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.

BossAssBitch

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.

-dogs
+cats

You're welcome.

In summary, my conclusion from this discussion is that the average british school is absolutely awful as parents can’t trust them even at the most simple things (like making sure allergies aren’t triggered, kids are not terrified ). Why are people sending their kids to places like that? why is there no protest if things are that bad????
Thankfully i do trust our school

n summary, my conclusion from this discussion is that the average british school is absolutely awful as parents can’t trust them even at the most simple things (like making sure allergies aren’t triggered, kids are not terrified ). Why are people sending their kids to places like that? why is there no protest if things are that bad????
Thankfully i do trust our school

Yup- this has been my conclusion too.
I'm glad I dont send my child to a place where apparently, teachers are forcing kids to do things they are deathly afraid to do, triggering asthma and death, preventing kids learning through fear and intimidation and letting loose dangerous animals in the corridors.
If thats what you think of your school then why on earth would you send your child to such a place?!

DS1’s senior school has a therapy dog available during exam periods in the support area.
I think it is a great idea.

n summary, my conclusion from this discussion is that the average british school is absolutely awful as parents can’t trust them even at the most simple things (like making sure allergies aren’t triggered

Well if the reason to get a labradoodle is because of allergies their knowledge of allergies and triggers is shit, and they haven’t done their research into the best breed for a school with allergic children.

So unless they could justify why a labradoodle is better for allergies than one of the genuine non shedding, low allergenic breeds than yes, the school is going to drop hugely in my estimation.

If they're getting it from a breeder, presumably it's a puppy; and won't have had any training. Who's going to take the time to train it properly as a therapy dog?

PetPeter - this, just this. The implications of that sort of statement are that those who do not like dogs have some sort of "problem" that they need help with, so that they can learn to be "comfortable around dogs" - well bollocks to that!

this, just this. The implications of that sort of statement are that those who do not like dogs have some sort of "problem" that they need help with, so that they can learn to be "comfortable around dogs" - well bollocks to that!

I mostly agree with what you are saying, however, a large proportion of dog owners don't have the control over their dog that they should have.

I am in no way defending this, just stating a fact.

That, coupled with the fact that the typical reaction of the fearful person is often - shrieking, running, flailing, waving etc tends to come across one of two ways to dogs.

Extreme excitement which the dog misinterprets and tries to play and chase which is even more terrifying for the scared person.

Or weird, frightening behaviour that unsettles the dog and they then react aggressively which is obviously even worse for the scared person.

It is useful in order to keep everyone safe for dog phobic people to get help for their fears, and tbh, I think all people with phobia benefit from help to 'get comfortable' with the scary thing anyway as phobia can be pretty debilitating and learn how to deal with dogs safely.

You can't always avoid them but at least if you know how to behave around them and how to make yourself boring you can usually stop dogs that do approach from trying to interact with you.

The implications of that sort of statement are that those who do not like dogs have some sort of "problem" that they need help with, so that they can learn to be "comfortable around dogs" - well bollocks to that!

Exactly fucking this. People who aren't dog lovers are capable of accepting dog lovers exist.

Entitled Dog Owners on the other hand take great personal exception to the idea that someone may not be comfortable in the vicinity of their "lovely" dog and "how dare they"

They obviously need to be more exposed to dogs so that they can learn that they are wrong and they can change and be accepting and accommodating and less selfish.

The fact that they, the Entitled Dog Owner are being selfish and belligerently refusing to accept that they don't have the right to force people to accept intrusive behaviour.

Dogs off leads running mad destroy nice walks on the beach or in country parks for other people to the point where you simply can't go.

Entitled Dog Owners don't give a shit because "doggo is happy"

Sorry that should say :

The fact that they, the Entitled Dog Owner are being selfish by belligerently refusing to accept that they don't have the right to force people to accept intrusive behaviour escapes them completely

EineReise - exactly right.

Entitled Dog Owners on the other hand take great personal exception to the idea that someone may not be comfortable in the vicinity of their "lovely" dog and "how dare they"
They obviously need to be more exposed to dogs so that they can learn that they are wrong and they can change and be accepting and accommodating and less selfish

There are definately many of these awful people around.

But some us, myself included, absolutely respect that not everyone likes our dogs and we keep our dogs under control and we don't allow our dogs to run at/jump at/bark at etc people because we accept it's rude and scary.

But it is a bit upsetting when certain said frightened people shriek and scream at the top of their lungs and run (when our dog is nowhere near you!) causing our dogs to get agitated/excited and try and chase, jump on you etc where they ordinarily never would have tried to behave in that way.

I accept people get frightened and I do what I can to keep my dog well away from you, I leash, I change direction etc but it really would be much better and much safer for everyone if frightened people/non dog lovers tried not to behave in that way and opted to 'freeze', stay still, ignore eye contact etc instead because the alternative is potentially dangerous.

I am well aware I probably sound like one of these 'entitled' dog owners and I honestly really am not.
I am wary of strange dogs myself, my DM and aunt and uncle are all dog phobic, I do have a lot of sympathy and I absolutely do not allow my dog to approach others but the exaggerated reactions some people show really grates on me because it's potentially dangerous and can make it extremely difficult to regain control of the dog, especially if it's fairly young.

I certainly would never scream and shriek because I realise that's going to further alarm a dog which is the last thing I'd want.

But I don't understand why when an EDO can see that you are visibly unhappy being pestered by their dog, the default response is often not "Rover, come away" but "Oh he's just being friendly"

For me there is an additional issue of my having a balance disorder, lots of dogs jump up in the act of "being friendly" but my balance is such that even a small dog with force could knock me down and then having knocked me down literally be on top of me, so I have a reason to be nervous, and yet my reticence is seen as hostility and being unfriendly, rather than protecting myself. And in the moment in a park, I'm not going to be approaching random EDO's to let them know I have a balance disorder, nor am I going to be wearing a neon sign everywhere.

People are expected to be considerate of dogs

Owners don't think that they need to reciprocate that consideration to all of the public not just people who like dogs.

everyone if frightened people/non dog lovers tried not to behave in that way and opted to 'freeze', stay still, ignore eye contact etc instead because the alternative is potentially dangerous.

Actually, this is EXACTLY what I do, freeze and give a wide berth.

The first 12 words of this comment, I feel contain again of

"Well if these people KNEW HOW TO BEHAVE"

Most of us do, after years of dealing with it.

It is your dog, you are it's owner, the onus is on YOU to make sure it doesn't bother other people, not on other people to make sure they aren't bothered.

The chronic failure of the EDO to recognise/acknowledge this and act accordingly is the crux of the matter.

I certainly would never scream and shriek because I realise that's going to further alarm a dog which is the last thing I'd want
Unfortunately I have seen this reaction more than a few times.
I know the poor people obviously feel petrified and I genuinely do feel sorry for them but please, God, try and stop!

But I don't understand why when an EDO can see that you are visibly unhappy being pestered by their dog, the default response is often not "Rover, come away" but "Oh he's just being friendly"
I don't understand either.
Unless they think by saying he's friendly your magically not going be scared anymore?
I don't know.
I dislike owners like this as much as you do, they give everyone a bad name.

For me there is an additional issue of my having a balance disorder, lots of dogs jump up in the act of "being friendly" but my balance is such that even a small dog with force could knock me down and then having knocked me down literally be on top of me, so I have a reason to be nervous, and yet my reticence is seen as hostility and being unfriendly, rather than protecting myself. And in the moment in a park, I'm not going to be approaching random EDO's to let them know I have a balance disorder, nor am I going to be wearing a neon sign everywhere
No decent considerate owner with a well trained dog would be allowing it to jump up at people in the first place.

Accidents can happen occasionally though, with young dogs still proofing their training or just occasionally for no apparent reason, they are animals after all but you'd hope the owner would be absolutely mortified and beyond apologetic.

People are expected to be considerate of dogs
Absolutely.
They have considerably faster reflexes than you do, sharp teeth and many of them are sufficiently large to severely injure or even kill you should they decide to.
So yes people absolutely should be considerate of dogs.

Owners don't think that they need to reciprocate that consideration to all of the public not just people who like dogs
Some entitled owners.
Not all.
Many of us are very considerate.
Many of us have dogs that we don't allow to approach strangers at all, let alone jump at them and many of us, if we see a person who looks distressed, we will put the dog on a leash, walk the other way etc.

I’m one of the mums who would hate a school dog, mainly because my daughter is terrified of them. Have they found out if anyone is allergic to dogs before deciding they want one?

Gosh, our school has rabbits, dogs, hens and even a pig. The children adore them and it’s fabulous for their learning in many ways. And means we don’t have to have pets at home!

non dog lovers tried not to behave in that way and opted to 'freeze', stay still

I'll be fucked if I'm going to interrupt my run and "freeze" for inconsiderate dog walkers who can't put their mutts on a lead.

My daughter's 6th form has a lovely dog but she often comes home with her eyes red and streaming because she is allergic. It drives me mad.

Labradoodles are not truly hypo-allergic. My son and I suffer badly with asthma if in a doggy environment. We’ve tried both labradoodles and boarder terrier - allergic to both.
I would write to the lea if it were me and block it. Sorry but school is no place for a dog.

I'll be fucked if I'm going to interrupt my run and "freeze" for inconsiderate dog walkers who can't put their mutts on a lead

That's fine, but you may end up getting bitten as a result.

When dogs chase runners they can often nip or bite if they catch up.
It would be far safer for you to stop if a dog starts chasing you.

they should have asked parents their views and be open about the financing.

@bluebluezoo point taken, but in a school like that, a dog is the least of your problems. why do people send their kids to a school like that and complain about the dog????? there are a lot of more imminent thungs to complain about

be comfortable around dogs, an important life skill

It doesn't have to become a life skill if people will accept that dogs are pets and do not have to go everywhere their owners do.

However, the direction of travel points to you being right, which is a pain for those of use who don't want regular (or any) contact with dogs.

Gosh, our school has rabbits, dogs, hens and even a pig All of those are fine, except the dogs.

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

It's not about being scared of them, it's not wanting them jumping up at you, licking you and knocking small kids over. And not wanting that doesn't mean you're not kind to other animals. Some dog owners display the lack of empathy because they just can't grasp that not everyone wants to love their pet. Have a pet, yes. But don't impose it on the rest of the world.