Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The school is getting a school dog

565 replies

Worriedaboutthedoggy · 10/01/2020 23:27

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.

OP posts:
Fleetheart · 15/01/2020 20:54

There are people with all sorts of life- threatening allergies. I know a lady who is life threateningly allergic to bananas. Sounds funny but as you can imagine it is not.
So no one can have a banana in her place of work
But that does not mean bananas should be banned in all places of work.

fascinated · 16/01/2020 08:47

Do bananas bite folk, and need to poo and pee? Do bananas smell, or lick you?

WeshMaGueule · 16/01/2020 11:16

if you would be there (and you aren’t!), the school wouldn’t get a dog

What if a child with a severe allergy wants to attend the school in future? This is rural. In some parts of the country, that means the second nearest school is miles and miles away.

Hedgehogparty · 16/01/2020 11:27

To bring a dog in maybe one afternoon a week to one area only, could be good.
But to have a resident dog given the potential serious allergy risks is not acceptable.

My last unintentional encounter with dog hair (following a colleague bringing her dog in the previous day), left me on steroid treatment for a week and feeling breathless and unwell for longer.
I sought legal advice since she was aware of my condition but basically chose to ignore it.

maddening · 17/01/2020 08:29

There are people with all sorts of life- threatening allergies. I know a lady who is life threateningly allergic to bananas

However bananas do not shed skin and fur, and if a child with allergies joins in future then bananas or whatever food stuff etc can be banned going forward, however a resident dog much less to get rid of and the school would not be littered with its hair and skin.

maddening · 17/01/2020 08:30

Sorry dog more tricky to grt rid of along with the hair and skin

CreekIsRising · 17/01/2020 08:38

Any time I've heard of this it's been a dog that belongs to a staff member who CBA to pay a dog walker and brings their pet into work instead then dresses it up as a positive school policy. It's crap for all reasons previously stated: allergies, hygiene, safety and also quite frankly not everyone likes dogs and it is a reasonable expectation that one wouldn't have to encounter one in a workplace or school. However the GBP pride themselves on being a nation of animal lovers plus more and more people get pets despite the dodgy environmental and social effects and also despite not having a lifestyle that accommodates it, so I guess this witless trend will continue.

MontStMichel · 17/01/2020 10:18

Any time I've heard of this it's been a dog that belongs to a staff member who CBA to pay a dog walker and brings their pet into work instead then dresses it up as a positive school policy.

No, DD’s school had a farm, with a dog, budgies, guinea pigs, donkeys, etc! As I said, being able to take the dog or a donkey for a walk on the 60 acre campus was a big reward to some of the children and young people there (all of whom had SEN).

Nobody had to go to the farm, if they didn’t want to!

Actually, my DD has phobias about jewellery and coins - I could not ask everyone in the school not to wear jewellery, because she can’t bear to look at it! She just had to suck it up! Ditto coins!

Hmmsomething · 05/12/2021 01:16

After receiving a letter (identical letter to the ones all the schools copy about getting school dogs), my child is now enjoying a new school.

Artichokepiglet · 05/12/2021 03:45

I would also be concerned that if a child with an allergy joins in the future and the dog has to go that child might then have trouble making friends as a result.

With all the 'hypoallergenic' dogs available now, more people seem to think dog allergies are made up, or that having an allergy/just not liking dogs are interchangable.

I love dogs but can't be around them because I'm really allergic, even to the hypoallergenic ones. Still, people say things like 'oh, such and such, you'll have to not bring your dog in here - artichoke doesn't like them' and then they look blank when I explain that I DO like them but am allergic, like there's really no difference and I'm just ruining the fun.

The rise of office dogs worries me. Companies often say that when an allergic person is hired they'll get rid of the dog but I don't want to be the person responsible for everyone losing their pet. Also, if I mentioned the allergy at an interview, would that lessen my chances of getting the job compared with a candidate who isn't allergic? If I know somewhere has a dog I obviously won't apply, but is it going to get harder and harder to find places that don't?

SuPerDoPer · 05/12/2021 05:40

Our school has a dog and chickens. In relation to the dog there is a whole written policy about it. Its had specialist training from the dogs Trust and is very well behaved, doesn't freak out. My neice has actually stopped being so scared of dogs since she's had a bit more controlled exposure at school. Previously her only experience was big slobbery ones bounding up to her in parks. Now she's had some gentle exposure with a teacher and the school dog on a lead she's much happier. The kids all adore the dog as far as I can see and although I was skeptical it's been great.

SuPerDoPer · 05/12/2021 05:47

Argh. Zombie thread.

saoirse31 · 05/12/2021 07:19

Years ago my son's creche got a dog, was initially a bit concerned but turned out to be great, and I think taught the kids how to treat dogs etc.

LakieLady · 05/12/2021 08:47

@BackforGood

My school (in the 70s) must have been SO ahead of it's time. Both the HT and one other member of staff used to bring their dogs into school. Smile

I presume if someone were so allergic to dog hair, that would be on their medical records and the wouldn't be able to take part in therapy or caring for the dog. No reason why that opportunity should be denied to all the other dc though.

Same at my school. HT had a poodle and head of geography had a Parson Russell.

Never caused any problems, but it was a secondary, so the kids were older. And it was the late 60s, allergies weren't really an issue, or if they were, they weren't much spoken about.

Hmmsomething · 05/12/2021 10:20

I was fortunate to be able to move my child easily to another local school. The only disadvantage was that we had just bought a load of new uniform and then had to buy all the new school's uniform. I wish they had given us more notice for that reason. Other than that, the move has been simple and my child is loving the new school.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page