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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
bluebobbin · 19/05/2011 18:36

Dogs are banned from our playground, there is a sign on the gate. I don't know of any school which allows dogs in. Could there be a little sign that you haven't spotted?

The head was very rude shouting across the playground like that though.

Pagwatch · 19/05/2011 18:39

He shouldn't have shouted but however cute dogs are not and should bot be allowed in the playground.

We get a line put in the school newsletter every now and again.
It has always been the rule but people still go "oh I know dogs are bot allowed but not my cute little one surely?"

Your dog may have cured one dog phobic child but he would scare the shit out of mine so the no dog rule is quite right.
Most of us have to work our dog routine around this rule. I am sure you and the children will adjust.

SingleFosterMum · 19/05/2011 18:39

You can still take your puppy to school, just wait outside the gates that's what they do at my friends school.

cuttingpicassostoenails · 19/05/2011 18:39

What about guide dogs?

richandlazy · 19/05/2011 18:40

So did the head 'call down' or 'scream'? You've used both phrases, both very different in my opinion.

donnie · 19/05/2011 18:41

you are unreasonable if you actually think it is ok to take dogs into school playgrounds. Who cares if it's a cutesie lil puppy? it's still a dog. Kids and adults might be allergic to them, frightened of them or just not like them. Do you take handwashing facilities with you so that everyone who pets your dog can immediately wash their hands afterwards?

I do not get this thing some dog owners have - that just because they think their dog is cute and harmless they can take it where they please. The arrogance of it is astounding.

southeastastra · 19/05/2011 18:42

our head yells at people with dogs and kids on bikes Grin we don't take it personally just them the rules

Popbiscuit · 19/05/2011 18:43

I don't understand. Everyone walks their dog on the school run here (Canada) You must go on to the playground to collect your DC's and so dogs are allowed by default. Are you expected to leave your dogs at home if you are walking your children to school?

Chandon · 19/05/2011 18:44

yabu. they have been lax before, but I guess (hope) they make it a rule for all again.

worraliberty · 19/05/2011 18:47

Are you sure you didn't miss a letter reminding you of this rule?

There's no dogs allowed in my son's school either, yet the Head has to constantly remind parents to not bring them in/not to tie them up right outside.

worraliberty · 19/05/2011 18:48

Are you expected to leave your dogs at home if you are walking your children to school?

Well yes of course popbiscuit why would the school want dogs on their premises?

ohfuckohfuckohfuckduck · 19/05/2011 18:51

I say get an elephant. Seriously. Only a small one mind. Grin

ilovesooty · 19/05/2011 18:53

poor pup will miss out on his socialisation

Priceless.

SauvignonBlanche · 19/05/2011 18:54

I'd prefer elephant shit to dog shit anyday. It would be easier to avoid too!

Maryz · 19/05/2011 18:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lisatheonewhoeatsdrytoast · 19/05/2011 18:55

Dogs weren't allowed when i was at primary school, thats a good 16yrs ago, if i was to walk my dog to school/nursery with DS i'd tie dog outisde the gates or just not take him.
YANBU for the way he shouted out at you, but maybeBU about the dog thing?!

thefirstMrsDeVere · 19/05/2011 18:56

Mine used to come in the playground. But he was in his carrier under the buggy.
I wouldnt walk him in.
He might pee or poo or scare someone (he is the size of a cat but lots of people are scared of dogs).

I think the biggest problem is when a habit is formed and lots of people start bringing their dogs in. Dogs start barking and fighting.

Not really appropriate.
But no reason why the HT should have been rude to you.

Original poster
Solo2 · 19/05/2011 18:57

I'd only though it was allowed because of the last 3 yrs, seeing so many people bringing their dogs in and having long conversations with those dog owners, as they stood or sat there, without anyone ever ever saying they weren't allowed to have dogs there. I'd not known till now that dogs are generally banned from school playgrounds, as I've seen so many there already. There was and has been nothing to indicate this in the past.

I should have said that the head shouted down very loudly. I just used the word screamed because I'm feeling a bit upset on behalf of my DCs. Of course I'll find a way round the dog walking routine. It really is just much more to do with the WAY in which I was singled out as the only dog owner bringing in a pup and also the WAY in which I was informed which upset and humiliated my DS (he's had a difficult year with feeling socially rejected and bullied here).

I can't leave the dog in the car whilst I walk up the driveway nor expect the DCs to make their own way down the drive and find wherever I might be parked in the road BTW. The school grounds are quite extensive and the driveway long and I'd neither feel it was safe to leave the pup (who coul;d be stolen from the car or overheat in the car), nor - more importantly - let the children wander through the grounds and out to the public road themselves. In fact this isn't even allowed.

OP posts:
worraliberty · 19/05/2011 18:59

I don't see how opening a window to tell a parent dogs are not allowed on school grounds is rude at all.

You say he should't have shouted, but you obviously were some distance away so he needed to.

If he'd shouted in your face that would have been rude...but not from a window.

worraliberty · 19/05/2011 19:01

Why can't you leave the dog at home? Confused

Original poster
Solo2 · 19/05/2011 19:01

Incidentally, it'd never even cross my mind to bring the pup in on the 4 occasions he ever came, unless I'd been sure he was absolutely NOt going to wee or poo and always, always ensured this had happened before I brought him into the school grounds. So, knowing my puppy, I was always sure he was not going to have any 'accidents' - but point now taken, that the consensus of opinion is that all dogs should be banned and that it was remiss of the school never to enforce this till now and unfortunate that I was on the receiving end of the first instigation of the ban.

BTW, the school is too far away for us to walk there.

OP posts:
LittleMissFlustered · 19/05/2011 19:03

Dogs banned here too. There's usually a very fed up jack russell tied to the gate. He seems resigned to the noise :o

hocuspontas · 19/05/2011 19:03

Is your dog made of chocolate? Grin He won't overheat in the car in 10 minutes!

Original poster
Solo2 · 19/05/2011 19:03

Worraliberty - no problem. I will always now leave the dog at home. I'd just had the 'example' modelled time and time again of bringing your dog to the school grounds for the last 3 years, every single night.

I'd have felt better if the head had sent someone down to tell me quietly and politely to remove the dog, rather than shout out of his window.

OP posts:
LittleMissFlustered · 19/05/2011 19:04

Near the gate. Not to it. Pregnancy brain, sorry!