The school is getting a school dog

[Worriedaboutthedoggy]

The school had sent out a newsletter today that they are getting a school dog. The letter has all the positives mentioned - they are getting it from a reputable breeder and good bloodlines, it is a hypoallergenic breed (labradoodle), it will be staying in a family environment when off duty (presumably with a member of staff), it will teach the children about the importance of caring for someone - but I still am feeling a bit weird about it, can't put my finger on why exactly.

I am not sure about the impact on the dog - won't it be stressed by the usual playground ruckus? What if it turns out to be wrong temperament?

I am also ashamed to admit that one aspect that concerns me is financial. The average lifetime cost of keeping a dog in the UK (according to google) is around £18K, and I can't help feeling that there are better ways to spend these money (the school is currently fundraising for quite basic things).

Please do tell me I am BU and a total killjoy, and please do tell me your positive stories.

Oh, and our school dog doesn't 'roam corridors'. He's either in an activity with SEN kids or other kids or he's napping in a basket in his classroom or in the school office.
He's done wonders for my LO fear of bigger animals.

You do realise no child would be forced to interact with the dog?

You don't actually know whether this is true or not.

I would love a dog in DD's school. Growing up I went to schools with dogs, the teachers would bring them in, and there was a school cat too.

I have also worked in several offices with dogs, and used to love warming my feet on them on cold days. One office I worked in, which was very rural, had 5 dogs.

Whilst recently visiting several care homes for DM, all of them had dogs and cats. The dogs wander about, and the cats sleep on the beds. Actually, I didn't visit one without them, perhaps the elderly generation don't suffer as many allergies, and there obviously doesn't seem to be a problem with trip hazard or similar, which homing charities always seem to trot out when re-homing to elderly people.

You don't actually know whether this is true or not.

I think it can be a safe bet that kids wont be forced to interact with the dog.

And if we dont know, jumping to the conclusion that they definitely will be, is ridiculous.

My dd (who has sn) is absolutely petrified of dogs. This would cause her endless anxiety and worry. I'd be very unhappy.

The thing is, with having a dog for SEN support strikes me as a bit strange. Not all SEN children are the same

Thank fuck for this comment, I was being to think I had entered a parallel universe where all disabled children have exactly the same personality, and a dog is a magical panacea for all of them.

The sweeping generalisations made on this board about "people with SN" are frequently quite alarming/distressing. They often don't allow for individuality or personal agency, and are regularly unwittingly offensive.

Not very hygienic either for the school. Dogs do seem to lick some strange things, even on themselves Schools are a breeding ground for germs with the pupils as it is.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit

Absolutely agree. As I said in my previous comment, my dd has sn, she is petrified of dogs, actually any animal really. She cannot relax if there's an animal in the room. If she thought a dog might appear at some point during the school day, she'd be so anxious and worried.

Omg, I can’t believe how sad and uncaring this post is. Do you honestly think parents want to push fears into children. Unless a school brings in someone trained to manage phobias children with debilitating fears should not have to have this forced on them in a place they should feel safe. Everyone’s needs should be taken into account by school when introducing animals.

Is anyone actually sure how this is going to work? It's very unlikely that the dog will be roaming around the school and forced upon all SEN children or all children full stop. Our school dog remains in the school office, it does specific things like reading with kids. It is always on a lead for this (it's an incredibly well trained, calm dog) and wouldn't be brought near children who were scared of it. It also is sometimes on the field during break but again no one is forced to go near it and it isn't allowed to approach random children - the kids approach the dog if they wish to.

Is anyone actually sure how this is going to work?

Because despite saying she is concerned for the dog, she came here instead if finding out.

its very unlikely a dog would be roaming the corridors.

Literally five posts before yours is an account of a dog roaming the corridors.

It also is sometimes on the field during break but again no one is forced to go near it and it isn't allowed to approach random children

This wouldn't cut much ice with my dd. It's mere presence would unnerve her. She is incredibly sensitive.

Our school dog remains in the school office, it does specific things like reading with kids

Oh come on. I've read some crazy comments on this thread, but reading with the children???

No reputable breeder, breeds mongrels. They don't know what they are getting in anyway until the dog becomes an Adult.

The shelters are full of these crossbreeds.

It's a stupid idea.

Literally five posts before yours is an account of a dog roaming the corridors.

Yet lots of posts, from people whose children go school where there are dogs have said they dont roam the corridors.

So which is more likely?

DD’s school have a dog that belongs to the SENDCo, he has his own space in inclusion for rest, food / drink. He was absolutely pivotal in getting DD back in school after cancer treatment. We’d meet him and the SENDCo in reception at the beginning of the day, DD would walk him to her lesson, he’d be waiting for her at the end of it to escort to the next.

He also helped her friend who was having issues with eating. I won’t go into details in case it’s outing but the change was rapid and really, really amazing.

No child or member of staff was forced to have interaction with him.

"less likely" does not mean "very unlikely".

Dog ownership is very bad for the environment. We are in a climate emergency - no one should be buying dogs except for service dogs. Dogs are a nice luxury but one we should do without for the sake of the planet

Bingo!!

My dogs are sometimes the office dogs - I own the business and therefore the office and just don't employ anyone who would object to their presence

DS has quite a few friends from a group who (in very general terms) tend to be scared of dogs. We have worked hard with them to get them used to DDog but after a year or so of frequent but careful exposure they range from a couple who actively seek him out, 2 who completely ignore him but don’t mind him to one who can’t settle in the house unless he knows exactly where the dog is at all times (not in the same room as him)and has to be escorted past Ddog when moving from room to room
We can and are happy to accommodate this but how would you do that in a school environment? I don’t think it’s fair on children with genuine phobias or allergies to have a dog in school. Some schools are but free due to dc with allergies, if a dog allergy is severe it should be treated the same

Re: the dog reading with the kids. It's not as daft as it sounds. You can get kids to read to the dog. Of course the dog has no idea what they are saying, but kids sometimes enjoy it, and it can build confidence with reading.

less likely" does not mean "very unlikely"

One account of a school acting (in my opinion) irresponsibly, out of around 30 comments, makes something unlikely.

Especially, since it's likely risk assessments etc have had to be done.

If the school were planning to get a service dog, then surely they would not be talking about getting a puppy from a particular breeder - they'd get a dog that's a year or so old, and has already proved itself suitable. Much like guide dogs etc who are screened and trained before being assigned to a blind person.

Our school has a dog. It belongs to a member of staff who pays the insurance for it to be at school. It isn't in every day and it stays in an office so no child would be forced to see it. Most of the time you don't even know it's there. He doesnt come out at playtime or start/end of the day as that would be too much to put a dog through. Kids who would benefit from it get to help walk the dog and spend some time with it. And we all had to give permission for our children to spend time with the dog so if you didn't want to there is no obligation. But my children have come home so excited to see the dog and spend time with him. It's lovely.

Done well I think animals in schools can be great.

@bluebluezoo@Scarsthelot and 17 years later we probably would have got a Standard poodle but we took the advice we were given at the time and got a labradoodles and once you have a soecific breed you often forget about all the others. Our labradoodles have all been fab dogs, lovely temperaments and easily trainable ( though very bouncy when puppies). I love standard poodles and would have one another time. I'd also get a rescue dog too. I'm not going to get into the MN argument about labradoodles /designer dogs.

I assume the school has done a risk assessment and decided they can manage any known and potential risks