Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU regarding Dobermann at nursery?

125 replies

Kezebel · 02/08/2018 13:19

First post, but I really need perspective.

DS has very recently started morning sessions at a nursery. When picking him up today, I noticed a large Dobermann in the office. It was on a lead.

One of the staff then went 'yes, DS has been watching [dog name] all morning.' Then went on to confirm that the dog belonged to the manager/owner. The office is in an entirely separate area to where DS is. So presumably the dog was around the children in the morning.

It's really set my spider senses off. I'm not assuming that this dog will be anything other than controlled...but it's a fuck off Dobermann. Around unpredictable toddlers. Would you be happy about this?!

I'm not there to keep him away from it, actively teach him to respect it/look but don't touch/leave it be (which I do regarding all animals, when I am with him)

AIBU to feel extremely uncomfortable about sending him to nursery within jaws reach slightly dramatic?! of quite a large dog that I know nothing about?

OP posts:
NewYearNewMe18 · 02/08/2018 14:47

Dobermans are beautiful dogs but a volatile breed.

They aren't volatile at all. They don't rate on the known aggressive lists of breeds. They are easily trained, which is why they are used for police and military work, canine sports, and as a family guardian and companion.

All of which is irrelevant , no dog should be in that environment.

hottotrotsky · 02/08/2018 14:51

You'll get a load of batshit dog people coming on to say a Doberman's akin to a cuddly toy but they and do can kill. End of. But hey it was the victims' fault coz they didn't have the right body language yeah?

hottotrotsky · 02/08/2018 14:53

Bollox. They appear on all the top 10 dangerous breeds.

mustbemad17 · 02/08/2018 14:56

This is being blown way out of proportion imo. You saw the dog in another room? Not with the kids? So you are assuming the dog was interacting with or in some way close to the kids, therefore its a risk?
How about before jumping to conclusions ASK the manager. It might be confined to certain areas - which is no different to childminders having a dog - whereby the kids can see the dog but get nowhere near. As for the breed bashing, seriously?

Elephant14 · 02/08/2018 14:56

Poodles can be dangerous amongst toddlers. Its not ok. A controlled therapy visit is great. Having a dog on the premises all the time is not, anything could happen. You know this is not OK OP and I'd be contacting the local authority.

I have a poodle cross, when our cousin brings her 2 year old twins the dog says hi for 5 minutes then goes to the neighbours house for the rest of the day.

LikeJellyTots88 · 02/08/2018 14:57

I wouldn't be happy with this and I own a dog of a 'volatile' breed as pp said (a rotti) he's brilliant with my DS and vice versa but I would expect my DS would treat a random dog with the same enthusiasm of which said dog might not appreciate and could end in disaster.
I don't even take my dog with me to drop off/pick up DS from nursery (though it would be an excellent walk for him if I did) out of respect for the other families/children who may not like dogs or be allergic - he can also be giddy with new people and I certainly wouldn't want him accidentally scratching/biting a small child who just wanted to stroke him - I try to prevent that sort of thing anyway alway say to people he gets over excited, I wouldn't want the kids to get to close just in case but still accidents can happen if the owners not paying enough attention and with that many kids about I would imagine the manager struggles with that.
Definitely find out if it's a regular thing or not, risk assessments as pp have said and consider your other options re childcare

purplegreen99 · 02/08/2018 14:57

If the nursery is still open for the afternoon session, just ring them up now and explain that you've been feeling worried about the dog being there. Maybe there's a simple explanation such as your dc was watching the dog through the window or something. Or maybe they do let the dog wander around with the kids, in which case you might want to take it further, or even change nurseries. But you might as well base your decision on accurate info from the nursery rather than speculation from MN.

Notevilstepmother · 02/08/2018 14:58

I’d want to know if the dog was actually loose with the kids or if DS was watching him through a window or something.

I’d ask for more information before going to ofsted etc.

AnnieAnoniMoose · 02/08/2018 15:00

It’s a dog, only on MN does that cause such hysteria 🙄

NameChangeUni · 02/08/2018 15:04

I suppose that the dog must be pretty docile if the owner thinks it will behave appropriately around several screaming/playing/inconsiderate (to the dog) toddlers. But I do see your point and why you’re worried; as toddlers and dogs aren’t controllable to the extent where you can be truly assured that there won’t be an altercation- eg a toddler might bite his ear then the dog could be snappy in response sort of thing.

If it’s the owner’s dog, you’re probably better off going somewhere else as I doubt the owner will take it kindly if you suggest that they can’t control their dog or that the dog is aggressive. Or else the owner would have left the dog at home or with someone else whilst at work surely

diddl · 02/08/2018 15:06

"So presumably the dog was around the children in the morning."

Probably best to just ask-it might have been in the office all day!

wegotthis · 02/08/2018 15:11

My son (age 6) does activities with a local dog (trained for this purpose) at school - the spaniel comes in and sits with the children while they read.
I had to sign a form explicitly granting permission for my son to be around the dog so in my opinion this is not acceptable.

Vicky1990 · 02/08/2018 15:16

My son used to work with security dogs in the Army, the last one he had was a cross Doberman, Alsatian.
The dog was a nut case and very volatile, good at its job but not to be trusted.
It had two gears, normal and mad, and would change at a moments notice.
I would not leave any child of mine anywhere near this dog, and would question the sanity of the person thinking it's ok to take this dog near children.

niknac1 · 02/08/2018 15:17

The dog could have been on a walk the other side of a gate or fence. I would ask a few questions before making your mind up.

DiegoMadonna · 02/08/2018 15:23

I would not leave any child of mine anywhere near this dog, and would question the sanity of the person thinking it's ok to take this dog near children

I don't think it's the same dog as at the OP's nursery

RoseTinted1 · 02/08/2018 15:23

We have a very large dog who could easily over-power me (knock me down) let alone the children but she is as soft and gentle as they come and I trust her around our kids, nieces, nephews, however not alone.

I will still always shut her in another room when we have friends children come over, you don't know how other children will react, they might be afraid, they might grab etc.

I'd not be happy with this at all.

rainbowsandsmiles · 02/08/2018 15:23

Seriously? The nursery manager brings her Dobermann to work?

This, seems hard to believe that a nursery setting would have that set up!
No it's not OK, and I wouldn't have been comfortable with that at all.
I'd be finding a new nursery and telling them why.

rainbowsandsmiles · 02/08/2018 15:25

It’s a dog, only on MN does that cause such hysteria

Presumably you're one of the idiot owners who think their dog is "only playing" when making a bloody nuisance of itself like on the other dog thread going.

boobiequestion · 02/08/2018 15:27

@rainbowsandsmiles I thought the exact same Grin

Can't stand ignorance around dogs.

They can be very dangerous to small children.

hmmwhatatodo · 02/08/2018 15:28

Sounds like a really good way to lose business.

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 02/08/2018 15:28

Am I the only one who would be thrilled by this and see it as a great form of socialisation for young children?

Probably one of very few, yes.

Tika77 · 02/08/2018 15:31

I love dogs but they don’t belong in a nursery. I bet there are children with allergies, fears etc.

SugarIsAmazing · 02/08/2018 15:37

It’s a dog, only on MN does that cause such hysteria

This ^^ seriously, there are no such things as a "dangerous" breed!

RepealRepealRepeal · 02/08/2018 15:38

I worked in a nursery where we organized a pet day every few months. various pets would come in and the owner would give a little talk on how to look after it. But all the parents were given notice, and could opt their DC out. My dogs were always one of the pets. There was one little girl who's parents said was scared of dogs, but really took to my little one. They came to collect her, and she's got the dog in the book corner on a bean bag reading him a story. However again, these were organised events with all parents fully aware of what was happening.

Flightbite · 02/08/2018 15:40

Love dogs, love Dobermans, love children

Do I think it's a good idea to have a Doberman at nursery .....no! Just read this thread most people say the same, so why the owner thinks it's ok I really don't know.

Keep the dog at home and then you'll keep the children at your nursery!