Puppy banned from school playground

[Solo2]

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 you need to sort out your children so they can organise themselves to get out of their classroom with their stuff and meet you at the gate with dog. Half an hour to sort them out just to leave the school premises? Christ.

We're not all chavs with inbred staffies you know.

Of course not and your dog may be a lovely little thing,

However, as well as the loons with the dogs trained to attack there are a large number of owners who somehow got the idea that everyone must love their pet and want to interact with it. I do not and they should explain at pet shops that a dog licence doesn't entitle a dog owner to impose on other people.

I have nothing against dogs or any animal. but I don't want to walk in dog shit, I don't want to have to steer round dogs that will try and jump up me and drool on me. I don't like having to look at every large dog I pass to assess whether this is a safe dog or one owned by a loon.

I don't want to hear "he is only doing it cos he likes you" and I'm tired of hearing "my dog has never seriously injured anyone". Every time you hear of a child maimed by a dog it will be a dog that up until then never injured anyone. If it had it would have been put down before.

I don't want to hear about the dogs needs. If the owner can't satisfy those without involving strangers then they should have bought goldfish instead.

I think it says all you need to know about dog owners that the majority of them lead their dog away from their house when they need to shit. How many here take their dog into their garden to do it before walking them?

Dawny - "I would trust my dog more than I would trust some of the drivers round here."

But I wouldn't - because, you see, I don't KNOW your dog. I only know that whilst a lot of dogs are child/stranger friendly - some aren't. And I can't tell by looking at them which is which.

Which is why my children are told NEVER to approach a dog they don't know (I do tell them that they don't know if the dog will be scared of them, because I don't want them to think dogs themselves are something to be afraid of). And why I would object to having to negotiate my way past dogs on the pavement outside or on the playground at school.

The bit where Dooin quotes chapter and verse at me.

I am not leaving my dog anywhere where he is likely to be stolen or abused. Ever. End of. The preschool is fine. They would have to be pretty quick, we're down a country lane and everybody knows us and the dog.

If a child was deliberately hurting my dog he would get a bollocking from me, so would his parent for letting him do it or letting him go out of their sight, (see previous post about location of preschool car park). If my dog nipped someone for that it would bloody well serve them right.

I can't believe I'm having to explain this to someone.

Blimey
You are very shouty.

Your pre-school may be fine. That's great.
But if you tried to bring your dog to any of my children's school playgrounds you would be stopped. Which is perfectly reasonable in my view.
And essential in ds2s case.

'If my dog nipped someone for that it would bloody well serve them right.' - I'm the Police would agree while they seizing your dog under the dangerous dogs act

All anyone has to do is watch you and your dog for a few days and they would know when they have the ideal opportunity to drive past, snatch your dog and speed off.

Some children wouldn't need to be out of their parents sight to hurt a dog because some parents don't give a crap about dogs or their wellbeing.

My dogs shit in my garden onagar. I don't see why it should be spread about the pavements and verges in the village.

We have 2 dogs and DS is very dog aware, but he knows not to touch or approach a dog he doesn't know because they can be dangerous. And I try to discourage other people's children from fussing at my dogs when out walking them as I cannot be absolutely certain that they are going to react 100% positively to every interaction with every person they meet. They are animals at the end of the day, not surrogate people.

Onagar I'm sorry but as soon as you mentioned dog licence you lost me. The need for a dog licence in this country was abolished in 1988.

And if my dog was as antisocial as the ones you seem to be describing I wouldn't take him on his walk via the preschool in the first place, would I? As you can't tell an excitable dog from looking at him, similarly you can't tell a quiet one. Oh yes you can actually, you can look at mine and know that I trust him to just sit there and wait for me.

And I carry poo bags. I know some people don't, but I do.

" 'If my dog nipped someone for that it would bloody well serve them right.' - I'm the Police would agree while they seizing your dog under the dangerous dogs act hmm

All anyone has to do is watch you and your dog for a few days and they would know when they have the ideal opportunity to drive past, snatch your dog and speed off."

I don't think any police would be daft enough to put a dog down for nipping an unruly child.

And if someone seriously wanted to steal my dog they could do it anywhere, couldn't they? Or would they seriously drive into the private school car park that only has one entrance/exit and queue up with the parents? Thanks for that, that's lovely. Do they snatch babies too? Had I better keep a tighter hold on the pushchair as well?

I let my dog go in the yard every morning and afternoon before walking to school. We have a fenced area in the garden where she goes away from where the kids are. Not everyone does that but if you have a dog you don't take it out for walks expressly for the purpose of emptying all over the neighbourhood. Dogs do require exercise and fresh air and if you choose to go for a walk you will likely encounter one or more so it's a bit unreasonable to think that you should not have to ever come across one.

dawny you sound like a lovely owner and i wish more were like you but they just aren't :( don't you feel sorry for the dogs being kept badly?

surely a licence would sort this out. as a good owner why would you not support this?

Come off it Dawn, you know that it is really not as simple as "I wouldn't take him on his walk via the preschool would I?" You may well be a responsible dog owner, I'm sure you are, but to suggest that the fact a dog owner is prepared to take a dog somewhere is in itself proof that a dog has a good temperament is nonsense.

Georgimama, good for you!. I hope others follow your example. I wouldn't mind the odd accident, but it bothers me that so many regard it as normal.

Dawnybabe, it was a figure of speech, but of course I wouldn't know if they brought the licence back in again nor not because I am not a dog owner or remotely interested in becoming one.

i think you were saying just now (that was you wasn't it?) "if my dog nipped someone...." so I'm not totally convinced it is safe, but it is a small dog so worst case it could be pulled off before it did too much damage.

And no I can't look at you and know your dog is trustworthy. I don't even know if you are trustworthy and I don't want to be forced to make constant assessments anyway. Just keep him with you and if anyone else wants some dog drool/shit they can get their own.

Well I'm only speaking from my experience, sorry.

I walk down to preschool, walk back up to the bridleway, then walk home. If I had a difficult dog I'd have to leave him at home while I took dd1 to school, then walk back and get him to take him up to the bridleway. It wouldn't be a problem but it saves me a bit of time in the morning.

Obviously it's not proof of anything but he is a steady dog (he's a gun dog so he has to be) and I have never ever had a complaint. That works for me and I'm sure many other people would do the same. Yes there are bad owners and if I saw some loopy dog at preschool jumping up and barking and widdling everywhere I would ask the owner not to bring it in again.

1. School playgrounds are not for socializing puppies.
2. Why would you teach a puppy that the playground is OK
3. When would you start teaching the same puppy that the playground is out of bounds?
4. Why did you not think about logistics of puppy/dog and school run before getting a dog?

I'm really gonna have to go now as I have a life to be getting on with but I am really enjoying this debate and will check in later. It's been quite an eye opener to see how much ignorance and stereotyping there is about dogs. Never having had a problem with my dogs or any others I hadn't really given it much thought. Perhaps that was my stereotyping but I'm wondering if I shouldn't put someone on to running some sort of marketing campaign about dog awareness or something. I have people that sort out that kind of thing and I'm seriously thinking it might be a good idea. Thanks all.

But some children will be scared of dogs.
And that fear may be nothing to do with ignorance or stereotyping.

To suggest it is is, ironically enough, a bit ignorant and stereotypy.

ignorance and sterotyping - yeah whatever

jeez

i actually like dogs and used to knock at peoples houses as ask if they wanted me to walk them (obviously when i was little)

Perfect common sense, perfectly put, by PopBiscuit.

One thing I have to say, on a tangent, is please NEVER leave your dog unattended outside, be it your school, shop or garden. The increase in dog theft in recent years has been phenomenal and I;m not just talking of cute puppies or pedigrees.

You only have to see the DogLost website for proof of that.

Plus, if someone, child or adult, hurt him you would be devastated. As you would if HE hurt a human. Not all children know not to approach strange dogs without permission and supervision and I'd hate to think of a child bitten and a dog put to sleep under the DDA because it was convenient to tie him up unattended and he snapped out in shock when a child poked a hand or stick in his face.

It's really not worth the convenience factor, please, please don't do it.

I am terrified of all dogs and would not expect to see them in school playgrounds, unless they were guide dogs. I also expect all dogs to be on leads in parks and public place.

Dawnybabe I think EVERY school should have a few lessons during a child's term there to teach them about responsible behaviour with dogs and about responsible dog handling for future years. As the anti-smoking campaign led our DC to put pressure on us to give up, so would lessons in animal welfare teach DC to teach their parents and others what is and what is not good and acceptable.

anothers, as the responsible owner of 3 dogs and mum of 2 DC I hope to god that the day never comes when you get your wish. Dogs on lead in public places will lead to very unhappy situations. Shops/restaurants/playgrounds, fair enough, fields, footpaths, designated parks etc, no.