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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask your opinion on support dogs in schools

133 replies

OddSocksDontCare · 22/03/2019 21:00

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-47655600

I saw this article earlier and was curious as to what others think about this?

I've suffered mental health issues the past year or so and got my dog 7 months ago now. He has completely saved my life and I couldn't get more joy from him than I do.

I am considering trying to get him involved in some sort of therapy work i.e. nursing home visits / hospitals / schools etc... and have been going to training classes with him to try and lead up to this. I wouldn't have believed the thought of me having a hobby and joining a class like this a year ago!

I think the idea of pets as therapy for anxiety and stress can be a brilliant one with the right regulations in place to cater for those it would be unsuitable for (allergies, fear of dogs etc).

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 23/03/2019 14:59

I wanted to train one of my cats as a Pets as therapy cat. She would adore it. She loves people and is so friendly. But she kneads a lot so I think it would rule her out, due to the risk of skin damage.

Sirzy · 23/03/2019 15:02

I think its a great idea and could help those who have dog phobias massively.

Absurditi · 23/03/2019 16:07

Good idea, but the allergies and the dog's welfare need consideration. I don't think just having a dog sitting in the classroom would be good for it, depending on the kids. Perhaps have a specific room the dog is kept in, walked at lunch and break by someone, and goes home with someone at the end of the day! You can't just have a dog that lives at school.

whyamisoconfused · 23/03/2019 16:07

I was in hospital last year and one of the other patients had a dog who used to come in and visit him. There was many a day when myself and other patients wrapped ourselves around the dog to hug him because him coming in was just what we needed that day.

This dog had absolutely no training as a therapy dog, but he was the most wonderful thing in the world when we were mentally struggling.

I think you've had a brilliant idea OP.

Whatififall · 23/03/2019 16:12

DD’s school has introduced a school dog this year. He’s doing his pets as therapy training and he’s lovely.

DD has been picked to do some sessions with him to help her anxiety and she loves it.

I understand the concerns about allergies and dog welfare but I think it’s a brilliant idea.

MitziK · 23/03/2019 16:23

It's a terrible idea to have a resident dog.

I'd never get any work done - because I'd be wanting to spend all my time with the dog concerned. Smile

Slightly more seriously, I am surrounded by people in school who detest animals. Fully grown adults. Children old enough to know that a butterfly at the window is not the same as a fucking Velociraptor wandering into Assembly for a quick snack. It's so ingrained, I've ended up being the person that is summoned to retrieve whatever wildlife is unfortunate enough to get itself onto the premises, as there aren't enough people able or willing to deal with them. If I have to say in absolute seriousness to somebody in a position of authority over me that if I see them aiming a kick at a one legged pigeon again there will be consequences, there is no way I'd be able to tolerate being there with a wonderful animal who doesn't deserve that level of hatred and at times, outright aggression (genuinely heard 'If a dog comes anywhere near, I'll scream or kick it').

Optional visiting somewhere outside of the buildings is, sadly, the most that could be hoped for for most places.

manicinsomniac · 23/03/2019 16:25

We have two dogs that are in officially at the school I work in - the head's dog is a 'therapy' dog and another teacher's dog is a 'reading' dog. They're both adorable and I love them being around (I'm a dog person who can't have a dog as I'm out of the house too much.) But I don't know how much genuine help they are with therapy and reading progress. They may be very beneficial. I really don't know.

Other dogs are around sporadically. It's a very dog friendly place. But that does make life difficult for a minority. One of my colleagues is terrified of dogs. Some people are sympathetic but too many have the attitude of 'she's obviously working in the wrong school then.' I'm not sure a staff member's feelings should be minimised for the sake of an animal that doesn't technically belong in school.

ChanandlerBongsLeftShoe · 23/03/2019 17:22

You can't just have a dog that lives at school

No, I'd say have certain days of the week the dog visits and in a designated space where pupils can 'book' to spend time with them or not if they can't/don't want to!

MontStMichel · 23/03/2019 17:27

DD’s specialist residential school (where all of the children had communication problems and/or ASD) used to have a dog brought in by one of the staff one day a week! DD loved it - it was a privilege to go out for a walk with the dog after school. Afaik, dogs are accepting of children with communication problems, in a way other “normal” children often aren’t!

At her specialist FE college, the onsite farm had a sheep dog and again it was a privilege to take the dog for a walk. Young people with learning disabilities may have limited comprehension of money or intrinsic academic achievement; whereas taking a dog for walk can really motivate them!

yolofish · 23/03/2019 17:42

When you think of the support that dogs can offer - Guide Dogs obviously, but also Pets as Therapy dogs, and the charity which provides dog companions for autistic children (so sorry, I cant remember the name), they do clearly have a role to play in helping people, as well as being much loved companions/pets.

Minglemangle · 23/03/2019 17:46

Very bad idea, with all these dogs going into school it is only a matter of time before a child gets maimed. Other reasons why it’s a bad idea: some children are allergic, the noise and smell, hair everywhere, children having to wash their hands constantly after coming into contact with a dog, traumatic for the animal.

SparklyShoesandTutus · 23/03/2019 17:47

My DSs school have just started a reading scheme with PAT (pets as therapy) dogs. A small group of the children go and read to the dog. My son is really enjoying it. Apparently the dog has a habit of resting his head on the children's legs as they read. It's totally optional so children don't have to participate. I think it's a great idea.

yolofish · 23/03/2019 17:49

mingle maimed??? seriously, by a PAT dog? you're having a bloody giraffe!

Sirzy · 23/03/2019 17:51

Mingle you do realise these are specially trained, specially selected dogs?

It’s not a case of grab any old dog off the streets!

Bouldghirl · 23/03/2019 17:52

Must be a yay from me. Thinks - can a Jack Russell really help?

Starlight456 · 23/03/2019 18:04

Do I think pets as therapy are a fantastic idea yes . My Ds has benefitted and 2 pat dogs were used during his cbt for dog therapy.
As posters have said these are dogs that are assessed not someone saying my dog is fine.

I am sure some people would really benefit . However I wouldn’t want them in the classroom while my Ds was there . He would watch the dog like a hawk. The minute it moved he would npanic and be in hyper alert and learn nothing.

So away from the classroom fine in the actual room no.

Folf · 23/03/2019 18:06

Mingle, the dog at my kids school is no more likely to 'maim' anyone than a guide dog would.

greenpop21 · 23/03/2019 18:08

I can just imagine the risk assessment. We can't have a real Christmas tree due to one child with an allergy. DD's school won't allow tinsel because 1 child has a tinsel allergy.I can't imagine the number with fur allergies.

Starlight456 · 23/03/2019 18:09

My post should of said cbt for dog phobia

MontStMichel · 23/03/2019 18:41

Very bad idea, with all these dogs going into school it is only a matter of time before a child gets maimed.

In some schools, you are far more likely to be attacked by one of the students than a dog!

wasgoingmadinthecountry · 23/03/2019 18:46

No. We don't all like dogs, they can be distracting for some children, allergies, the smell - yes, dogs do smell. I feel very on edge with dogs around and wouldn't like one regularly in my classroom.

I'm all for therapy dogs(one of our TAs has a therapy trained dog who goes to a hospice) but not as a general thing for schools.

I know someone (SEN/behavioural specialist) who worked in a school with a fairly resident dog - helped some, definitely a disturbance to others.

LucilleBluth · 23/03/2019 18:56

I love my dogs but they are animals and any dog could bite unexpectedly....imagine a child being bitten, massive law suit and dog put down. I also think it's a terrible idea. I don't think it's fair on people who are allergic, scared etc but mostly I feel sorry for the dog.

IC4nSeeYourPixels · 23/03/2019 19:09

Guide Dogs for the Blind does a lot of puppy socialising with uni students - combining socialisation for the new recruits with a de-stress opportunity for students around exam time.

I'm going back 30 years now but my stepdad is registered blind and back then the dogs were trained not to respond or react to strangers petting them. Sounds like things had changed a lot.

My stepdad was involved with a charity that homed dogs that failed training, retired working dogs and also foster care for if owners were in hospital etc,

We adopted two young labs that had failed guide dog training.

One was unsuitable as a working dog because he wandered off for food all the time. Lovely dog for a pet but not so great as a working dog as any food laying about was too much and he just wanted to be at it.

The other was unsuitable because because he would be reacting to strangers and stopping to be petted by strangers.

We looked after a few actual adult working guide dogs when they're owners were in hospital and it was very frustrating repeatedly telling people not to pet him, some arseholes would still try and distract him when told why they can't be petting and stroking him and then think the dog was badly behaved for ignoring them.

Saw one being trained in town a few years ago, handler and dog had jacket/harness on saying to not try to pet as it's a guide dog in training and a Dad was encouraging his toddlers to go up and stroke the puppy, handler stopped them and Dad got the hump cos "they're just kids, they're not gonna hurt it". Knobhead!

motortroll · 23/03/2019 19:14

One of my children is absolutely terrified of dogs so the idea of there just being a dog in the school would really stress her out!

yolofish · 23/03/2019 19:22

IC that's interesting. I def know that GD do that kind of socialising, however it may be very tailored. EG one of my clients is a major GD sponsor, and GD take dogs in training there for office staff to work with them, do obstacle courses while blindfolded etc. At DD1's uni, they took in GD for a cuddle session, and I also know this has happened across other unis. But it may be that its not actually a case of socialising, more of raising awareness/using established/trained dogs that cannot be a GC for one reason or another.