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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 02/08/2018 17:28

What did they tell you when you spoke to the nursery?
You say “for all you know”; why didn’t you just ask?

Bubblysqueak · 02/08/2018 17:29

If you knew anything about the breed you would know that they are widely used in the states as support dogs for children with disabilities.

If you are concerned ask for the animals in the setting policy, they will have one.

Buggeredpelvicfloor2013 · 02/08/2018 17:32

Fuck that.

Coloursthatweremyjoy · 02/08/2018 17:37

I think you've done the right thing OP. I was about to suggest that the dog was probably only in the office as a one off (dog walker fell through) and the children were lifted to see him through the window.

But taking it into the room, even briefly, no way! I work in childcare and own a beautifully trained (even if I do say so myself), gentle lab. No way would I have him around the children, they are unpredictable, dogs are unpredictable it would be really foolish. I am super careful if one of them sees us in the park and comes to say hello. My children are older and I couldn't ask dog to cope with a tiny child. It wouldn't be fair.

I can't believe anyone thought this was a good idea...oh and i believe you are right, there wasn't an assessment. Some owners have huge blind spots when it comes to their dogs.

Original poster

Kezebel · 02/08/2018 17:38

@Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar I did. They said the dog is 'sometimes' taken through. If I didn't know about it in the first place, 'for all I know' it could well be every day. Despite what they told me.

OP posts:

Iizzyb · 02/08/2018 17:48

Op I would give ofsted a quick call too. I would also have withdrawn my dc but i also think the other parents need to know that their dc's are safe. This just sounds crackers tbh.

ThinkOfAWittyNameLater · 02/08/2018 17:49

Wow. I completely understand your concerns.

I'd be livid about this - particularly the lack of risk assessment: tells me that their personal assessment is there is no risk. Which is ridiculous.

The dog may not be volatile but the environment is.

What if a child had a phobia (I doubt that would come up on admission forms, why on earth would it) or an allergy?

Crazy

SarcasticFringehead · 02/08/2018 17:56

Parents should be the ones who choose how or if their child is subjected to dogs. I'm glad you removed your child. Do call ofsted too. Not worth the risk to those other children whose parents probably don't know either. Dog people can be blind to the risks.

Sunnybeachbabe · 02/08/2018 18:32

There is a reading dog at our school, small, fat and placid. We are required to have a very robust risk assessment in place in order to have it there. So, I'd suggest that you ask to see their risk assessment regarding the dog. It'll either set your mind at rest or confirm that this is not a good place to leave your child.

KOKOagainandagain · 02/08/2018 18:57

Your choice OP. I spent a long time choosing nurseries but I lived rural where choice was limited. I wanted my DS to have local little friends for play dates and thinking ahead for when he started school. Maybe it's different for you. I would not have disrupted his little life and first steps at social integration because a dog walked through the room and nothing happened.

LunchBoxPolice · 02/08/2018 19:34

I would remove my ds from the nursery too.

Dieu · 02/08/2018 20:03

But surely the children wouldn't be allowed to wander into the nursery office willy-nilly?

faloma · 02/08/2018 20:21

Are they insured if the dog attacks a child?

Please please notify ofsted, this is really very worrying.

Ghanagirl · 02/08/2018 20:26

@Bambamber
Yes it’s all about the animal..,
No care if toddlers are bitten by the mutt...

Ghanagirl · 02/08/2018 20:30

@Kezebel
I would also be incredibly unhappy if my toddlers were around a Doberman whilst I wasn’t around.
Very silly of Nursery maneger to have it on site...

Ghanagirl · 02/08/2018 20:35

@SugarIsAmazing
Dogs are animals and thus unpredictable same as toddlers but dogs can severely injure the former whilst toddlers can just annoy dogs...

ChuckyMonkey · 02/08/2018 21:21

Really shocked by this. It doesn't sound like any written risk assessment has been completed because regardless of whether they were in the process of updating it, they still would have had a copy to show you.

I don't blame you for using trust in them.

LotsToThinkOf · 02/08/2018 21:35

Please don't focus on the written risk assessments and the calls to ofsted - speak to nursery, get the facts and then make a decision. That conversation sounds very wishy washy, and this thread is encouraging hysteria.

The dog might have been there a few times and posed no threat at all, but it might not be on a risk assessment. Or maybe it's accompanied by the perfect risk assessment, paper work and perfect links to the EYFS standards - and what's on paper has nothing to do with the reality.

Wherismymind · 02/08/2018 21:49

If you knew anything about the breed you would know that they are widely used in the states as support dogs for children with disabilities.

That may well be but support dogs go through rigours training. This is just someone's pet and op has no idea of the dogs temperament or how well trained it is.

londonrach · 02/08/2018 21:52

Id leave the nursery and report it. Dogs and small children do not mix unless very carefully controlled and in this setting...no way!!!!!! Offsted

Flightbite · 02/08/2018 22:00

@Wherismymind 👏 ! Well said!

NewUserNameTime · 02/08/2018 22:01

Good decision OP

BlueEyedBengal · 02/08/2018 22:47

No no no in no way would I send my child to a nursery where they allow staff a bring your dog to work day! This is a total risk for a child and not fare to the dog. The should have been a risk assessment and I think health and safety would never allow this. Even if you are removing your child let the education/council know why you are removing your child.

ValleyClouds · 02/08/2018 23:54

Whilst I do not work in a nursery, I am experiencing a scenario not dissimilar to this, with some overlap of concerns in my work place so I'm just generally placemarking with interest.

SunflowerJo08 · 03/08/2018 00:00

At the pre-school I worked in we would welcome parents bringing in their dogs (we've also had chickens, snakes!) but even as a dog owner my heart was in my mouth when the children went near. Dog was held by owner at circle time and children were allowed to stroke, touch, in pairs and ask general questions. Visit over within 10 mins. But it did make me think oh heck, what if that dog bit? Both were small terrier types. One of our dogs is very, very docile and excellent with children but as he is large and black, I did not want to bring him in for the children to meet as even after owning him for 5 years, I just don't know. I also only got our first dog after I stopped childminding and my dogs stay in the kitchen when children visit, although ones over 6 can hold my docile one on walks.

It's just not worth the risk to have such a huge powerful dog around young children on a long term basis though. As a parent I would want to see a risk assessment, as a practitioner I would want to know the risk assessment inside out, know the dog and stick to a very calm routine of handling - but still be pretty worried tbh.

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