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

Hocuspontas, he would have to be in the car for 30 mins roughly, as it takes that long to ensure DCs have got all their belongings, musical instruments, various homework books, Games kit etc etc - often having to send them back and back for more stuff. That's too long for a puppy to be left in a locked car in the current heat.

OP posts:
LiveLong · 19/05/2011 19:05

Off the point but clearly times have changed somewhat: in my first year at primary school our teacher had a dog in the classroom the whole time.

YANBU to be upset IMO as others have done it and it's embarrassing to be shouted at. However, I'd take it on the chin and no further if I were you.

Enjoy your puppy (I am jealous :) )

Original poster
Solo2 · 19/05/2011 19:07

Livelong, my first school had two or three huge dogs wandering the grounds (Convent school) all the time! My DCs school has dogs and puppies in the ground every single night for the last 3 yrs since they've been at their prep. It was completely new to be told that dogs are banned.

OP posts:
SauvignonBlanche · 19/05/2011 19:08

hocuspontas "Is your dog made of chocolate?" Grin
He is called Rollo, or did you know that?

Vallhala · 19/05/2011 19:10

The Head was ill-mannered, you were a little naive in thinking that a dog would be welcomed in a school playground in this day and age and I'm sure your pup is divine. Unfortunatey people don't always train their dogs or children as they should, which is why I haven't known a puppy-welcoming school playground in years.

Just for Christs sake, don't leave the pup unattended, no matter what the Headmaster yells out the window at you. There are FAR too many dog thefts to risk that.

We used to take our pet rat on the school run and into the playground. Potentially a greater risk to health than a small pup, but easier to hide in a pocket!

hocuspontas · 19/05/2011 19:10

Ha!

HeartBurnQueen · 19/05/2011 19:11

yanbu as regards the headmaster, he should have told you in private and not shouted it for everyone to hear. Also he should enforce the rules to everyone!

YABU for taking a dog into a school playground and I say that as a loyal dog lover. Too many little kids, noise, havok, chaos, dog gets excited, nips kid, world war 3 breaks out etc

TubbyDuffs · 19/05/2011 19:11

Sorry but laughing my head off at "I'll have to change my entire dog routine" ... really???

sausagesandmarmelade · 19/05/2011 19:12

Everyone loves a puppy....BUT I don't think people should take dogs/puppies into a school playground...

It's not just the mess...but some people have severe allergies to animals.

However, this incident has been badly handled...and the school should make it's policy clear by displaying notices at the gates.

saffy85 · 19/05/2011 19:13

It's pretty standard I thought. No dogs allowed in the playground at my primary school. Fair enough imo and I quite like dogs.

YABU to take this so personally. Maybe it was rude of the head teacher to call down to you from his office instead of coming down to talk to you nicely, but to feel "vvvvv upset" and "humiliated" is a bit much isn't it? The dog will be fine. You can walk it to the park instead and it can socialize there and cure other small children of their dog phobias.

PfftTheMagicDragon · 19/05/2011 19:15

Our school is full of morons who insist on bringing their dogs into the school playground at the end of the school day. Despite the fact that all the dogs start snapping at each other, and several have pooed in school grounds.

Who thinks it's a good idea to take a dog to school?

COCKadoodledooo · 19/05/2011 19:15

I can't imagine why anyone would bring a puppy onto the school grounds.

There's no notices up at ours, nothing has been in the prospectus or newsletters, and yet all dogs are tied up outside as a matter of course. As it should be imo.

Mind you, we did have a pony in our playground the other week Hmm

worraliberty · 19/05/2011 19:15

The outside of my son's school looks like Crufts at times with all the dogs tied to the railings and the railings by the side of the road opposite.

The Head often has to go out and tell everyone off...even though she says some of the dogs melt her heart they're so cute Grin

Vallhala · 19/05/2011 19:16

Just as a point of interest, DD2, who is 14, goes to a school where it's unusual NOT to have a dog or two on the premises. Generally at least one teacher will have brought her dog in for the day and have him snoozing at her feet as she works.

Now THATS my kind of school! :)

doley · 19/05/2011 19:21

They all bring their dogs here (US) .

I wish they wouldn't ...but it is not an enclosed space .

I am sorry he shouted at you , it would have taken a few moments to came and speak to you nicely .

TheSecondComing · 19/05/2011 19:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Vallhala · 19/05/2011 19:29

Plenty of reason to want to take a dog on the school run TSC, from time factors to the need to socialise him. Many's a time people on here have said that dogs should be socialised and therefore child-friendly, even if the owner doesn't have or mix with children. Chances are that's part of the OP's plan, given that the dog in question is a pup and in the early-training and developement stages.

COCKadoodledooo · 19/05/2011 19:31

Yes, all well and good Vallhala. But in the playground? I don't think that's appropriate at all.

TheSecondComing · 19/05/2011 19:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ilovesooty · 19/05/2011 19:34

i do wonder if you might be projecting onto your dc that school is shit\has a #thing# about your family

I must admit that crossed my mind too. I'm not surprised the child feels picked on if his mother is so sensitive.

DooinMeCleanin · 19/05/2011 19:35

I used to walk my doberman to my little sisters primary school if I had inset day and she didn't. They loved her there. This was over 15 years ago though Grin. They do not allow dogs there now. I take mine on the school run. I just wait outside the gate and wave in the direction of dd1 until she stops daydreaming long enough to spot me. Failing that I send one her friends back in on their way out to nudge her.

Loads of people do this. There is often a Staffy there too Shock, his name is Buster and he is very sweet. Whippy dog has her own fan club.

YABU though, dogs should not be allowed inside the playground. All the dog owners at our gates stand where children have option to pass around the other way and not have to get too close to the dogs. The headmaster should have come down to speak to you in person, rather than shouting accross a playground, but perhaps he was pee'd off that no-one takes notice of the rules.

worraliberty · 19/05/2011 19:35

I agree, if you want a dog you need to pick somewhere more suitable to socialise it.

People have the right to take their kids to school without having to worry about dogs in the playground or tied up outside.

I love dogs...I have one of my own but I know an awful lot of parents and kids who are scared of them and won't even walk past them when they're tied to the railings.

COCKadoodledooo · 19/05/2011 19:36

Jeez where is the edit facility here? How wanky does my last post look?! All it needs is a "Won't somebody think of the children" and a swoon Blush

Seriously though, playgrounds are for cliques to stand around bitching about the odd ones out kids, not dogs.

octopusinabox · 19/05/2011 19:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Vallhala · 19/05/2011 19:38

:) TSC, with luck he will be going home with another MNer (OldBagWantsNewBag) when he's been neutered (that's being done tomorrow), recovered and cat-tested. If he fails the cat test I'll be really sad for them all and finding him a no-kill rescue space.

God it sounds so easy when you just breezily say it like that, doesn't it...? :(

That'd mean another few nights with very little sleep here... :(

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