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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dogs in the playground on school pickup

153 replies

MrsJamin · 26/01/2018 07:26

I don't think dogs should be allowed in a playground at drop-off/pick-up, am I being unreasonable? What is done at your school? My school allows it and I don't think it's quite right.

OP posts:
mumsiedarlingrevolta · 26/01/2018 10:40

loopy
wagwalking.com/condition/toxoplasmosis

Winteriscoming18 · 26/01/2018 10:42

Dogs shouldn’t be anywhere near primary schools. Our primary school parents waited by the gates. One day a girl in class went to stroke a dog stood by the gate and it mauled her in front of all the kids. Poor lass ended up moving schools. It annoys me seeing dogs tied up to the gates unattended for this purpose.

Lalalaleah · 26/01/2018 10:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HelenaJustina · 26/01/2018 10:47

No dogs on the playground at our school and we’ve recently had a letter banning them from being tied up at the gates. This is following a Reception child being bitten on the face. (This was by his family dog but school have reacted swiftly)

Waspnest · 26/01/2018 10:48

At our school no dogs are allowed in the playground even if they're being carried. Every so often it's put on the newsletter. I assumed all schools would have this policy.

WhattheChuff · 26/01/2018 10:53

No dogs are allowed in dcs playground.
I'm relieved because one of mine is terrified and wouldn't go to school otherwise.
It's true some owners are hopeless, I've seen some truly irresponsible behaviour, one contributing to my dc's current phobia. There are some really considerate owners too who see my dc's apprehensive body language and control their dog. Trouble is you can't always tell how it's going to go.

I don't think they should be allowed in school playgrounds.

muttmad · 26/01/2018 11:05

If the dog is under control, not barking, looking stressed or pooing in the playground i cant really see an issue? At our school they are tied up all along the outside fence unattended whist the parents go and collect their children, meaning theres no one to control them while the stream of children walking home go past them, at least if their on a lead in the playground they are under supervision of their owner!

muttmad · 26/01/2018 11:06

Our school has a school dog that wanders round the grounds and building, the kids love it!

MTBMummy · 26/01/2018 11:08

I'm a dog owner and I agree, dogs shouldn't be allowed on the playground.

My dog is as soft as you like, but he's also about the same height as some of the smallest reception kids, I'd hate to think he caused anyone any upset. On the odd occasion I have to take him to pick up, he gets tied up outside the gate far enough away that he can't shove him nose in every passing crotch.

SusanChurchouse · 26/01/2018 11:11

Not allowed in our playground but, as with everything else, always a few who think the rules don't apply to them. I've also seen one in a sort of pram which just made me chortle.

Original poster
MrsJamin · 26/01/2018 11:16

@muttmad how do you know ALL the kids love it? Many children are scared by dogs, and some children are allergic. Also is the dog left alone? If not, the teachers are having to manage where the dog is and who the dog is with at all times. If they are doing that, are they concentrating on all the other duties in their jobs where children's safety is paramount? I can't imagine how this would work adequately where children's education and safety wasn't compromised.

I'd really like to say something but it's a small school and it feels like I'd be being a killjoy.

OP posts:
DotCottonDotCom · 26/01/2018 11:29

It's not even allowed at our school either. And rightly so IMO

DotCottonDotCom · 26/01/2018 11:30

Our school has a school dog that wanders round the grounds and building, the kids love it!

Mine wouldnt, she has asd and is utterly terrified.

Queeniebed · 26/01/2018 11:34

Even the most placid dogs can get scared by lots of noisy children and lash out. Its not fair on parents and children who dont like or are scared of dogs.

Walking the dog to school and staying away from the gates is fine. keep dog on a lead and stay back.

Queeniebed · 26/01/2018 11:36

DFIL lives across from the school and our dogs sits in the front garden by the gates and the children line up to stroke her - we control the contact and this works well, but we would never let her out to run around and its up to the children/parents to come to the dog and not the other way around

Soubriquet · 26/01/2018 11:42

We have 3 gates to go through with my Dd's school.

I take my dog with me in the morning and we go through the first gate to get off the pavement and allow people to still walk.

If the second gate is shut (it opens at 9.45), I will carry the dog through the second gate and wait until the 3rd gates open. The area between the first and second gates are the bike sheds and scooter storage.

After the 3rd gate it's the playground and I do not take the dog into this area even carried.

I give my dd a kiss at which ever gate I leave her at, and watch her walk in. I then take my dog for a good long walk.

I don't take my dog to collection as it means walking through the 3rd gate.

I don't think dogs should be on playgrounds. But at areas like above? I think it's ok

Founddrugsinhisroom · 26/01/2018 11:45

My school let's dogs in the playground, I hate it.

My dd is terrified of dogs, and it stops her playing outside in the mornings before school starts as all the mum's are stood around talking with their dogs.

It really pisses me off Angry

tellitlikeitispls · 26/01/2018 11:47

Dogs not allowed past our school gates. They are all tied up outside.

muttmad · 26/01/2018 11:50

@MrsJamin
From what i can tell the dog has been around for ever, belongs to a member of staff who it follows around. The school is lovely and takes any complaint seriously so I'm sure the dog wouldn't be there if any parent had issue with it.
It seems to have a calming influence on the children who all see it as a sort of school mascot!
Yep i understand about alleges etc but i assume that issue hasn't arisen so far!

muttmad · 26/01/2018 11:52

Allergies!

yorkshireyummymummy · 26/01/2018 11:57

I’m still laughing at sugarplumlairys comment on the first page

“Why take the dog to School? Sometimes I DO take mine but he sits in the car” 🚙

Priceless.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 26/01/2018 12:04

Not allowed at da’ School.

ThisLittleKitty · 26/01/2018 12:37

It's not allowed at our school. There's one who is tied up outside sometimes but not often and it's a small dog so not too much of a problem.

Florin · 26/01/2018 12:56

You lot would hate my ds’s school. Dogs are allowed everywhere including right up to classroom doors to pick up children (as long as they are friendly). The receptionist who sits in the middle of the pre prep has 2 dogs under her desk but they often sneak into the after school club if given half a chance especially if they are having sandwiches. The headmaster has a dog who all the kids adore and he goes everywhere and even gets dressed up with the kids at world book day. He also does a good job of checking that the kids who love him have no left over breakfast on their faces. My son adores the school dog, I am hoping the dog out lives my sons time there as the school are going to be in serious state of mourning when he goes.
When there are matches and the weather is good there could be easily over 20 dogs there as everyone brings them to watch and they come to the match tea, they even have interhouse dog shows.

steppemum · 26/01/2018 12:59

If the dog is under control, not barking, looking stressed or pooing in the playground i cant really see an issue?

so, whic teacher would you like to monitor the dogs and decide that that dog now looks stressed, or is barking too much and poses a risk to the children so they should ask the parent to remove it before it hurst a child?

The problem is that

  1. you cannot tell which dogs will get stressed/upset by the crowd of noisy children, nice family pets can be unpredicatble in a noisy environment
  2. the teachers are not dog experts, and shouldn't have to police this. It will inevitably be the ownder of an uncontrolled dog who thinks its fine, and risks it,
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