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!

Just to reiterate finally: I support school rules and protecting children from unwanted encounters with dogs and their by-products.

However, it has never been a school rule - till tonight - that dogs aren't allowed in the school playground, so I couldn't have known this rule existed. I've witnessed dogs in the playground every day for 3 years with no one complaining.

The bit I'm less happy about though is the WAY in which I was informed, not the fact that I was informed about this new rule. I don't like my DCs being upset and 'shown up' in front of their peers and I feel that there were other ways that the school/ the head could have clarified this new rule or the first instigation of a longstanding rule - if that's the case.

Part of the lengthy process of the DCs leaving at nights is the fact that they like to chat with their friends and I like to chat with the mums (my only time to socialise) and indeed this has also been a regular slot to meet other family's dogs/ puppies, before we got our own.

We were advised that one of the best places to 'socialise' a new puppy was taking them to the school gates and letting them experience lots of noise and moving children. This school doesn't have 'gates' as such but a long drive/ grounds and a recreation area where parents accumulate round the perimeter, usually with their dogs/ younger children etc etc.

Until tonight, the school seemed to 'model' the very picture of a dog-welcoming zone and I didn't actually know that the school - and other schools - had any policy against dogs, provided all owners kept them v close and allowed them no contact at all with anyone unless this was checked with the parents first. Teachers, children and parents and other dogs, have all 'flocked' to our puppy on the occasions he's been there. The same happened tonight.

So it was a surprise suddenly to learn - ina less than polite way - that no dogs are ever allowed there. I wonder what will happen tomorrow when all the usual dogs and their owners are there?

A little girl at DD's school was bitten on the face by a dog a parent had brought into the playground just before Easter. She had 8 stitches. There has been a " no dogs" rule there all the time DD has been there but some people seem to think it doesn't apply to them. Until their usually well-behaved dog gets over excited or irritated by an enthusiastic child, that is ...

YANBU. The rules weren't clear - to anyone it seems, and you responded like a grown up.

If there is such a rule then the head really must let the parents know. I do think it is a good rule, though.

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

You're wrong I'm afraid. The Police won't, it's not in their jurisdiction, but the courts will and have. We see all manner of seizures and destruction orders under the ill thought out and draconian Dangerous Dogs Act. This is one of those very rare Acts of UK law where the onus is upon the ACCUSED to prove they are innocent and not the prosecution to prove they are guilty.

This is the Act where a dog can be impounded for an indefinite period in a place which the owner may never visit and may never know of it's location and where a dog may be killed on the basis of what he LOOKS LIKE and the measurement of his muzzle and legs.

Don't be fooled into thinking that it couldn't happen to your dog. For far too many dogs, it already has.

I was bitten by a dog when I was small. It was reported to the Police and considered it's first offence. When it later bit another child and that was reported to police they insisted the dog was put down. If more people reported the first bite maybe more dog owners would take it seriously.

:o Beer

Ive got quite a significant scar on my left cheek from where i, aged 5, went up to a lab and petted it. Stupid thing to do and stupid parents for letting me do it.

I have two (small dogs) and (as of two days ago) far too many cats now due to circumstances beyond my control. I really feel strongly that there really is no such thing as a bad dog just crap owners.

Yes some dogs perhaps shouldnt be exposed to small children. Yes perhaps there are some dogs (like humans) who get very stressed in certain situations BUT the crux of the matter is ... you are the owner, you know that dogs are, in the end just dogs and, are capable of anything. Im glad im bringing my tiny DS up to respect and appreciate animals because there are far too many that dont (I have also brought up my 3 teen DD's to respect animals hence why we have always been pet owners).

With respect to the OP, I havent read the whole thread so i dont know if this is a new thing that the school are implementing but it seems a bit silly to single you out - regardless of the schools new circumstances. Congratulations on your ownership of your new puppy and i hope that you get many happy years of dog-ownership :)

Oh well, now you know.

For what its worth, shouting across the playground is the preferred method of communication at our school.

The people I know who have dogs have their kids meet them at the gates, there is also a walking bus to a park nearby that has an off leash area. Good set up IMO.

Who on earth told you that the best way to socialise a puppy was to bring it to the school gates? What a selfish attitude. I have a dog but would never think it was ok to bring it to a place where there are lots of kids who might not like it, and the kids don't have a choice whether to be there or not! I would think that "no dogs on school property" is so blindingly obvious that the rule doesn't need to be publicized personally. The head was probably working on the assumption that adults have some common sense.

Cannot even be arsed to join in this ridiculous dog owners vs dog haters bunfight (although I dont think anyone has posted anything remotely "dog hating") but I have to echo what Valhalla has said about it being pretty important that children learn how to behave around dogs.

I am literally talking about the children who approach dogs who are tied up outside schools/shops etc. Whilst i wouldnt have tied my dog up outside a shop/school whilst he was still alive (through fear of him being nabbed - happens a lot around here sadly) it isnt fair on the animal who is tied up, therefore is trapped, to be approached by grabby hands.

I watched a very small old terrier tied up outside local tesco garage the other day being approached over and over and over by a toddler, the parent was rearranging her shopping into bags, saw what was going on and did nothing, the dog was backing away, turning in circles, doing everything it could to get away to the point of trying to hide behind the bin before it reacted and went to snap. The child cried (the dog hadn't touched her) and the parent went into the store and played merry hell. NOT the dogs fault IMO. (Had i not been on the bus i would have stood in front of the dog to protect it).

I love dogs, I love cats and, one the whole, I think it's fair for me to say that I'm an animal lover.

However, regardless of the fact that the Head may have been brusque, you seem to have overlooked a salient point; first and foremost you are taking your dcs to and from school to be educated, and socialising your puppy/dog should be done elsewhere because dogs and childrens' playgrounds/play areas do not mix.

It is estimated that 24% of soil samples in UK parks contain toxocara canis - google toxicariasis to see the devasting effects of this disease when it manifests in humans and young children in particular.

Be a responsible dog owner. Worm your dog on a regular basis, carry a poop scoop - and always use it.

And please get over your sense of entitlement because it is not casting a flattering light over you.

OP, you just don't understand!
Schools are sacred, rules are rules, never argue with a headmaster or a teacher, suck it up if they upset you or yours in anyway, and FGS don't kick up a fuss about any kind of unreasonable behaviour by the school! It's just not done you know!
and whatever you do, don't post about it on here! It won't go well!
I see where you are coming from, and would be having words with the head tomorrow. You will need to keep the dog out of the playground, elf and safety and all that, but I can see that from the precedent set by others, that you assumed there wasnt a problem. Quite reasonable if you ask me!
Regarding your post, you were not BU, and whether the head screamed, shouted, called, whispered or sent semaphore messages to you, the upstairs window is not the place to do it from!

Is this "nipping" the same as "tapping" when one hits a child then?

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

Sorry - but that sentence makes me really cross.

What do you class as an "unruly" child? How does a dog distinguish between an unruly child and a child who just hasn't been around dogs before and doesn't understand that they are not all to be petted and approached without caution?

I myself am not keen on dogs. I personally wouldn't have one, I don't have enough time to spend with a dog during the day and it wouldn't be fair to have one cooped up in the hosue. My CM has a dog, as do a few relatives so DD is around dogs and knows how to behave around those dogs. Just because I personally don't want a dog or am not a dog lover, doesn't make me a dog hater and want all dogs to disappear. However, I still believe the playground should be a dog free environment.

Back to the OP -hopefully your school makes the rules clearer for all parents rather than some feeling like they have been pulled up and others have not.

I don't think animals should be allowed on school grounds incase they poop.

I do think, however, the Head is a nobber the way he acted.

Personally, I'd send a sharp letter/email noting my disgust at being shouted at.

Enjoy your puppy OP!

YABU for taking your dog to school, YANBU for be cross with the head.

Our old school was FULL of dogs, mostly of the staffy persuasion, and my kids were regularly confronted with dog poo. Dogs were banned, but nobody had the guts to enforce the rule.
One stupid bitch once brought a rabbit on a lead to the school run (knowing it is a playground full of terriers) ...there was a fecking great dalmation salivating in her direction. The entire school run was a fecking nightmare.

Can you imagine...one hot day...a poorly trained staff/pittbull cross...a thousand excited kids...it was an accident waiting to happen. And it wouldn't necessarily have been the dog's fault.
My youngest DD is already scarred for life. (Menigitis, not dog attack) Be fucked if I stand by and NOT campaign to get dogs removed from the playground for once and for all. Thankfully it paid off before something happened.
Probably because I told the head that if they didn't enforce the dog rule, and something happened, I would sue their arses from here to Scunthorpe. I might also have mentioned getting a pet crocodile and would it be ok if I brought him on the school run with me, and if not, why not?
Children should be able to be crazy kids in their playground, and not worry about dogpoo either. There's already a mangy fox living in the grounds who comes out at lunch time to be handfed by the kids from their lunchboxes...(and before anyone starts, yes, I do know the difference between dog crap and fox poo, having trod in the latter barefoot many a time due to cheeky foxes living in our garden)

I do not understand why anyone would think it reasonable to take a dog (or any other animal) on the school run and into the playground. Not fair on the kids, the dogs or the caretaker.

Thankfully, our new school has a strictly enforced no dogs policy and is much smaller as well.

Oddly...our old school was in what was considered a posh area, but was FULL of staffs and the like, yet our new school, which is considered to be in a deprived area, the dogs you see are spaniels and labradors and the like. Most odd...

'FULL of staffs and the like, yet our new school, which is considered to be in a deprived area, the dogs you see are spaniels and labradors and the like' - could we not turn this into another Staffy bashing thread. As I pointed out earlier Staffords are well known (by the UK Kennel Club and other expert organisations) for having a solid temperament and being much more suited to being around boisterous children than other 'family friendly' breeds.

They should not be in a school yard, but neither should a labrador or a spaniel.

I think the Head acted appallingly!
I have dogs and would not take them to school, not all people like dogs and bit overwhelming for a young puppy.

DooinMeCleanin - I am not bashing staffies...merely mentioning that in our new school, there are NO dogs in the playground - I'm talking about the very few ones that you see waiting outside the grounds or being walked, and that
our old 'posh' area was Staffy City...
and were not well trained as about 90% were 'status' dogs, the owners would walk around drinking stella or white lightning on the school run and would yank the poor buggers about. You could not help thinking that "if they treat their dog like THAT in public..."

I am not 'bashing staffies', but bashing the people who get them purely to look hard, give little or no thought to the training, and then bring them to a busy playground? That's an accident waiting to happen with ANY dog...

Anyway, everybody knows that Jack Russells are the Evillest Dogs Ever,

'Anyway, everybody knows that Jack Russells are the Evillest Dogs Ever' - surely you mean Yorkshire Terrier , although they are not as evil as Hamsters or my mums cat

You don't see many badly treat Staffys round here either and we live in a deprived area. There are a few Staffs, but they're mainly well trained family dogs. It's sighthounds the eejits round here drag about on bits of string. There's a lot of racing and rabbitting that goes on .

haven't read whole thread, but

I thought it was common practice for dogs to be banned from school playgrounds. In fact our head goes one further and asks them not to be tied up outside either since children and dogs can be unpredictable and a dog left tied up outside is not under control.

I have a guide dog and he is of course allowed into the playground.

I see hamsters and your mum's cat, DooinMeCleanin, and raise you my MIL guinea pigs. Bloodthirsty shits AND pointless!