School have threatened to call the RSPCA.

[YappyYapster]

I've name changed for this as it's potentially quite identifying.

DC started school this term. The first few days we realised that lots of people walk their dogs to school and leave them outside the gate. I thought this was a great idea so we've been taking our dog for the past couple of weeks.

I soon realised she yaps the entire time she's left so have kept the time to a minimum, I literally wait until the door opens and then run in with DC and come back. Maybe three or four minutes at the very most. We only take her in the mornings.

Last week was lovely, I was so pleased at the great routine we were all in, DC loves walking with the dog so it makes the school run a pleasure, the dog gets a walk at the same time every day so is calm and relaxed at home the rest of the day.

Today was a disaster. I came back to find a lady with her dogs pursing her lips at me and saying 'that poor dog is so distressed'. I said, oh I know she's yappy but she's not distressed, but I am working on training her to be quieter'. She then gave me a bit of a lecture on separation anxiety and lots of (well meant I'm sure) advice on how to train her, much of which I'm already doing.

I decided then not to bring her for a while until I could train her to sit quietly. I was quite sad about it, but resigned.

Got home and a while later I had a phone call from the school. Apparently several parents have complained and if I bring her again school will call the RSPCA.

I explained that I had already decided it wasn't working to bring her and she kept speaking over me and saying it's not fair on the children or the other dogs (fair enough) and that it's cruel to let her bark and they will report me if I carry on.


I am MORTIFIED.

I spent the whole afternoon crying. Barely managed the school run this afternoon but did it by keeping my head down and not making eye contact with anyone.

I have MH difficulties so may be taking this more personally than it is. But I feel awful that people think I'm some awful abusive dog owner and I really don't want to ever go back there. Obviously I have to. It's a small village school and I think I've blotted my copybook with them forever.

Sorry for the length of this, if you've managed to get through it all I applaud you.

My AIBU is, was I unreasonable to take her in the first place? Would you consider a yappy little dog to be distressed enough to call the RSPCA?

[IminaPickle]

You poor thing carry her in

[TaterTots]

I'd complain to the Head about the woman who contacted you.

[Nousernameforme]

Oh poor you i have had many issues with anxiety in the past and can see how this would have sent you spiralling.
First off most people won't be thinking there's that awful woman with that poor yappy dog they won't have even noticed you so you don't need to hide from everyone or worry about going back there.
The school will only have contacted because they had a few complaints. This would have been dealt with by a couple of members of reception and will be a standard response your child's teacher and most if not all the other teachers will more than likely be unaware of the situation as will your child.
This will all be forgotten about by next week please please don't obsess

[APlaceOnTheCouch]

I'm very surprised that the school called you and were so high-handed tbh. I can understand why their manner upset you. Personally I think they should treat all dogs the same - either they are allowed at the school gate or not because there will be a percentage of adults and children who are uncomfortable walking passed them.

[YappyYapster]

I already asked about carrying her in last week but the head said no.

Thank you for not flaming me. I'll try not to catastrophise about it.

[Aeroflotgirl]

If your afraid of dogs, give it a wide birth, when out in public you cannot avoid dogs. The dog is tied up closely, so give it some distance. You cannot tell everybody to leave their dogs at home because your afraid of them.

[Floralnomad]

I hope all these dogs are not tied by collars but are wearing a harness ,otherwise I think I'd be reporting .

[temporarilyjerry]

I'm sorry that you have been upset by this. Please don't feel that you have blotted your copybook with the school. If this happened with a child in my class, the conversation would go:

Office staff: I had to ring X's mum because people were complaining that her dog was distressed outside the school grounds.
Me: What did she say?
OS: She said she wouldn't bring it again.
Me: Why are you telling me this?

Your child's teachers won't give it a moments thought.

[MotherDuckSaid]

I had a similar situation where our dog was actually untied from outside the school and I had a phone call saying 'we've rescued ur abandoned dog' !! Obv I was not a very clever neglectful abandoning owner as our address, two phone numbers and the dogs name were all clearly labelled on it's bloody collar ! I also got the 'separation anxiety' lecture from these buffoons!
Sorry, I digress! Is urs a big dog ? Perhaps pple felt it imposing due to it's size and 'barking'. Some pple just love to moan, especially in th morning.

U could always speak to th head and 'apologise' and also make it known tht u felt the person who phoned u was over the top given tht ud already explained u wdnt b bringing th dog again anyway..
Keep ur chin up in th playground, believe me every parent in there will have had an embarrassing situation exposed by their child/ fallen out with a teacher/ had a telling off by the staff at one point or another. My kids spill all of our 'secrets' to their teachers and I got caught by the head kicking a car tht pulled out on us at the zebra crossing and calling the driver a few choice names outside the school just last week (kids in tow) !
Basically we r all human , dnt worry, u cud hv done a lot worse x

[Ausernotanumber]

You've already decided not to do it again so don't worry too much.

But really dogs shouldn't be tied up at school gates.

[NoncommittalToSparkleMotion]

They're being ridiculous and making it an issue when it's not.

I have an anxious, yappy dog and don't bring her to school because it'd be a nightmare. (A Chihuahua x Pit bull, so yappy even with a muzzle). So I feel your pain.

Don't give it anymore thought.

[NotYoda]

Dogs, should not be left tied up at school gates, and just as importantly, children should never let their children touch dogs that are tied up. I see parents allowing this all the time at my school

The RSPCA threat is absolutely ridiculous

[YappyYapster]

She's tiny! Small for a chihuahua, even.

[NotYoda]

sorry parents should not let their children touch dogs

[Hysterectical]

After a zillion years as an expat you have no idea how lucky dogs are to be owned and loved. FFS even in the UK these days being able to own a dog for its lifetime without putting it on bastard Gumtree is an achievement. People need to get a life.

[Thefishewife]

poster CrohnicallyAspie Mon 26-Sep-16 16:05:48

Totally agree my sons old school had a massive issue with this until one of the children tried to pat a unattended dog and it bit her

Then finally they banded the dogs thank god

[SecretNutellaFix]

Carry a large crossbody handbag and when you near the school pick her up and put her in. ;)

[Floggingmolly]

Calling the RSPCA is ridiculous overkill, of course. But I'm firmly of the belief that the school gates are no place for dogs, barking or otherwise. Are there really lots of others?? I suppose it's different in the country...

[kaelea]

I think not taking her is the best thing for her and safest, you never know who is going to walk by and what could happen.

A little dog was left tied outside my local newsagent, people have done it for years and all has been well, but one day some drunk came along and drop kicked this poor dog, killing it outright :-(

I would never take the risk with my dog & I hate seeing dogs left outside shops now.

[Evergreen17]

OP dont stress about this. You saw other dogs and thought to bring yours. It didnt work out for some people and you decided not to do it again.
Dont give it another thought and no reason to be embarrassed

[Starlight234]

I did once contact RSPCA about a dog unless clearly malnourished .. not interested.

I can also say as a parent of a child who is undergoing treatment for dog phobia..I can tell you for him to walk past a yappy dog would start his school day very badly.. Lots of children are scared of Dogs. so Yes you would be unreasonable to continue.However I don't think you need to feel embarrest simply change your behaviour.

[Lunchboxlewiswillyoumarryme]

Busybodies...let them report you..rasp a has better things to do..so should the teacher