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AIBU?

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Original poster

Puppy banned from school playground

186 replies

Solo2 · 19/05/2011 18:19

We recently got our first puppy and as everyone else does, at DCs schhol, brought him to the school playground a few times, as part of socialising him and letting people meet him.

Everyone brings their dogs/ puppies to school - or certainly has done over the 3 yrs my DCs have been at this school. I've only brought our pup to the playground when my DCs have an after-school club, so there are fewer people there and he isn't overwhelmed by children.

Teachers and children alike are all over him, love him and even tonight, 4 members of staff were petting him happily.

So I was naturally shocked when an upstairs school window opened and the headmaster called down across the entire playground that "dogs are not allowed in the school grounds!" As I didn't hear him at first/ didn't realise he was talking to me, he called again and it was so humiliating and v upsetting for my DCs. I called back to apologise but said that as everyone else always brings their dogs/ pups to the playground, I'd never thought it wasn't allowed - but of course I'd remove him immediately - which I then did.

This was about 10 mins after several senior staff and the caretaker had been happily petting the dog and one had told me he was going to get another teacher - so wait - as she was desperate to see our puppy and wanted to take it home with her. Clearly, no one at all had/has any idea that dogs are not allowed.

AIBU to feel embarassed, angry and humiliated to be singled out like this - and on behalf of DCs who were so happy to have their pup to 'display'? AIBU to feel particularly outraged that the headmaster informed me of this sudden new school rule by screaming across the playground, instead of calmly coming down from his office - or sending his PA or another teacher down to talk to me politely?

The head MUST have seen other parents with dogs, night after night and he also gave special permission for one mum to bring her puppy into assemblies for parent assemblies once a week, to make things easier for her. Now I'll have to change my entire dog routine to get our pup back home before I do the school run and poor pup will miss out on his socialisation too! Several children have looked forward to seeing him - although he's only been there about 4 times now - and one child who was phobic about dogs, overcame his fear and befriended our cute pup.

Incidentally, our puppy was on a lead, was quiet and calm, didn't make any mess and simply rolled over to have his tummy tickled several times.

I can fully and absolutely understand if it were normal school policy to ban all dogs - for hygiene/ health & safety reasons of course. But this has never been the case to date and I feel singled out - in a v public way - for doing something that everyone else does all the time - and 'told off' in a rather rude manner!

OP posts:
unfitmother · 19/05/2011 18:22

Our school reguularly has to remind parents that of course dogs are not allowed in the playground.
I can't think why they would be. Hmm

GypsyMoth · 19/05/2011 18:22

he's a dog,and there should be no place for dogs in a playground!!

but yanbu about the head singling you out......he should make it clear to the whole school.

ohfuckohfuckohfuckduck · 19/05/2011 18:24

It should be the same rule for everyone.

FWIW apropos nothing me and DD2 (9) were sitting in the car the other day waiting for DD1.

"mum, that sign says no dogs on school grounds"

me "yes"

her "so does that mean I can't bring fuckypup"

me "yes"

her "but I could bring an elephant couldn't I?"

Strange child.....

onlion · 19/05/2011 18:24

Id be happy if dogs were excluded from the playground.

Goblinchild · 19/05/2011 18:25

If they've changed the rules, they need to have sent out notification to all parents. If it has always been a rule that's been ignored, thenm perhaps you were only the first and it's a new campaign.
He could have had a scary visitor in. OFSTED, advisor, new parent and had to be seen making a point.
None of our local schools allow dogs on the premises, guide dogs being the exception.

fairydoll · 19/05/2011 18:25

The headteacher behaved terribly rudely and YANBU to feel peeved about that.But dogs should not be on school premises

CurrySpice · 19/05/2011 18:25

I don't think he handled it well but tbh it's a no brainer that dogs aren't allowed in the playground!

RustyBear · 19/05/2011 18:25

Maybe the head had somebody official with him from the LA or OFSTED who said 'Surely you don't allow dogs in the playground!' and he felt he had to pretend make it clear he didn't...

mayorquimby · 19/05/2011 18:25

Of course yabu. There's nothing upetting,embarressing or humiliating about this scenario.

"I called back to apologise but said that as everyone else always brings their dogs/ pups to the playground, I'd never thought it wasn't allowed - but of course I'd remove him immediately - which I then did."

which should be the end of it.

Goblinchild · 19/05/2011 18:25

'her "but I could bring an elephant couldn't I?"'

Fantastic! Grin

Trifle · 19/05/2011 18:25

Puppies are very cute and if being held I dont see a problem with you bringing it into school. When it gets bigger however is another matter.

Dogs are not appropriate in schools. If you have to bring it then tie it up outside away from where people have to walk close by. They do piss and shit and there's no guarantee that it wont happen in the playground.

aldiwhore · 19/05/2011 18:26

The no dog rule should be clear, all dogs are banned in our playground whether on a lead or in a handbag. Quite rightly imo.

OP YANBU to be angry at being singled out, I'd send an email to the head asking him to make it clear what the rule was by way of a sign or in a newsletter as you were unaware of any such rule.

TrinityIsAShreddingFatRhino · 19/05/2011 18:26

'fuckypup' Grin

of course dogs arent' allowed on school grounds

but doesn't stop everyone doing it

and yes he should'n't have singled you out but how do you know he hasn't already been telling loads of people?

AnyFucker · 19/05/2011 18:26

dogs are not allowed in our playground, and I agree with that

but very unfair of he head to embarass you and single you out

where there other dogs there at the time ?

that isn't right

hulababy · 19/05/2011 18:26

YABU

It is normal school practise to bar dogs from within school playgrounds. They are barred from both DD's school and the school I work at.

Round here it is also normal practise to bar all dogs from inside children's playgrounds/parks also.

SauvignonBlanche · 19/05/2011 18:26

I can't believe anyone would take a dog into a school playground.
YABU

bibbitybobbityhat · 19/05/2011 18:27

Perhaps the head hasn't seen other people with their dogs in the school playground. I think you are possibly a little over-sensitive on this one. Teachers are used to yelling out rules to all and sundry.

Dogs are not allowed in our school playground, btw. Parents with pups have to wait outside the gates for their kids to come to them.

izzybiz · 19/05/2011 18:28

He should have been more polite about rather than shouting across the playground, but dogs shouldn't be allowed in.
I walk my dog down to drop off/collect Dd and we wait outside the gate.

ilovesooty · 19/05/2011 18:29

I'm with those who can't understand why anyone would take a dog to school in the first place.

onlion · 19/05/2011 18:29

Was there quite a gathering at your puppy? Maybe thats why he chose to address you.

TheOriginalFAB · 19/05/2011 18:31

Some people bring their puppies into our school playground but they are carrying them the whole time. IMO that is fine as they are too young to be tied to the gate. What is more annoying is the parents who allow their children to ride bikes and scooters in the very busy playground (over 500 pupils at the school) when they are not allowed.

PheasantPlucker · 19/05/2011 18:31

I'm not a dog owner. Dogs are not allowed in our school playground, and I'm delighted about that. I really don't want them shitting over the area the kids play in.
The owners tie them all to the fence surrounding the school, and it works well.

AnonymousBird · 19/05/2011 18:33

YABU to expect your dog to go in the playground. Absolutely they should not go in.

YANBU to be pissed off that the rule is not applied across the board.

Dogs and playgrounds do NOT mix!!!

Mamaz0n · 19/05/2011 18:34

i have never known a school that does allow dogs in the playground.

Original poster
Solo2 · 19/05/2011 18:35

OK. Thanks for the feedback. I think I don't have an issue with the rule - but rather with the rule being only applied to me and the way in which the head screamed at me and DCs out of the window. I've ssen puppies and dogs in the playground almost every single night without fail over the last 3 years - and the one that used to come to assembly too - so it felt odd and paranoid-inducing for this to happen tonight.

However, I may be hypersensitive, as I've had some problems with the school and how they've treated DS1 over the last yr particularly (see various other threads on other forums!). So I was primed to feel targeted, I guess.

Of course I'll never bring our pup to school again but it looks as though the staff didn't know about this rule either. DS told me that he'd met a teacher a little later (we'd returned to our car down the road and then had to drive up to the playground to collect DS2 after his club - but with pup in the boot of the car of course by then). The teacher had asked where our lovely dog was now (he'd petted him earlier) and DS had explained what had happened and the teacher looked shocked, he said and clearly was v v surprised.

OP posts: