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.

Whoops posted too soon.

I always choose quieter paths for runnin and walking and always call him back and either put him on lead or hold his collar until we have reached any other walkers/runners.

If they indicate they are happy to meet him or for him to be off lead - I let him go so he can greet the other person.

I do expect that n oncoming runner will slow down a little when they see I am putting my son on the lead for their benefit.

It's just about common decency on both parts.

We don’t have time/space for a dog much as my kids think they want one. I’m delighted my kids’ school has a school dog. My kid has enjoyed walking the school dog. Dog has a small kennel and house at school and isn’t in every day so it gets a break. Dog has been there since a puppy and has had lots of training. Dog listens to kids read sometimes. It’s great. Happy dog. Nice exposure for the kids like mine who can’t have pets.

I can only speak from my own experience. Judge yourself at the end.
My granddaughter used to go to a school based on a RAF site. 98% children were forces children, many on their 3rd school by Y2, and some struggling emotionally as they had a parent in Afghanistan. The school population was constantly changing, in any one term, up to half the class would have moved on or moved in to the school, so a lack of continuity was very real.
The school had a school dog, a labrapoodle, he had a safe area in the head's office, but during lesson time moved around the school. The children, could talk to the dog, stroke the dog, they found him relaxing, even children who didn't like dogs liked him. Because he was a puppy when he went to the school, this was normal.
The children gained so much from the dog. They learnt to be calm, they learnt to look after the dog, which helped them to look after themselves. They had an opportunity to talk to a calm listener, it was lovely to watch. The dog didn't go into the play ground at play time but the duty class would take him out.
I don't mind admitting that I was unconvinced when I first heard about this school dog, but within a short period my mind was changed. I saw nothing negative about the dog, he was a really positive inclusion to the school, and always seemed to be well balanced and happy.

I think what you are describing is one staff member arranging to bring her/his dog to work every day, and, in return for being able to do so, allowing the children to play with it. I would say that sounds like it might be nice for an SEN or mental health unit, if the school has one. And if it's a calm and reliable dog. But I don't see how one dog is going to do much for hundreds of children.

I think the positive out weighs the negative .

I also think it makes a difference where you are. Rural or smaller towns are less diverse and kids are more likely to have grown up around animals, dogs, horses or on a farm. So a school dog more likely to be accepted.

Inner city london- bit different. Parents more likely to both be working, or from a culture where pets aren’t the norm. Introducing a dog into that environment will be more problematic.

Dogs becoming more commonplace within schools is one of the reasons we can't find a suitable special school for DS1 who is allergic to them.

My sons school let’s the teachers take their dogs into the classes with them. It’s like crufts some days. There’s always dogs everywhere. Parents take their dogs into the assemblies too.

My son said one teacher pointed to the board and the teachers dog woke up, thought he had thrown a ball and jumped out the window.

Sounds quite fun really ( unless your scared / allergic to dogs)

I can’t believe what I am reading. Children are turned away from schools, their education compromised, because of a dog.

That is a disgrace.

My sons primary school have a dog and I know someone who takes their dog to school, both are trained as therapy dogs and both are cockapoo's. There are strict rules in place in that students must not call the dog or "bother" the dog during lessons. Students each get an opportunity to walk the dog (with a designated teacher, one of which is the owner) as a kind of reward. It doesn't impact on their education and is lovely addition to the classroom. I believe most dogs at schools are trained therapy dogs and not simply someones pet. Cockapoo/labradoodles are used as they are hypoallergenic and very calm

Sounds fabulous, and I say this as someone who was scared of dogs until exposed to them.
Personally, not fearing dogs and knowing how to behave around them and read their body language has been far more useful as a life skill to me than being able to swim. Yet all primaries teach swimming, I think.

Secondary school near us ‘has’ a school cat. Cat rules the roost (not appropriate simile) and all students (both SEN and ordinary) fond of cat. Classroom behaviour very noticeably better if cat is present in class.....he just pads at class door and most teachers let him in. But no family/organisation ‘owns’ a cat....cat adopted the school. Hubby helps at a Saturday Autistic club held at the youth centre and cat can help even the most out-of-control Autistic meltdown. And if cat gets stressed he just melts away.

I knew this would degenerate into the usual dog lovers v dog haters discussion! No such thing as tolerance on MN is there?

My working Flat coated retrievers are well trained - they have to be. My husband shoots. Go on now, let’s hear the screams of horror that people who live in the countryside go shooting!

The dogs don’t chase people, don’t jump up at people and if I stop to chat with someone then my dogs sit quietly at my feet until they’re told to move.

I’ve had children rush up to the dogs and ‘pat’ - for patting read whack them on their heads while their parents tell me, ‘little Fred loves dogs.’ Mine are very patient but the next dog little Fred whacks might just bite the little darling and who gets blamed? The poor bloody dog!

I have total respect for people who either don’t like dogs or are frightened of them and keep my dogs well away from them. Yes, there are irresponsible dog owners, but there are also irresponsible parents, irresponsible cyclists who go out of their way to try and mow down the dogs and arrogant runners who think actually calling to let me know they are coming up behind me is beneath them. These idiots make me jump and then grumble if one of the dogs is in their way. If I don’t hear you coming how on Earth do you think I can alert my dogs to move?

This argument will go on and on and get increasingly ridiculous and nasty.

When somebody is trapped under rubble after an earthquake or other disaster and the search and rescue dogs go in, I wonder if they shout ‘get that filthy animal away from me. I’m scared of dogs.’ Just saying.....

All those that are saying they or their children would refuse to go to school how would this work if a member of staff has a service dog (which we have most my school for a VI teacher)?

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
@frostedviolets - but shouldn't dogs likely to bite be kept on a lead? I was bit by a dog as a child - I had no idea it was chasing me til it bit me. My ASD DS was also scared of unknown dogs due to a dog running up to him and aggressively barking. His first response to dogs after that was to move away. You seem to suggesting that it would be his fault if a dog bit him - not the irresponsible dog owner who made him scared in the first place or the irresponsible dog owner letting their dog chase and bite children.

And I love dogs and our lovely therapy dog at hospital. But I don't love dogs being aggressive and biting children.

Madness! As an ex-head I would say hands are full looking after the children. The expense is unjustifiable as mentioned previously. So many families have pets of their own nowadays, caring for an animal is not something which needs to be taught at school.

Sprucetree your are mental sorry but you are just nuts my stomach still aches from laughing. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

@Theoldwrinkley - we have a 'hospital cat' in a similar vein - it adopted the hospital itself. The cat doesn't go in the hospital but hangs around outside and let's patients stroke it.

TheLetterZ, DS1 wouldn't be able to attend. He is severely allergic to dogs, even 'hypoallergenic' ones, to the point it has landed him in hospital.

but shouldn't dogs likely to bite be kept on a lead?

Of course.
Dogs that bite should be leashed.
Dogs that chase people should be leashed.
But there are a lot of owners out there who don't.
Stopping when running and a dog chases you helps keep you safe.

Some of the more highly highly prey driven breeds, the herding ones especially can get really overexcited by runners and start nipping, or even biting if they catch up.
It's not always 'aggressive' per se but it's scary and will still hurt.

You seem to suggesting that it would be his fault if a dog bit him - not the irresponsible dog owner who made him scared in the first place or the irresponsible dog owner letting their dog chase and bite children

Missed this.
No, not suggesting that at all.
The blame lies with the owner.
The dog shouldn't be loose if it's known to chase people, act aggressively etc.
I was just making the point that running if a dog chases you is likely to make things worse, not better.

Addenbrookes hospital has therapy dogs who hang around visitors areas. Beautiful patient dogs and you can see people destressing as they see them.

Labradoodles are (usually) not exactly calm!

Not a wide choice of bed for a school. It takes quite a while to train a labradoodle puppy not to jump up at people.

• of dog, not of bed!