School has puppy, not a great idea

[Rainbowtrees]

www.thecomet.net/news/longmeadow-primary-school-in-stevenage-employs-therapy-labrador-murphy-1-5556930

A local school has a puppy. It’s a lovely idea yet puppies are far from calming! They are crazy, cute little bundles of fun - they can go from adorable to little devils in seconds especially when over stimulated.

AIBU to think a puppy in a school is not a good idea? A dog over 1 who is known to be calm, has been tested with children and can cope with a busy environment yes a young puppy no way!

Because it's incredibly easy to get caught out and teachers are busy.

All the more reason for them to check properly what they are taking on. I find it extraordinary that people seriously think a school would have done this without planning all very carefully indeed.

Would a reputable breeder even give a puppy to someone who planned to bring it to a school?

Since it sounds as if this was specifically supplied for the purpose of training it to be a therapy dog, the answer to that is likely to be Yes. This isn't in any way a novel idea.

From the headteacher in the school's newsletter:

On 30th May 2018, during half term, I will be going to collect
‘Murphy’. He is a Labrador puppy, who in time will be trained to be a Therapy dog, whilst also living with me at home. From the start of Summer 2, I will be bringing him into school and, eventually, once he is used to the environment, introducing him to some of the children. Children will also attend assemblies and receive training about how to care and behave safely around dogs, from the dog trainer and the charity ‘Dogs Helping Kids’.

We have a Learning Dog in school, Coco is hyper allergenic and has been a great addition to the school staff. She works with our SEN pupils, particularly calming down upset pupils. She is also a reading partner for nervous readers but her best role is to stop our Bangladeshi children and parents being afraid of dogs.

I'd have to grit my teeth to get him in my classroom - I'm really allergic - but I can see it would have benefits. Ewww to the smell all round school though.

She is also a reading partner for nervous readers but her best role is to stop our Bangladeshi children and parents being afraid of dogs

That's interesting - we have a lot of Somali children and parents who are terrified of dogs. I bet something like this would help them.

More info via good old Google:

Letter that went to parents: www.longmeadow.herts.sch.uk/_site/data/files/forms/Parents%20letter%20re%20school%20dog.pdf

Fact sheet for parents:
www.longmeadow.herts.sch.uk/_site/data/files/forms/QA%20re%20school%20dog.pdf

The dog's blog!
www.longmeadow.herts.sch.uk/blog/?pid=81&nid=15

The charity helping to train the dog:
www.dogshelpingkids.co.uk

If it’s done properly I think it’s a great idea. Lots of children I’ve worked with would have really benefited from such a scheme.

Dreadful idea and probably far too much stimulation for the dog. Adult dog, fab, I know a primary which has a dog, works brilliantly. Puppy, tho, no way.

I'm not sure about this. I think it depends on who is training the puppy & how it's being trained.
Together with my dog I'm part of a project working in schools with children who have specific difficulties. We work 1:1 on emotional, social & literacy issues. We're currently part of a university research study to assess the impact of what we do. We've done things such as helping an elective mute child to speak - to my houndy assistant, not me - & supporting a child through a parent's terminal illness. I think we make a difference, for a few children at least.