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Original poster

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:
Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 01/11/2022 22:39

Yes, totally the right thing, getting in everyone’s way, frightening small children, defecating but totally the right thing!

threegoodthings · 01/11/2022 22:40

allboysherebutme · 01/11/2022 22:26

I think you are doing the right thing taking him. X

Two eye rolls - one for the content and one for the kiss

NeverDropYourMooncup · 01/11/2022 22:45

I hated it- because I could end up waiting twenty minutes whilst a bunch of nine year-olds were cooing over puppies.

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Dogs
PinkSyCo · 01/11/2022 22:55

Great for you (kills two birds with one stone), great for the dog-exercise, socialisation, no doubt lots of attention and petting- but not so great for the child a big (wet pawed?) puppy is jumping up on. You must not allow him to do that OP…..ever.

MadameDe · 01/11/2022 22:56

I don't understand mumsnet sometimes. I think the vast majority seem to think that dogs are natural troublemakers who will bite a person at the next available opportunity and cause emotional damage to frightened children.

There is a school within 5 minutes walk from my house, which I walk past most days on my dog walk. I've been doing it since he was a puppy. He's so familiar with the kids now and they all stop and talk to us, even the one's that were initially scared. It's good for children to be exposed to animals. The kids that have a genuine phobia stay away but even seeing a dog is a step in the right direction. No, they shouldn't be allowed on the premises but people should be able to walk their animals as they choose.

ZiriForEver · 01/11/2022 23:13

MadameDe · 01/11/2022 22:56

I don't understand mumsnet sometimes. I think the vast majority seem to think that dogs are natural troublemakers who will bite a person at the next available opportunity and cause emotional damage to frightened children.

There is a school within 5 minutes walk from my house, which I walk past most days on my dog walk. I've been doing it since he was a puppy. He's so familiar with the kids now and they all stop and talk to us, even the one's that were initially scared. It's good for children to be exposed to animals. The kids that have a genuine phobia stay away but even seeing a dog is a step in the right direction. No, they shouldn't be allowed on the premises but people should be able to walk their animals as they choose.

The OP stated that her dog jumps on people and she needs to apply significant strength to control it.
The school gate is a place where all children have to be, they have no choice in it.

It doesn't help anyone to have to see this dog at that place, it is just selfish and wrong.

StripeyClocksDontWorkBetter · 01/11/2022 23:17

kilos · 01/11/2022 12:40

I wouldn't necessarily agree children who are scared of dogs start off fearless and an incident has happened to make them scared. Some children are scared because their parents are scared and they see then do.
Look at children who are scared of spiders, I am sure not once has a spider attacked them, but they see others who are scared then they are.
OP, I don't see a problem with taking your dog on the school run, as long as it's under control. And the couple of posters who have mentioned not going in the playground, well you already said you didn't in your OP...

This is definitely my daughter. She used to love dogs till a dog once ran up to her and licked her face when she was about 3. Since then she is scared of them.

Ellnet · 01/11/2022 23:18

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

Show quote history

You shouldn’t need strength to control a properly trained dog. If it’s taking a lot of strength at 3 months old you need to go to training classes. If it’s taking a lot of strength to control him now what are you going to do when the dog gets bigger? Dogs don’t magically stop pulling, it take a lot of effort and training.

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.

You did a say he jumps up in your op, he shouldn’t be jumping at anyone. I have 3 labs, not one of them has ever jumped on a stranger as you train them not to! I don’t agree with dogs on the school run, there’s far too many owners who have badly behaved dogs so yes YABU there’s plenty other places to socialise your dog.

MadelineUsher · 01/11/2022 23:19

You asked for thoughts and seem offended when given them. You say you "try" to control him, when he jumps up, and then apologise to the person/child he jumped up at, and tell him to sit. But if he's already jumped up, or gone to jump up, he has already potentially frightened someone.

You say it takes "a lot of strength" to control him. Hardly reassuring for others.

A school run is not your dog-training camp. It is completely inappropriate to bring a young barely trained dog to this environment and unfair on others.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 01/11/2022 23:21

@MadameDe - I think here is a big difference between walking your dog past a school, and the children who love dogs choosing to come over, and having your excitable puppy right at the school gates, so scared or phobic children have to walk past to get into school or go home.

threegoodthings · 01/11/2022 23:26

MadameDe · 01/11/2022 22:56

I don't understand mumsnet sometimes. I think the vast majority seem to think that dogs are natural troublemakers who will bite a person at the next available opportunity and cause emotional damage to frightened children.

There is a school within 5 minutes walk from my house, which I walk past most days on my dog walk. I've been doing it since he was a puppy. He's so familiar with the kids now and they all stop and talk to us, even the one's that were initially scared. It's good for children to be exposed to animals. The kids that have a genuine phobia stay away but even seeing a dog is a step in the right direction. No, they shouldn't be allowed on the premises but people should be able to walk their animals as they choose.

@MadameDe I can assure you that if a child has a phobia, seeing a jumpy dog like the OP's is not "a step in the right direction". All it does is serve to reinforce their fear that dogs are unpredictable. If dog owners gave even the tiniest shit about children with phobias they'd keep them under control.

SkylightSkylight · 01/11/2022 23:30

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.

Oh I'd love to be a fly on the wall

'Hello Mr Policeman, a dog scratched my child'.

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

SkylightSkylight · 01/11/2022 23:38

FuckeryOmbudsman · 01/11/2022 15:58

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

Swearing is permitted but telling posters to fuck off is not.

HTH

Phantomb · 01/11/2022 23:51

Unless your dog shits on command or you take a cloth and disinfectant with you, please don't.

There would often be smeared shit or watery diarrhoea in front of the school gates, or towards it, at my DCs school by parents wanting to show off their dog.

They'd pick it up obviously as they couldn't get away with not, but DC would still be walking over the fresh smears and getting the germs on the bottom of their shoes. Then putting their hands on it when they take shoes off to put their pumps on or for carpet time. Disgusting!

If you haven't got time to take your dog out before or after the school run, you shouldn't have one IMO. Even well behaved dogs should not be in a heavily congested area where lots of DC are.

Ellnet · 01/11/2022 23:54

SkylightSkylight · 01/11/2022 23:30

Oh I'd love to be a fly on the wall

'Hello Mr Policeman, a dog scratched my child'.

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

Show quote history

😂 Goodness knows how many times I’ve seen posts saying ‘police NOW’ on here for the most trivial reasons. @Bazinga007 get a grip, you’re over reacting, I very much doubt any dog owner would treat your child as a training tool, stop being hysterical FFS

1982mommaof4 · 02/11/2022 00:17

I took my puppy in the school run and the teacher asked me to bring her up to the playground so she could pet her. I was holding her and she was tiny.

I don't take her anymore because she's too big.

Most people loved her

Maytodecember · 02/11/2022 00:42

Try a halti type head collar or a halti lead. He will not be able to jump at people then. As long as you are training him to walk to heel and sit on command I can’t see a problem.

MrsDThomas · 02/11/2022 03:02

Phantomb · 01/11/2022 23:51

Unless your dog shits on command or you take a cloth and disinfectant with you, please don't.

There would often be smeared shit or watery diarrhoea in front of the school gates, or towards it, at my DCs school by parents wanting to show off their dog.

They'd pick it up obviously as they couldn't get away with not, but DC would still be walking over the fresh smears and getting the germs on the bottom of their shoes. Then putting their hands on it when they take shoes off to put their pumps on or for carpet time. Disgusting!

If you haven't got time to take your dog out before or after the school run, you shouldn't have one IMO. Even well behaved dogs should not be in a heavily congested area where lots of DC are.

😆 such an overreaction. Lots of hysterical mums here

stuntbubbles · 02/11/2022 07:12

allboysherebutme · 01/11/2022 22:26

I think you are doing the right thing taking him. X

The right thing for whom?

Original poster
Lichensclerosus · 02/11/2022 07:57

🤣 🙄some of these comments, honestly some of you have literally taken my words and turned them around to make your own version!
His 3 months -he is a young puppy who is in training , he attends classes and has a 1-1 trainer, he still walks at other times of the day, I don't have him on an extending lead. He is still learning I didnt say ANYTHING that i CANT control him I said it takes a lot of strength. Show me a puppy who doesnt jump forward because I can assure you in his class of 8 puppies they are all very jumpy. I keep well away from the school across the road, I do not block the main route in and go to the 3rd gate that is the least busiest. And he only goes to jump if a kid comes up to him and is all excited in his face

Thank you to those with some helpful comments and I will take them all on board.
THOSE OF YOU WHO USED DISGUSTING LANGUAGE AND NAME CALLED ABSOLUTE SHAME ON YOU WHAT TYPE OF PERSON ARE YOU!

THAT IS ALL I WILL SAY ON THIS MATTER 👋

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 02/11/2022 08:39

I agree @Lichensclerosus
Some of the language here has been ridiculous and completely over the top.
Its completely possible to take your dog on the school run in a way that’s safe and enjoyable for the dog and for any children who WANT to approach him. As long as you ensure you are out of the way and that no child who doesn’t want to has to walk anywhere near him it’s fine.
In your shoes with a young dog who is still jumpy I would probably not encourage children to pet him though, he is likely to get over excited and could hurt someone accidentally. I used to take ddog on the school run and on occasions I did have to tell children that they couldn’t stroke him as he was young and might jump up. They have sharp claws (as I’m sure you know) and could accidentally scratch. Plus it’s not nice for a dog to be surrounded by children who may be a bit excited

threegoodthings · 02/11/2022 08:40

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stuntbubbles · 02/11/2022 08:42

Thanks for the update, OP. But are you going to stop taking your fucking dog on the fucking school run where it doesn’t fucking belong?

rottweilersrock · 02/11/2022 08:45

2 of my current dogs used to come on the school run when they were pups. Not together as they are different ages.
One absolutely loved all the attention she got, and was like a minor celebrity with all the children that wanted to say hello to her. There were younger children who were scared of dogs that didn’t come near us at first, and obviously we stayed out of the way so as not to intimidate anyone. By the time she was fully grown even these children were more than happy to make a fuss of her, and quite a few people said she had changed their perception of Rottweilers.
The other dog was not so happy about being around so many people. I didn’t notice this quickly enough, and believe that this has contributed to him being a bit anxious around people sometimes and growling. I did stop taking him as soon as I realised he wasn’t happy.
Make sure you are very very aware of your dogs body language, and if they show any signs of not be comfortable stop taking them.

Lockheart · 02/11/2022 09:04

stuntbubbles · 02/11/2022 08:42

Thanks for the update, OP. But are you going to stop taking your fucking dog on the fucking school run where it doesn’t fucking belong?

The school run takes place on (presumably) public roads and paths. Dogs are allowed on these. The only place it doesn't belong is the playground, which OP says she does not take the dog onto.