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.

They do know there is zero guarantee that this dog will be "hypoallergenic" right?

No dog is hypoallergenic!

So called Hypoallergenic dogs can kill my DS.

Sorry that should have said in the writing in bold -*was just going to say this.

Our school has a Labrador which belongs to the head. Walked by the caretaker. Lovely temperament. Kids read to him if they want to, otherwise he stays in the office area. Cannot imagine he appears in the budget.

Well I'm a dog lover. That dog will have to have a bomb proof temperament to not freak out at loads of screaming kids moving erratically around the school. The way human kids move is really triggering for some dogs. My current dog is bomb proof, but there's a bit of luck involved. I am a massive dog lover, but I think a school is a shit environment for a dog. Not to mention the actual shit they will have to clear up.

*Dogs are good for the soul.

They don't judge you, they give love unconditionally, they frequently show pure in the moment joy, they have no ego, they don't care about your ego, so it disappears.*

Exactly

If this happens I absolutely will be complaining and taking it further if need be. Total waste of time and money... and yes actually I do think school should primarily focus on the 3Rs, and it‘s because they don’t that our educational standards are lower than they should be.

One of the teachers used to bring her dog into the primary school I work in. Bloody thing bit me. Teachers were unconcerned 😱

We have a school dog. He’s been there since he was bought as a tiny puppy. He stays with the admin lady who owns him, spends time in the staff room and the enclosed staff garden. The students can have cuddles if they are in need. The dog is no bother.

@BlaueLagune well ideally if someone thought being around dogs was beneficial they would try and ensure their child did meet/interact with dogs. In reality though if the parent(s) don't like dogs, are scared of them or whatever they are not likely to (a) think dogs are beneficial to their child or (b) try and ensure their child has contact with dogs

I understand that someone can be scared of dogs for various reasons but especially if they have been bitten. A lot of those people though pass their fear onto their children. Just like someone who is scared of mice or spiders will likely pass their fear on.

As I said, there are a lot of dogs in this country and probably fairly difficult to avoid seeing them even if managing not to get very close.

If it's felt that spending time with animals (not just dogs) would be beneficial for kids then take them to spend time with them. But don't impose them on everyone.
Any sensible school would avoid forcing a child or staff member with a fear or phobia of dogs having to get anywhere near it or possible (depending on the degree of the phobia) even see it - unless of course there had been a discussion with the parents and the child (or staff member) about some sort of desensitisation.

Total waste of time and money... and yes actually I do think school should primarily focus on the 3Rs
It's odds-on that the school isn't paying a penny towards the dog, the time taken in the admin will be not more than a few hours in total (maybe 6 or 7, over an entire year, which is much less than staff spend on planning and organising the class trips, never mind leading them...) and the whole idea of having the dog in school is to improve children's performance: there is evidence that children will persist more with a difficult reading task if they have dog to read to (yes, I know, strange but apparently true).

As for allergies, any efficient school will have considered these. I cannot imagine that if our school had a child with a potentially fatal allergy to dogs, any dog would be allowed in the building, ever. Milder allergies would be taken into consideration.

School staff spend hours trying to make school a positive, happy experience for the children. All the children. Really, they do.

As I said, there are a lot of dogs in this country and probably fairly difficult to avoid seeing them even if managing not to get very close.

But you should be able to avoid seeing them at school . Dogs don't need to be there, and pupils who are scared/allergic should not have to put up with them being there. I know if is a terrible thing on MN to be scared of dogs and if only parents allowed contact with dogs then no children would actually be scared really etc etc, but my child, at this moment won't go near a dog because of her fear and anxiety so I respect her wishes and keep them away if I can. It is a pain but I hope that one day she will grow out of her fear, or reach a situation where she can control her anxiety better. But in the meantime she has to go to school and she should not have to spend every moment there in a state of anxiety worrying about a dog, which does not have to be there.

I am a headteacher. My dog comes to school and is referred to be many people as 'the school dog.' All costs including specialist insurance are paid by me and any mess created is cleared by me. There is a small amount of admin time in getting all the staff to sign the risk assessment each year. The dog spends most of the day asleep in my office, but children who wish to visit are allowed to earn that privilege and work very hard to do so. The dog has been absolutely brilliant with vulnerable and distressed children who wish to sit and talk. I have found out so much from hearing the children say things to the dog they do not feel comfortable saying to an adult, including harrowing safeguarding issues. Those parents who do not wish their child to interact with the dog have their wishes respected, and those who would like their children to overcome their fear of dogs and learn how to interact with them work with me to do that. There are some children with allergies, and I work with the parents and children to overcome these as best as we are able, but, to date, those families are happy to work with me as they see the benefits for many other children. The dog comes with me to visit classrooms as I walk round the school, and is welcomed wherever he goes. He also comes out on playground duty and plays games with those children who wish.
When the idea was first raised, there was some concern, but almost all of it was people being concerned on behalf of others ("But what about the Muslim children/scared children/children with allergies?")
After the initial shock, the reaction from everybody has been positive. Parents looking round the school are about 90% enthusiastic; my only concern might be families for whom we are their catchment school who are not happy, but to date that has not been an issue. If we are not the catchment school it is not an issue - they just don't include us in their preferences. We are the only over-subscribed school in the area. I am immensely grateful for and humbled by the trust shown by my school community.
Basically, if you trust your child's school, you will trust them to manage this potentially difficult issue sensibly, but if you don't, you are unlikely to be satisfied with any response they make.

Bloody fabulous you sound @CornwallLass ! If my children were still school SVR I'd send them to your school

SCR = age! Maybe I need to go back to school.

Are these state or private schools with dogs already? I’m amazed.

State primary

CornwallLass why haven't you mentioned what the rest of the staff think about the dog? Did you check with them first? What if a new staff member objected?

I doubt the school is paying as PP have said it most likely is a member of staff’s dog.

Make sure the school is training the dog, has a professional handler assess it’s suitability and follows the guidelines from the dog’s trust.

@WeshMaGueule I'd expect that the headmistress would explain whilst interviewing that they had a school dog, if the potential employee doesn't like it, they don't need to accept the position,

The dog seems a huge benefit to the school, excellent idea.

The primary school I attended in the 70s had a dog. He was a blind poodle that belonged to one of the teachers. He used to sit at the side of her chair while she taught her class.

I don't remember any problems with the dog, but the teacher was elderly and grumpy: we were very wary of her!

When I was in school, I used to love getting a break from the pets my parents foisted on me at home. I wouldn't have been pleased to be faced with a school dog as well!

@fascinated err no, schools should, and do, focus on giving children a wide and broad education that encompasses far more than the 3R's and includes science, art, music, geography, languages, IT.

I'm no fan of the govt or the messing with the curriculum, but to reduce education to 3R's is reductive and really would produce children ill equipped to live and work in modern society.

What schools are having to do, which they shouldn't, is teach children basics like empathy and caring for others, because some parents are shit.

Dogs are good for the soul.

You have to have a soul first though. They do say ‘never trust anyone who dislikes dogs’ and I have found that to be spot on advice.

They don't judge you, they give love unconditionally, they frequently show pure in the moment joy, they have no ego, they don't care about your ego, so it disappears

THIS 100%. If your child is scared of dogs, YOU as a parent have a duty to resolve this issue. Dogs are wonderful, positive creatures. It is SO important to demonstrate to children how important it is to be kind to all animals, including dogs. Empathy is a wonderful trait to instil in your children.

I really do judge parents who say their children are ‘scared’ of dogs, it ALWAYS comes from the parents, is is frankly, ridiculous

Oh do give over. What nonsense.

@WeshMaGueule what does your last post actually mean? Was it directed at me? It just makes no sense.