of being by the gate (a choke point) is one of the worst possible

We should all adore OP’s large out of control dog leaping all over little kids.
If she can’t handle it at 12 weeks old, Heaven help her when it’s balls drop.

Fine but I don’t want to be jumped at, have muddy paws on me, be barked at etc. Nor do small kids

I think the school run is tough environment for your dog to behave in. Some kids get over excited around dogs and others get scared. It used to get quite chaotic at my daughter’s school and that was with only about 5 people bringing in their dogs. A dog did bite a child once when both child and dog got overexcited.

Don’t take your dog to school. I don’t hate dogs but I’ve grown to hate some dog owners who think it’s fine for their dog to jump up, slather over someone else or yap at people. I can’t bear the pathetic apology that always follows. Don’t get a dog if you can’t train it or get someone who knows what they’re doing to train it for you.

I take mine on the school run and I still think you are wrong, you need to stay back from the gate. If it's the only spot you can watch your dc from then leave the dog at home. It's not being on the school run so much as being stood at the gate for me.

No owners of other animals expect their pets to be welcome everywhere they go. Leave your jumpy dog at home, schools are for children, not animals

Yes, socialise your animal at the school gate. Its ideal.

I hope other parents do the same with their dogs
Lots of them. They'll certainly always be well behaved and not bark at each other

Small children love to walk past excitable but unfamiliar animals

Absolutely not. I'm a dog owner and trust my girl 100% not to hurt anyone but wouldn't take the risk. You never know what is going to upset the dog and you don't know what other children and parents are comfortable with. I can guarantee you there will be families at the gates who are upset and angry you've bought your dog. It is likely to teach your dog unsociable habits too, children are very exciting to dogs and give a reaction whether good or bad. This then makes your dog even more likely to investigate children who react and reinforce that even more. You do not want a large adult dog who can't be stopped from approaching children.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions but why is there a need to swear and be rude to the op. She is quite correct that people have used disgusting language and swear words. Why not have a civil debate?

Swearing it permitted on MN - indeed it used to even promote itself on that basis "the one with the swearing"

It's a hiding to nowhere to try to stop expletives on a site that explicitly permis it

I always assume those parents who hang about at the school gate with a dog must be a bit simple to be honest.

@Lichensclerosus - I am a dog owner and dog lover, but I’m afraid I don’t think it is reasonable for you to take your dog on the school run, even if it was impeccably behaved. There are certain to be some children in the school who are scared, or even terrified of dogs, and it is very unfair to make them have to run the gauntlet past your pup. They have to go into school upset every time they see your dog, and because you are at the school gates, they may not be able to avoid it, without walking further to a different gate.

So, sorry - I think it is unreasonable of you to take your pup to the school gates.

Full disclosure I adore all animals. And have had a collection of dogs spanning over 30 years.

From my reading your OP, you refer to times when the puppy has jumped up and you have corrected them.

Honestly, this isn't good enough, nobody knows which child will be the one who will develop or have a fear.

No dog should be near the school run until an individual has total and I mean total control over a dog - it simply isn't fair.

Please walk it at other times away from the school run and when it has matured/been more receptive to the training then you can walk the dog on the school run.

I don’t mind dogs at the school gate, and neither do my DC, but ONLY if dog + leash + chatting oblivious owner don’t straddle and block the pavement. I don’t want to hurdle to and from school. We do get a lot of this. Very entitled.

While we’re on the topic, what’s the etiquette about petting dogs who are tied to the railings for the 2-5 mins it takes to pick up the child? We have a few truly gorgeous labs who are so well behaved and so appealing looking. We can’t take dogs into the playground so they get tied up in a row outside. I always give them a pet and a cuddle on my way in (well, one each day, I don’t go down the line petting every dog while my child is waiting to be collected 😀). Is this okay? The dogs seem to like it but always have that beseeching look in their eye, like they’re going to get a treat or something from me. Makes me feel really guilty!

You really shouldn't be letting your dog jump up on anyone and that needs to be addressed before you take him again, but I don't have a problem with it providing you're standing well back from the crowd - the school run is full of chaos with parents parking where they shouldn't, kids scootering and cycling through busy areas, kids petting perfectly behaved dogs before checking with the owners etc etc. It's just part and parcel of the school drop off.

As long as you don't stand on one side of the pavement with the dog on the other side and the lead draped across the middle getting in everyone's way and forcing the children into the road as happens outside our school.

Some dogs I'd be happy with, but from what you describe I would not be happy were I another parent. Your puppy is not yet under enough control.

Because it's not a debate. We're not discussing something where one's beliefs don't impinge on others.

What the OP is doing is completely wrong and there's a good chance it could have a negative effect, possibly quite profound, on children and their families' lives. That's a fact, not an opinion.

if course its ok! Puppy needs training.

But there is a time and a place for that to happen. And school at pick up time isn’t either!

Puppy needs to get on with screeching kids and the school is a great place for it.

What about the children who are scared of dogs, or who get scared by a big puppy jumping up at them on their way into school, @MrsDThomas? The pup’s need for training does not outweigh their right to go into school without running the gauntlet of dog(s) at the school gate.

I disagree. My children don’t like dogs due to bad experiences with them being bathed at and jumped up and scratched and knocked over.
Why should they be subjected to a dog (any dog) at the entrance to school - it would add greatly to the stress at school drop off and pick up. My children have no idea if the dog is going to jump at them or bark at them, they assume it will as that has been their experience of dogs.

With the notable exception of assistance or working dogs, in this time of climate EMERGENCY no one should be getting a dog - their high carbon paw-print means they are a luxury the planet cannot afford.

*barked at