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?

[Lunchboxlewiswillyoumarryme]

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

[Lunchboxlewiswillyoumarryme]

rSPCA ...not rasp

[Topseyt]

I'd wager good money that the person who called you from the school was Mrs. Officious the school secretary, on a power trip to boost her own oversized ego.

You did nothing wrong. You tried an experiment which didn't work so you had already stopped and the RSPCA wouldn't give two shits about this.

I have two dogs, a lab and a cover spaniel. I did take them on the school run when my DDs were young. I waited a few months though so that the children could go in and out on their own between the gates and classroom. That way I didn't have to leave the dogs unattended.

The only thing I would say to you is please don't leave your dog tied up alone outside anywhere. The reason is that dog theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country and many people don't realise that until too late. Few stolen dogs are ever seen again.

Wait a few months until your child can happily go between the gate and classroom on their own. Then walk again with the dog and just say goodbye at the gate. Everyone happy, child at school and no need to leave dog alone.

[Topseyt]

And by the way, they cannot just ban dogs from the public road and footpath outside school. They may ask for consideration of course, but they actually have little if any jurisdiction there.

[BummyMummy77]

I'm really sorry. You were actually trying to do something nice for the dog by bringing her along not leaving her alone.

[gratesnakes]

Sorry you had a rough start to the school run. Try not to let it get to you though. You have been reasonable and polite so have nothing to be embarrassed about. There will be other mums mortified because their DC have behavioural problems / can't afford the uniform / swear ar the teacher etc etc. Your little dog will not be big news. Shame you can't walk your doggy to school but never mind. Hope your SC bis enjoying school that's the main thing. (Like another poster said I bet only Ms Bossy complained. There's one in every school!)

[SolomanDaisy]

My DA hates barking dogs, I'd be pretty pissed off if he was getting into school every day worked up because of your barking dog. But obviously I wouldn't threaten to call the RSPCA, because that would be a massive over reaction. Our school allows dogs into the playground and there are always a few small, well behaved ones there which I think is fine. Better than leaving them tied up unattended for nervous kids to sprint past.

[JellyBelli]

NavyandWhite Mon 26-Sep-16 17:45:49
You could quickly scoot past a barking dog

Thats a good way to get bitten. Walk and dont flap. Never run or move fast past or away from an excited dog.

[hotbummum]

that seems fine. I always tie my child up when taking the dog to school! Don't worry they're mean

[babybythesea]

Flogginhmolly "I suppose it's different in the country".

I am very rural and was thinking you'd never get away with banning dogs here. Small school (there are 3 kids in our current year 6, although DD's Year 3 cohort is a massive 12 kids.
Most of the kids live on farms, although not all. Most have dogs. Many have horses. It's not uncommon to see two or three horses waiting outside school at home time. Dogs are fairly standard. One family lives next door to the school - their dog often appears in the playground at home time minus a parent. Kind of like Nana in Peter Pan.
The animal that is causing grief at our school is the herd of cows that cross the school gate twice daily for milking. You have to play jump the cow poo to get into school at the moment, not easy when it's raining and runny. Still, put them in wellies until you're in the playground and there's no harm done.
Let's not start banning all dogs from all school gates. sometimes, that might be appropriate. But round me, it wouldn't.

[Atenco]

Oh, what a shame that you can't bring the dog to school anymore, or at least until it is trained.

I find people can be a bit mad about dogs who are tied up. I was looking after a friend's dog and I took him with me for a walk while I did my shopping. One lady ate my head off because of the "cruelty" of leaving a dog tied up. We had a brilliant walk, but what can you do when you are not allowed to bring dogs into shops.

[0pti0na1]

Be sure to say a breezy "morning!" with a smile when you see anyone you vaguely recognise at the school. Anyone who's heard negative things can form their own opinion that you're a nice, friendly and considerate person.

If the dog will be at home, leave it with a biscuit, favourite toy or the radio for "company" and make a fuss of it when you get back.

[PrincessHairyMclary]

I hate it that people leave their dogs tied up at the school gates. It's not particularly fair on the dog but Dd is terrified of them and getting her to school is very difficult when she has to walk past them and they are yapping and getting in our way. It's not the way I want her to start her school day.

[YappyYapster]

She's actually fine being left at home. She doesn't have separation anxiety at all, sleeps downstairs, doesn't follow me from room to room etc.

She just makes a racket when I leave her alone outside.

[swissy56]

Sorry to hear that, I think it's nice to see people walking their dogs to school and adds to the atmosphere. I would ignore them or see if one of the other mums could watch your DC going into school. Do not feel embarrassed - you have done nothing wrong!

[swissy56]

That's brilliant baby now that's my kind of school!

[Janey50]

Maybe not he best idea to take doggy on the school run,but really?! I think the school is seriously over-reacting to this. And I honestly do not think the RSPCA would be at all interested in investigating a barking dog,left outside a school for a matter of minutes.

[RhiWrites]

I don't understand why the dogs need to be left? Are the parents collecting children from classrooms?

Back in the day we went out the school gate and met our parents there. Can someone explain?

[YappyYapster]

The dogs are left at the main gate and then you walk on to the playground to drop off at the classroom door.

[mikesh909]

Not only is it unfair on your dog for reasons identified by the previous poster, it is not fair on those with human ears in the vicinity. The noise a yapping dog makes travels. I am not sure what makes dog owners think that their own pleasure / convenience should take precedence over those who are trying to work / study / live their lives quietly in the vicinity.

If this is a school, there are likely to be other children entering the premises who have no way of telling the difference between a threatening animal and one suffering from separation anxiety. Having to walk past an unattended dog could cause undue anxiety to a child.

Whether or not the RSPCA would be interested in beside the point. That comment was made as an attempt to get you to realise how unhappy others are with the situation as it was. Avoid these comments in the future by doing something about your dog's noise problems.

[takesnoprisoners]

Oh OP... Everyone is a dog welfare worker these days. Please don't worry about RSPCA. They do fuck all to help an actual 'in distress' dog. If it stresses you too much, don't take your pup. He will be OK at home. The school is definitely out of line.

BTW I walked my dog at 10 am today when it was 12degrees and I was told by an ignoramus that it is too hot for the dog and that I am baking his paws. Really?