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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Barrenfieldoffucks · 23/03/2019 19:24

The dog at our school lives in the main office and is walked by the ladies who are based there, and the Head when she is free. Sometimes some kids go too. She takes periodic walks around the school, pops into classrooms if there is some tension that needs dissipating etc. Any kid who is finding things hard can go and have a sit with her, give her a stroke etc.

She lives with the head during the week and another teacher over the weekend (or the other way around 🤔)

Mendingfences · 23/03/2019 19:37

I would be very annoyed if a dog was introduced to my kids school. One of mine is seriously allergic and quite frankly there is enough animal hair in school already brought in on kids and teachers clothes. There is one other kid in her class who i can be sure she can sit next to and not react (despite a fairly hefty drugs regime) and thats the other kid in the class with animal hair allergies. The only sport she's managing at the moment is swimming, everything else ends up as pet hair russian roulette......

CaptainSquirrel · 23/03/2019 19:53

If it's properly managed ie dog has had specific training, is kept in one place etc then fine. Dogs being allowed in all parts of the school or just in classrooms haphazardly, not fine on any level regarding allergies, pupil sense of safety or actual safety.

A school near us now has two supposed "school dogs" which are actually just pets that dumb-assed staff members got and then realised dog ownership was incompatible with their working patterns so they just take the bloody dogs to work with them. They're not trained to do anything in particular, they're in whatever room the staff member is in, they leave hair all over the place and it's actually causing problems with nervous children and allergic children, but anyone who criticises is shouted down as an animal hater so far from being therapeutic the situation is creating tension.

BarbarianMum · 23/03/2019 20:02

As someone whose allergic to (some/most) dogs I have to admit Im not keen on the current trend of introducing dogs into schools and work places, therapy or common pet. That said, with the correct checks and balances, Im sure it could work in some settings.

Rockbird · 23/03/2019 20:11

The high school that DD1 is going to has a school cat. The students love him, he just wanders around and you can interact or not.

yolofish · 23/03/2019 20:29

I do think the allergy/fear issue is a major problem, and I know a school where the staff member has declared her dog as the 'school dog'. All her colleagues hate her anway, but her dog has been known to pee into peoples handbags!! Obviously that is a terrible situation, but it doesnt mean there is no place in schools for dogs, but it MUST be managed well.

I think I asked up thread, but re allergies: how do seriously allergic children cope if their classmates come from pets with families?

Rumboogie · 23/03/2019 21:05

Think it may not be much good for the dog. Very few people seem to be considering its welfare in a noisy environment with children, some of whom may not be well disposed towards it. Dogs are not just convenient cuddly toys.

Pinkbells · 24/03/2019 00:05

We just got notification of a support dog coming to my kids' school. They're wildly excited and can't wait! I think it's such a lovely idea.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 24/03/2019 08:08

Rumboogie if it is a proper therapy dog this is all considered and trained for.

Thelieswetelltoourselves · 24/03/2019 08:10

There is a dog at my child's school and on the days the dog is in my child hates going school. School is no longer her safe haven.

adaline · 24/03/2019 08:13

Personally I don't think it's a good idea unless it's strictly monitored and the dog gets lots of time out during the day.

Dogs can be easily overwhelmed - and children can be noisy, grabby and unpredictable. If the dog is expected to be around children all day long it could easily get overtired and overwhelmed.

However saying all that my old teacher in primary school used to bring her dog to work with her. He was older and spent most of the day asleep in his bed under her desk - he had no real interest in us children and was happy to sleep all day with several walks in between. It worked fine and the dog seemed perfectly content.

But as PP said you need to consider allergies, phobias and students with SN that could make them unpredictable and seem scary to a dog.

adaline · 24/03/2019 08:17

if it is a proper therapy dog this is all considered and trained for.

But no matter how well trained a dog is, it doesn't stop children being scared of it or having allergic reactions to it.

TaMereAPoilDevantPrisu · 24/03/2019 08:21

Or adults who don't like dogs not wanting to have one in their workplace.

Ragwort · 24/03/2019 08:24

Personally I just don’t like dogs (yes, I know that makes me unpopular on Mumsnet), I just don’t want to be around dogs. I used to work in an office where one of my colleagues had an assistance dog so obviously I had to accept that (not much fun cleaning up dog sick & shit, it’s owner couldn’t do it) but I recently booked an appointment at a beautician & there was a dog roaming around the salon ... I changed my mind & went elsewhere. Not everyone wants to be around dogs and you need quite a bit of self confidence to admit that.

I was out walking last weekend, and of course I know a lot of people want to walk their dogs but a puppy rushed up and jumped all over me (muddy paws) & the owners looked on indulgently as though everyone would adore their puppy, worse than new parents with a PFB .

Sexnotgender · 24/03/2019 08:27

I think it’s great.

My daughter has spent a lot of time in hospital and they frequently have therapy dogs visiting the wards.

I have a greyhound who I hope one day will make a great therapy dog.

Mendingfences · 24/03/2019 08:57

yolofish
My child copes badly to be honest. Lots of drugs and constant itching and now level breathing problems. Which get worse when she sits next to the kids with most pets.....

Some teachers are better than others at remembering the need for environment control. Some just complain she's been 'uncooperative' when i collect a child wheezing and sneezing away with itching red welts on hands and arms after she's been partnered with a classmate with both dogs and cats at home....

NanooCov · 24/03/2019 09:02

The school my DS is likely to start at in September has a therapy dog that comes in occasionally. I'm aware other local primaries do too. I think it's a great idea. Dog phobes and those with allergies are taken account of and there has never been any peeing, pooping or fleas. It's targeted at kids who are struggling for one reason or another. I'm looking forward to my DS interacting around the dog. He is visually impaired and has sensory issues and is nervous around fast moving excitable dogs so the opportunity to interact with a calm dog that enjoys cuddles and attention is welcome. He adores the guineau pigs they have at nursery currently which has really helped him progress with his nervousness around small quick moving animals. It's been a joy to see him beginning to love animals of all sizes.

BarbarianMum · 24/03/2019 10:59

yolofish if someone who keeps a horse or a rabbit comes near me with the dander on their clothes, I have an asthma attack. It's that simple. With cats and dogs I usually have to be in a room with them, or a room that they habitually use and the asthma is less severe, giving me a chance to escape.

My primary school kept a pet rabbit. My first day in reception they had to call a doctor (this was the 1970s). For the next 5 years the rabbit lived in the quandrangle and I walked round rather than through it.

yolofish · 24/03/2019 13:07

thanks to those who responded about the allergy issue/kids with pets in the families, and I'm really sorry that you/your kids have to go through this. TBH I dont know what the answer is! maybe all kids on arrival at school should be hosed down to remove pet hairs?!
Or, more sensibly, that teachers are educated to understand the issue more, that little Jonny/Jemima is not being a PITA but actually suffering. I dont think there will ever be an easy answer, but I do still think that PAT animals have a real role to play (fence sitting).

OldBean2 · 24/03/2019 18:22

As I posted earlier, we have had our learning dog for almost three years. If we know a child is allergic he does not visit that classroom and pupils visit with him in the HT's office.

It is all about making reasonable adjustments, which is what we do.

NameChangerAmI · 25/03/2019 06:43

Piewife

If ever there was a way for people and especially children to overcome dog phobia - this is it!

Bring it on!

Re allergies - children could take antihistamines in the morning, it's not reason not to do it.

Dogs are joyous!

Ihatehashtags · 25/03/2019 08:26

Fantastic idea! I get that some kids are scared of dogs but I think a lot of that comes from the parents. You can make them not scared of dogs, if you make an effort. It kind of infuriates me to be honest that some parents don’t seem to care that their children massively over react to the friendliest of dogs.

CaptainSquirrel · 25/03/2019 08:40

Well you obviously don't "get" it if that's what you think. Not everyone likes dogs. Not everyone wants to have to take anti histamines (which compromise mental functioning) every day just because someone else thinks they should have dogs in an environment which one could reasonably expect not to have to encounter them. Not everyone wants to have a phobia
poorly and half arsedly addressed by a teacher bringing a dog into a school because they can't be arsed to pay for a dog walker. What about members of staff who are allergic or phobic or just don't want to have a dog in their work environment?

Mendingfences · 27/03/2019 07:05

I wish people like namechanger would stop dismissing allergies by saying you can take an antihistamine. That will not deal with all allergies. My kid takes antihistamines and several other medicines to reduce allergies daily, that doesnt mean it's not a problem it just reduce the symptoms somewhat. Å dog in her school would be a massive healthy risk to her

Starlight456 · 27/03/2019 07:17

@ihatehashtags

I have a child phobic of dogs . I am disinterested in dogs . His general fear has been enhanced by bad dog owners unable to call there dog off not parents.

So want to put the blame somewhere blame the dog owners

My son also will upset the dogs by screaming running away which upsets the dogs as they don’t realise it is them which is why random dogs in school should be a no.

I also would object to my child talking medication daily if they wouldn’t need it without the dog in school

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