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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:
AlwaysLatte · 02/11/2022 09:13

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.
This.
BUT, you need to keep your dog from jumping up. Then there is no problem. Mine would like to jump up but as we pass people I keep him on a short lead so he can't.

HarryBlaster · 02/11/2022 09:13

I don’t see the issue if you’re able to keep him close and stay in the quieter places. It is good socialisation at this age. Just be sure to use the time to train and correct the bad behaviour. If it’s not really working then maybe stop for a while and do the puppy classes/training to learn the best methods.

stuntbubbles · 02/11/2022 09:29

Lockheart · 02/11/2022 09:04

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.

Show quote history

She takes it up to the gate, though; the pinch point for crowd flow. Saying the gate is OK because it’s not the playground is like waving your hand in someone’s face and shouting “Not touching, can’t get mad!”

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Dogs
Sirzy · 02/11/2022 09:33

stuntbubbles · 02/11/2022 09:29

She takes it up to the gate, though; the pinch point for crowd flow. Saying the gate is OK because it’s not the playground is like waving your hand in someone’s face and shouting “Not touching, can’t get mad!”

Show quote history

It’s a typical MN changing story.

starts with jumpy difficult to control dog at school gate. Moves to never jumps well
controlled dog stood away from the gate.

i think the opening posts are generally the truer version but sometimes changes happen to make them seem less unreasonable

Lockheart · 02/11/2022 09:36

Sirzy · 02/11/2022 09:33

It’s a typical MN changing story.

starts with jumpy difficult to control dog at school gate. Moves to never jumps well
controlled dog stood away from the gate.

i think the opening posts are generally the truer version but sometimes changes happen to make them seem less unreasonable

Show quote history

But none of that has happened. OPs opening post says she tries to keep out of the way and follow up posts say the dog does jump up.

Sirzy · 02/11/2022 09:39

Lockheart · 02/11/2022 09:36

But none of that has happened. OPs opening post says she tries to keep out of the way and follow up posts say the dog does jump up.

Show quote history

She has said she stands at the “quieter gate” that is still a school gate.

she has said the dog is getting harder to control.

she has said she tells it off when it has jumped therefore it does.

outside a school gate isn’t the place to be training a puppy.

RedToothBrush · 02/11/2022 09:45

There is a parent who has a golden retriever puppy at our school! (but we don't have 3 school gates so don't panic).

The puppy has form for giving up on walking and getting in the way, but is otherwise a chill dog. But kind of annoying if everyone has to walk on the road to get round it. Unlike yappy dog and the greyhound (owned by parents who yeah... let's just say quiet words had with relevant people) are something else. Notes have been sent out by school over dogs recently. Greyhound owners ignored and they are the biggest offenders, but I'm not remotely surprised by the attitude.

It comes down to whether it's being a nuisance to others. I am not sure a lot of owners will admit when their dog is a nuisance.

I remain unconvinced as to whether the school run is the most appropriate place to train a dog. It's fine if the dog isn't a pain in the arse to others and is well behaved, but thats not as many dogs as many owners believe...

Munches · 02/11/2022 09:48

Pisses me off no end. My friends little boy tripped over a dogs lead and fell in the road a few years back.
We have lots of dogs and they take up the pathway by the gates. My children and I have to weave in and out of them, often stepping into the road so we can get past.

Dogs should not be taken to school.

Someone even asked our head to hold their puppy the other month at the gate- whilst the parent went into the office.

Entitled is too good a word for these people.

MadelineUsher · 02/11/2022 10:26

But none of that has happened. OPs opening post says she tries to keep out of the way and follow up posts say the dog does jump up.

Opening post says the dog does jump up: "I 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."

also: "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"

Windbeneathmybingowings · 02/11/2022 12:15

But none of that has happened

no dog related incident would ever happen in a playground if no dogs were in the playground to begin with. Problem solved.

OhMaria2 · 02/11/2022 12:21

Lockheart · 02/11/2022 09:04

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.

Show quote history

But lurks at the gate. Where people have to walk close to it

If excitable children swarm the dog what happens? Or if irresponsible parents don't keep their children away from it? Or if some one else brings their dog too and it doesnt like the other dog? Or it slips the lead?
It's not the dogs fault if something goes wrong its the owners.

Windbeneathmybingowings · 02/11/2022 12:30

Also 100% a child will get nipped and the owner will say, the child got too close to the dog. Never mind that the child had no other option but to walk past nippy dog.

It’s like taking a bull in to a China shop for a day trip and then being annoyed at a teapot for having the audacity to be there.

threegoodthings · 02/11/2022 13:00

Windbeneathmybingowings · 02/11/2022 12:30

Also 100% a child will get nipped and the owner will say, the child got too close to the dog. Never mind that the child had no other option but to walk past nippy dog.

It’s like taking a bull in to a China shop for a day trip and then being annoyed at a teapot for having the audacity to be there.

Typical MN bull hating post! The teapots should be taught to be less fragile! A bull has every right to be in a China shop and it's a good opportunity for the teapots to get used to them.

Hoppinggreen · 02/11/2022 13:33

Windbeneathmybingowings · 02/11/2022 12:30

Also 100% a child will get nipped and the owner will say, the child got too close to the dog. Never mind that the child had no other option but to walk past nippy dog.

It’s like taking a bull in to a China shop for a day trip and then being annoyed at a teapot for having the audacity to be there.

It is not 100% that a child will get nipped
It is possible to take a dog on the school run safely and with no inconvenience to anyone.
It doesn’t suit all dogs or all school layouts but saying that a child will 100% get nipped is pretty ridiculous

kingtamponthefurred · 02/11/2022 14:29

threegoodthings · 02/11/2022 13:00

Typical MN bull hating post! The teapots should be taught to be less fragile! A bull has every right to be in a China shop and it's a good opportunity for the teapots to get used to them.

Show quote history

Exactly. You can glue a teapot back together. And the bull was only being friendly.

Windbeneathmybingowings · 03/11/2022 07:29

Hoppinggreen · 02/11/2022 13:33

It is not 100% that a child will get nipped
It is possible to take a dog on the school run safely and with no inconvenience to anyone.
It doesn’t suit all dogs or all school layouts but saying that a child will 100% get nipped is pretty ridiculous

Show quote history

Any % that a child will get nipped in a place of safety where dogs are not generally expected or usually allowed is too much %.

even if you are happy with 1% of children getting nipped for the sake of some randomers puppy, that’s too much.

rights for bulls!!!!

BankseyVest · 03/11/2022 07:34

Nothing wrong with it at all, good way of getting the puppy used to routine and other people being around. Just get used to telling parents and children not to stroke him. I might get a lead cover with 'do not pet' on it to try and avoid this. I did this with my puppy, not that I thought there would be a problem, I just didn't want loads of kids and adults crowding him and making him nervous. As long as you're not taking it in the school premises it's fine.

Hoppinggreen · 03/11/2022 07:41

Windbeneathmybingowings · 03/11/2022 07:29

Any % that a child will get nipped in a place of safety where dogs are not generally expected or usually allowed is too much %.

even if you are happy with 1% of children getting nipped for the sake of some randomers puppy, that’s too much.

rights for bulls!!!!

Show quote history

I completely agree with you. Even 1 child getting nipped or scratched is too much, and that was 1 more than ever got hurt by my dog when I took him on the school run.
Claiming there was a 100% chance it would happen is ridiculous

Streamingbannersofdawn · 03/11/2022 07:49

I did it once in the name of socialisation. Never again, dog was fine the children on the other hand were a nightmare, bowling into him, coming and sticking their faces into his.

It was really busy and I decided it was a stressful situation he didn't need to be in.

Dog is 11 now and I still avoid walking past the school gates at the wrong times.

We did lots of socialisation elsewhere.

threegoodthings · 03/11/2022 08:29

BankseyVest · 03/11/2022 07:34

Nothing wrong with it at all, good way of getting the puppy used to routine and other people being around. Just get used to telling parents and children not to stroke him. I might get a lead cover with 'do not pet' on it to try and avoid this. I did this with my puppy, not that I thought there would be a problem, I just didn't want loads of kids and adults crowding him and making him nervous. As long as you're not taking it in the school premises it's fine.

I absolutely agree that children should be taught to never pet a dog unless invited.

However, if your dog is so unpredictable that you need a sign on it, it's probably best not to take it to the place that has the highest concentration of children, is it. With the best will in the world there will be children who haven't been taught or who forget in the moment.

Socialise your dog somewhere else.

Wheredoallthepensgo · 03/11/2022 08:41

Op: I don't take him into the playground or school grounds.

Second poster : the playground is not really an appropriate ....

Ffs.

Can't people read any more?

BankseyVest · 03/11/2022 09:42

However, if your dog is so unpredictable that you need a sign on it, it's probably best not to take it to the place that has the highest concentration of children, is it. With the best will in the world there will be children who haven't been taught or who forget in the moment

Every dog can be unpredictable, puppies especially are exited and have needle sharp teeth, the sign is to stop kids running up and grabbing a puppy. Kids are more unpredictable than puppies imo. As they aren't on leads.

stuntbubbles · 03/11/2022 10:01

BankseyVest · 03/11/2022 09:42

However, if your dog is so unpredictable that you need a sign on it, it's probably best not to take it to the place that has the highest concentration of children, is it. With the best will in the world there will be children who haven't been taught or who forget in the moment

Every dog can be unpredictable, puppies especially are exited and have needle sharp teeth, the sign is to stop kids running up and grabbing a puppy. Kids are more unpredictable than puppies imo. As they aren't on leads.

Then it’s a really poor idea to take a puppy into a crowd of children, isn’t it? Especially a crowd bottlenecking through a gate.

Whether it’s the puppy or the children that are the problem (NB: it’s the puppy; the children have to be there), the best thing to do is not take it to the school gate.

threegoodthings · 03/11/2022 10:01

BankseyVest · 03/11/2022 09:42

However, if your dog is so unpredictable that you need a sign on it, it's probably best not to take it to the place that has the highest concentration of children, is it. With the best will in the world there will be children who haven't been taught or who forget in the moment

Every dog can be unpredictable, puppies especially are exited and have needle sharp teeth, the sign is to stop kids running up and grabbing a puppy. Kids are more unpredictable than puppies imo. As they aren't on leads.

Again if you need a sign, you're in the wrong place. Kids might be unpredictable so here's an idea - don't take your needle sharp toothed animal to a place where you might expect to see a high number of children. Where might one find a lot of children, oh yes, a SCHOOL.

Honestly the entitlement is off the scale. Like a PP said it really is like taking a bull into a China shop and complaining at the audacity of the teapots being there.

howaboutchocolate · 03/11/2022 13:42

BankseyVest · 03/11/2022 09:42

However, if your dog is so unpredictable that you need a sign on it, it's probably best not to take it to the place that has the highest concentration of children, is it. With the best will in the world there will be children who haven't been taught or who forget in the moment

Every dog can be unpredictable, puppies especially are exited and have needle sharp teeth, the sign is to stop kids running up and grabbing a puppy. Kids are more unpredictable than puppies imo. As they aren't on leads.

Which would be appropriate if you were taking your dog to a place where dogs and children are expected to go in equal measure, eg a grassy park.

Children have to go to school. Dogs do not. It's not appropriate to have a dog there who is known to be unpredictable or who has previously jumped at children. The rights of the children to go to school without being scared of a dog they have to walk past, even if it's only 1 child who has a problem, massively outweighs the rights of the dog owner taking their dog there.