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.

State primary. All visitors to the school, including potential new staff, are informed about the dog on arrival - he also has his own page on the school website - and have the option to be kept separate. Existing staff were involved in the original decision making, including how to manage difficult situations. Some were apprehensive, but all are now enthusiastic - they have seen the benefits it has brought to the most vulnerable. One staff member has actually commented on how it has enabled her to face her fears, and she now knows how to read dog body language with confidence, and is enormously grateful. The cleaner, originally a sceptic, is now the dog's biggest fan, as he follows her round as she cleans - vacuuming around the dog is an entertaining sight!

I think that no one is wrong here, especially as everyone has such different experiences of dogs. I used to teach in a tiny school. My Labrador's were left at home. Then one of them died of cancer. The head teacher suggested that I bring in the other one and kept her in the school office so she wasn't lonely. She quickly became the beloved school dog, wandering around the classrooms and very much loved. Children would lean against her, she'd lie on the mat with them, she'd steal their discarded socks and hide them. Her favourite trick was to wander into the other classroom, do a loud and smelly fart, look around knowingly and then leave. There was not a child in the school afraid of dogs because of her. I have Since moved schools and in any case she wouldn't be able to come as she is going blind now. After I left my replacement brought in her dog. A disaster by all accounts. Too young and flighty.

Labradors

Obviously ‘the 3 Rs’ was shorthand for academic studies as traditionally understood...

@spongejack - a potential staff member should be told their job offer is conditional on accepting the dog? Ridiculous.

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.

Why does someone who is afraid of dogs not have empathy? Based on your comments judging parents who have children who are scared of dogs it does not sound like you have much empathy yourself. It is natural to be scared of dogs if you have been bitten or threatened. Doesn't mean you are not kind to animals either, just that you are scared of dogs. I am not sure how one issue suddenly equates to the other.

@fascinated not sure I said that, but I do love a MN misinterpretation. The school has a dog..... is this the type of school you want to work in? If not off you go down the road to a school that doesn't have a dog.

Lots of offices have dogs in, up until recently my office had the occasional dog in it. I've previously worked in offices that had full time dogs.

Was never consulted and no one ever had an issue.

Get over yourself, it's a dog not a bloody lion.

we had a School Dog, back in the late 70s/early 80s. he was a large, intact labrador named Charlie.

highlights included: stealing all the food at the Bring and Buy Sale, mounting terrified six years olds who were playing leapfrog, and being chased through the grounds by the Headmaster with a spool of videotape hanging out of his arse*, like a vigorous and unpleasant canine Rhythmic Gymnastics routine.

School Dogs. your mileage may vary.

*the dog, not the Headmaster

spongejack no it was to the post directly above claiming that anyone who (I paraphrase) doesn't like dogs is dead inside. Just bollocks.

I, too, am slightly agog at the idea that an NQT's future career might hang on whether they're a dog person or not.

@WeshMaGueule why are you agog with that though? The school has a dog, if you don't like it dint accept a job. Lots of schools don't have dogs, so accept one of them?

This has the potential to have a major impact on some children. One of mine is terrified of dogs, absolutely terrified (no reason for it, just some kind of pathological fear). I don’t see how it would be beneficial for the children either. What as waste of menu at best, inconsiderate of individual needs at worst.

Well, jobs aren't that plentiful in some parts of the country, for a start. Schools in rural areas can be few and far between. And not having to deal with dogs in the workplace is, IMO, a perfectly reasonable expectation. It's not like you've trained to be a vet or anything.

We have a school dog. It's a therapy dog and belongs to the deputy head although the cash strapped PTA paid for it - that pissed me off!

It's a nippy little thing when it gets too crowded and I don't like it. Hasn't actually bitten anyone yet but have seen it be sharply pulled away. Not the dogs fault of course it shouldn't be there. I also objected to the risk assessment stating "children should behave calmly around the dog that way no accidents will happen." IT'S A DOG and more to the point the children were there first.

@BossAssBitch - my boy was scared of unknown dogs when younger for a time as some owner let their dog run up to him barking aggessively. He genuinely was scared not 'scared' and it didn't come from me - I grew up with pet dogs and am very fond of them. I also was afraid of unknown dogs for a time as an owner allowed their dog to run out their unsecured garden and bite me! It had nothing to do with my parents and everything to do with the irresponsible owner. I don't see how it is ridiculous if a dog has scared or hurt you. Dogs might be wonderful but not really when barking aggressively or biting people!

Sponge, you may not have said it but that’s what it amounts to. Would like to see an employment tribunal’s view on that approach.

Get over yourself, it's a dog not a bloody lion

Just out of interest, have you actually been threatened or even bitten by a dog?
Particularly a bigger one, like say a Labrador, one of the most frequent breeds to go for me..

Do you have any idea how fucking scary it actually is..?

I have a dog, I like dogs but even I am wary of dogs I don't know.

And I'm an adult. Who likes dogs.
Can't even begin to imagine how terrifying it must be for a child.

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

Is the Carbon Pawprint a thing? It must be a lot smaller than the impact of having children.

I think a ‘school dog’ could be very unfair on the animal if not managed very carefully. There are also quite a few children and adults who are dog phobic and may find this a real concern. On the other hand, I’ve seen first hand the therapeutic benefits of contact with animals. A tricky one but I think on balance it’s probably better to have a regular visiting dog who is older and well socialised and who can get away from what could be a stressful environment.

I work in a school we have a dog. It's ludicrous. Not well trained at all, a massive distraction to everyone and horrible for the children and staff who don't like dogs or have allergies. I don't mind dogs, but they don't belong at work, unless you work as shepherd. YANBU.

The main issues are allergies and phobias, as someone massively allergic to dogs if my child were the same as me they would effectively be excluded from school because of this - that to me is not acceptable.

DS' current school (secondary) and previous one both had school dogs. I realise that school dogs are typical but we seem to gave had schoolcwhere thry were normal. Thet have always just been there, sometimes you see the dog in the background wandering but usually its sitting on the floor in the room where its human is (of is expected to be). My son was always very wary of dogs but he got used to them being there by virtue of the first school dog which was so chilled out due to bring surrounded by children all the time. I suspect school dogs are becoming more common over time.

A lot of pet allergies are due to the dander not the fur. A labradoodle is not hyper allergenic any more than a poodle or labrador is!
Why buy from a breeder?
Stupid idea.
Have a visiting one if they must...

Why buy from a breeder?

Because they don’t sell them at the school supplies company?

Where else, exactly do you propose they get a dig from?!

Where else, exactly do you propose they get a dig from?!

English heritage?

@SanAntonio 🤣🤣🤣 fucking phone 🤣

be comfortable around dogs, an important life skill
Bollocks is it an important life skill! I’ve had no interaction with dogs for many years now, I neither need nor want to be “comfortable “ around them.
Dogs smell and so do the houses they live in