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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

That people shouldn't bring dogs to the school gates

122 replies

Stardust160 · 02/05/2016 19:04

I try to teach my children not to touch strange dogs and on the school run there seems to be a constant influx of parents with dogs in particular jumpy dogs around the school gates. These can sometimes be excitable and the owner often says they are ok. Abiu to think the school should stop dogs around the school gates. I always have a fear after witnessing my primary school friend get viciously attacked by a dog she stroked at the school gates.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stardust160 · 02/05/2016 20:27

Apple I think it's the fact they think it's ok to tend an animal and leave it. Especially when young children are about and might not I better. Most dogs don't particularly like been tied up and can be aggressive start barking

OP posts:
Tiredmumno1 · 02/05/2016 20:29

The headteacher at school has recently issued a letter telling parents not to bring dogs on school grounds or tie them up to the school fence.

It'll probably make no difference.

It never used to bother me until dog poo appeared right outside the school gate a few times. If they had cleared it up then all would be good.

Although the reason the head is saying no is because he says that a lot of children are scared of dogs, and it's not fair for them to be scared when leaving school grounds.

MintyChops · 02/05/2016 20:33

YABU. I'm so sick of the anti-dog brigade.

RufusTheReindeer · 02/05/2016 20:37

Nobody cares about dogs on the school run...just at the school gate

iklboo · 02/05/2016 20:43

DS's school has a big sign saying 'no dogs in the playground'. Some parents think they can get round this by picking up the dog & carrying it. As if this somehow changes their species.

WankyDailyCuntMail · 02/05/2016 20:47

I take both of mine. If a child starts to pat one I tell them they should always ask first. Usually they do ask and I say the big one is lovely but I would avoid the terrier Grin

WankyDailyCuntMail · 02/05/2016 20:48

Although the reason the head is saying no is because he says that a lot of children are scared of dogs, and it's not fair for them to be scared when leaving school grounds.

There's literally no hope for this country.

CantWaitForWarmWeather · 02/05/2016 20:51

Someone once forgot about their dog when they left it at the school gate. The school had to send a text to everyone to come and claim their upset dog. Shock I mean, how thick can you get??

SnoozeButtonAbuser · 02/05/2016 21:00

Hedwig She always asked children to leave the dog alone If you have to ask kids to leave the dog alone, then you know you should not be bringing that dog to that situation. What happened was completely predictable and 100% her own stupid fault. That poor dog.

Iggypoppie · 02/05/2016 21:07

Oh my god not another dog hating thread! I am starting to think dogs are becoming a distraction from y'know actual problems in the world.

Iggypoppie · 02/05/2016 21:11

I am sickened - do people know that there were 194,477 road traffic casualties in 2014 in the UK? Why are people not outraged by cars frightening or killing children outside school gates? Wtf is wrong with people???

Alexa444 · 02/05/2016 21:13

Its a public street. Try enforcing it. Inside the school gates you have a point but standing outside them? If the dog is on lead and supervised what is the issue? Kids wanting to stroke them? If they aren't friendly they shouldn't be there, I agree but otherwise? Why is it the dog owners problem? Not being goady btw but surely it is the parents job to teach children to not touch them. If your child touched my dog without asking and got bitten I would consider it their own fault and a lesson well learned.

totalrecall1 · 02/05/2016 21:16

YABU

lavendersun · 02/05/2016 21:17

YABU, I am busy during the school day, work and/or studying. School is a mile away and every time I can manage the time to walk there I take my very well mannered dog and guess what, I stand in the public road outside the school gate.

twelly · 02/05/2016 21:22

The dog shouldn't be inside the school grounds (I know some schools let parents in to collect) but outside the gates it is not the schools rules and if the area allows dogs then they should be allowed

Moreisnnogedag · 02/05/2016 21:26

Yabu. It depends entirely on the individual setup. The entranceway into my ds's school is wide and there are in fact multiple ways of getting in. Loads of people bring their dogs. Some come in with them and some are left tied to the trees that are spodded about. I've not seen a single one jump at a child - most people round here have dogs of their own so they are largely ignored (fairly rural).

Now one day one of the dads dropped his son off in his tractor - I thought he was going to bite the next child that clambered over it.

Vinorosso74 · 02/05/2016 22:14

Some people bring dogs to fate of my DD's school
The way in/out at home time is narrow and when all the kids plus adults are coming out it is very hectic. I'm not a dog person but I imagine this is quite stressful for some of the dogs. I think it depends on the school but I think owners should be mindful some people are wary of dogs and it's not great for the dogs.

Vinorosso74 · 02/05/2016 22:15

Gate not fate!

imip · 02/05/2016 22:20

Yanbu! Last Friday 4 dogs were tied to the railing outside the gate, they were not barking but stretched out across the pavement 3/4 of the way. I was walking with dd7 with ASD. She was petrified and we had to walk on the road around her as she was really panicking and she was just going to bolt. It's a problem that seems to be escalating at our school.

Toddzoid · 02/05/2016 22:40

Yanbu. Dc2 is absolutely petrified of dogs. She's a very nervy child in her own way despite being loud, brashy and outgoing and dogs are her biggest fear. I have to deal with her leaping in all kinds of ways of screaming at the school gates because of a couple of pugs and a chihuahua tied up. There's also a notice on the classroom doors warning against leaving dogs unattended because of dognappers.

I get why people take their dogs on the school run, killing two birds and all but I think they need to find another more sensible solution that doesn't require it being tied up close by to crowds of children.

Dungandbother · 02/05/2016 23:15

I'm horrified at tying your dog to railings and walking off for many reasons

I live in an urban area so cannot imagine this at our school.
Dog could be stolen
Dog could be agitated by a passer by, a cat, another dog...
Dog could get loose and run into road
Unsupervised dog - just an absolute no - the school is across a playground from our railings so perhaps if you can see your dog then maybe.

But no! The only time I tie my dog to railings is at the swing park when I sit on the other side of the rails on a bench but still next to her.

Why do these people have a dog? If you tie it to railings then don't take it to school.

WankyDailyCuntMail · 03/05/2016 06:49

Tying to fences/railings/trees then basically ignoring dog while chatting to friends is quite normal here (very rural). Yet another reason why living in the countryside is better for your mental health!

BeaArthursUnderpants · 03/05/2016 07:05

I don't have a dog but I think YABU if you are including well-behaved dogs and considerate dog owners. At our school there are hooks outside the school gate for dog leashes. They are well away from where you walk in so nobody has to walk near a dog unless they choose to. I've never seen anyone allow a child to approach a dog that is tied up, and frankly I'm amazed at how nicely these dogs sit and wait for their owners. No dog I ever had was that polite! But they are. And I've never seen poo on or near the path so I guess the owners clean it up. There is also a guard out there who seems to know all of the dogs pretty well so I imagine if anything dangerous was going to happen he would step in.

This is one of those situations where a blanket rule is going too far. Irresponsible dog owners and poorly socialized dogs should not be allowed at the school gates of course, but the vast majority do not fall into that category. Many people at our school walk 20 minutes or more each way to school, and do not have another 45 minutes to walk the dog when they get home.

honkinghaddock · 03/05/2016 07:30

Dogs shouldn't be in playgrounds or around the school gate. Standing with or the dog being tied up further down the street is fine. Some children find going in and out of school stressful enough without bringing in dogs as an extra stress and the children are the ones that matter.
Alexa444 - If my child got bitten because someone had their dog too close to the gate and we couldn't get past them without the dog being in arms reach, it is the dog owner that would be responsible and reported to the police. You cannot assume that all children have enough understanding not to put their arms out when passing a dog.

WankyDailyCuntMail · 03/05/2016 08:09

Our school doesn't allow dogs in the playground or in the school (although I used to carry puppies into the school before the ban when they were too small to be left alone outside - children were delighted obvs)