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.

It's a dumb idea.

Lots of people just don't like dogs. I wouldn't like to work somewhere with dogs.

Muslims don't really do dogs in human spaces, so it's a bit obnoxious to them.

Dogs don't do anything magical for "kids with SN".

There is without doubt some poor sod low in the pecking order who will have to do the cleanup of accidents, and it is not going to be the person who had this bright idea.

This thread is sad and hilarious at the same time. I now have a mental picture of a very large shaggy labradoodle running completely unchecked through the school, barging into classrooms and causing utter mayhem.

I also would like to know how exactly (and why) a school would make it compulsory for every child to have some interaction with the dog. That comment would suggest that teachers are not only complete idiots but also very uncaring. Not likely to be true is it?

I love dogs, have 2 at present and have had them all my married life (40 years). I am not totally sure about dogs in schools although I have read about the positives particularly children who struggle with reading liking reading to the dog. I would have thought maybe regular visits by dogs would be better. Like the PAT dogs that go to nursing homes, hospitals etc.

Surely this cannot be real? Would a school really do this?

They can, they do and its great. It works BRILLIANTLY at my son's school. Noone is forced to interact with the dog if they dont want to. She sits quietly in the library with her owner who pays for all her care so no, despite the mouth frothing of some posters, the education system is not paying for her keep so you can put your pearls down and find something else to clutch.

Any time something is introduced into any workplace there should be a risk assessment completed that covers all aspects of potential harm or risk. Risks are managed, they are not completed eliminated. You can never get rid of 100% of risk as simply living is a risk. Anything could happen to any of us at any time.

I would imagine in schools- there is FAR more "risk" to kid's safety from selfish parents parking their chelsea tractors on the yellow zigzag school lines whilst dropping their kids off and picking them up. That poses a REAL risk to kids because it blocks their view of traffic when crossing the road. Far more children have been hurt or injured in road accidents than being mauled by a fcking school dog so if you want to get up in arms about something- get up in arms about the selfish pricks who park in places they shouldn't.

My dil’s puppy retriever puppy loves kids, isn’t phased at all by them, is happy to have quiet time, lovely nature. She’s v well trained. She’d be brilliant as a therapy dog in a school. I think it’s s brilliant idea done in a controlled way.

People who bring dogs to work are selfish dicks who just want to bring their dogs places and don't give a fuck how others feel.

They think up after the fact justifications like "Well no one is forced to interact with it" (even though it's right there in the yard/library) and "Well it helps SN kids with reading" lol.

I do find it interesting that my kids' school is completely peanut-free but they also have a school dog, which will work there for many years, and a child with an allergy could move into the school at any time.

Dog allergy not usually life-threatening of course, but it can affect asthma, can make you feel pretty miserable.

They think up after the fact justifications like "Well no one is forced to interact with it" (even though it's right there in the yard/library) and "Well it helps SN kids with reading" lol.

Well they're not and it does 🤷‍♀️

Dogs don't do anything magical for "kids with SN"

What a sweeping and ignorant assertion. You are wrong. I have children with and have worked extensively with children with additional needs so I know this.

I am sorry all, I never expected the topic to be so popular so did not allocate enough time to answer everyone. I am much more relaxed about the idea now.
I am not sure how me asking questions qualifies as "mouth frothing" and "pearls clutching". I am really sorry if my post had triggered a bad emotional reaction in anyone.

If you have a dog in the library, then that's the first thing someone will notice walking in. It is disingenuous to say, "Well you don't have to interact with it. Just step over it to get that book."

And sorry, they do help "SN kids" with reading then? All of them?

How awful it must be to be a SN kid trying to succeed nowadays. "Here, the dog will be your tutor".

I’m not sure if this has already been posted as I’ve not read all 13 pages. Both the Dogs Trust and Kennel Club both have statements that advise against schools having dogs, for the welfare of the dog.

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/press-releases/2019/march/the-kennel-club-responds-to-call-for-dogs-in-every-school/

www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/factsheets-downloads/school%20dogs%20updated.pdf

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.

By a doctor. Not by someone who specialises in dogs though?

So IF (and we don’t know it’s the case). The dog just sat quietly in the library how would dc with allergies or phobias use the library?
Regular visits by a qualified and trained therapy dog, arranged and publicised in advance are great, a dog there most if the time is a bad idea

My kids primary has a dog. One of the teachers per but has been specially trained etc. The kids love it, loads of benefits esp for those with additional needs BUT kids without additional needs dont get to interact with it much and see it as not fair.

By the way - both groups recognise the importance of using dogs in school environments. They just think the welfare of the dog should be a priority, introduction should be gradual and the dog should be temperament assessed. There are a number of avenues to get a dog to visit your school environment which keeps everyone (including the dog) safe and happy.

As such, the Kennel Club is concerned about Anthony Seldon’s call last week for every school to have a well-being dog as this could encourage school staff to use their own dogs in the classroom, or to acquire a dog “for the school”, which we would strongly advise against. Ad hoc use of unqualified and poorly supervised pet dogs in schools, with no oversight or concern for the dog's well-being, would not provide the range of benefits the Education Secretary describes. Spending long days in schools, with no guidelines or a dedicated handler to supervise practice as set out in our own programme, can also be detrimental to the dog’s well-being.

Thata what the kennel club says.

Cant imagine anyone would disagree. That's a terrible set up for the dog.

But theres no suggestion this dog wont be trained or poorly supervised. That's why op needs to speak to the school before the hand wringing begins.

My DS's school has a gorgeous Samoyed (I've never seen him/her, only pictures and read about why they went with the choice) but I'm fully on board. It's amazing the calming effect stroking a friendly dog can have on a child.

We have a 5 month Springer pup, great with my hyperactive boys, the welcome they get when they come home from school!! will play with them for hours and hours! useless as a Therapy dog though, way too hyperactive - tigger has nothing on her springs!

If you have a dog in the library, then that's the first thing someone will notice walking in. It is disingenuous to say, "Well you don't have to interact with it. Just step over it to get that book.

Step over it?? just how huge do you imagine this dog to be? It sits at the front of the library underneath the desk. The library is HUGE, ive seen it with my very own eyes and noone is stepping over it or interacting with it if they dont want to. But carry on- you clearly enjoy hyperbole and exaggeration so here you go:

"in my son's school library, children have to climb over a 20 foot long dog to get an education, they have to climb over its huge clawed paws risking their lives just to get copy of Hamlet, daily they risk being eaten alive by its giant slobbering teeth just for the sake of a Jane Austen- only a few make it out alive -the honoured ones: the ones who are truly dedicated to english literature"

Happy now?

Oh I see from your most recent post you're just being goady, ignorant and silly socky. I won't bother to respond to you anymore.

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

Exactly the same set up at our school.

So IF (and we don’t know it’s the case). The dog just sat quietly in the library how would dc with allergies or phobias use the library?

Again, who said this dog will be in the library? Why would anyone presume that? Thats not a great idea. Again just because one school thinks that's ok, doesnt mean all schools do.

Or maybe at this rural school theres no kids with allergies?

Thata why op should contact the school with her concerns.

No, no, no! Dogs are awful and kids shouldn’t be forced to interact with them

Kids are awful and dogs shouldn't be forced to,interact with them. There,put it right for you

I do love a good dog frothing thread on MN.

When I was at school the teachers could bring their dogs into work. There must have been 4 dogs in the school. They usually slept in a corner and the kids with a dog in their class loved it. Like a living class mascot. They never caused any trouble and I think they provided some children with a lot of emotional solace.

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.

You have no idea whether what you think is correct though, and there's no reason for anyone to give any credence to your guesses. The second part is correct, but not relevant to my post. The point is, everyone saying they will or won't be forced to interact is making an assumption, without being in a position to know if they're correct or not.

The poster who mentioned being forced to interact, said they will be forced.

It's more likely no one will be forced to do anything at all