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.

I turned down an otherwise lovely preschool for this very reason.

I am highly allergic to "hypo-allergenic" dogs and NOT to other types of dogs. Even the dog's hair on my child's clothing would have me wheezing and watery eyed when they came home from school. I take a Claritin whenever I go someplace that's likely to have a dog of this type, but I would think it was unreasonable to have to do that every day. Or worse, what if I were still a child and at that school with my allergies. I used to volunteer at the local school, but had to stop because the head of the volunteers had a support dog that I was allergic to and it was too problematic having to deal with it whenever I was there.

AND I agree with the above posters who asked why they are not getting a rescue.

you shouldnt have a dog because its bad for the planet.oh god god.seriously soon we are going to have to suck all the bloody joys of life away to eat this clean,plant based,non carbon emitting planet.we will be sitting in the dark,not aloud tv or radio or paper(the trees)not being able to eat anything but weeds from th garden.entertaining ourselves by playing with the insect and worms on our lawn.making blanket out of grass and pillows from logs.

My daughter has taught in schools with dogs. They are massively positive.

Readers lacking in confidence queue up to read to the dog ( they know they can read better than the dog, right?)

Kids who are struggling calm down when they are with the dog.

Time with the dog is a great reward for good behaviour.

The children learn how to deal with and be comfortable around dogs, an important life skill.

Staff also enjoy time out with the dog.

I’d have loved to work in an organisation with a dog.

Our school has a school dog; the dog belongs to the Head. I haven't noticed any negative impact on the school community.

Our primary school has s school dog (he belongs to the head mistress but has had training etc). he is awesome, teaching children to not be afraid of dogs (but not treating them as dolls), helps a lot of the SENDs kids (many of them prefer reading to the dog and are much more confident in doing do) etc.

My dc has a phobia of dogs and is a school refuser. Would be a terrible thing to have for him and would make my job of getting him to school all the worse.

I think it's a great idea.

The school needs to consider that not all children "love" dogs, some will not be happy around it at all.

The same could be said for staff too. Personally I hate dogs being around me and will go as far away from them as possible.

Not everyone likes or wants to be around them.

Yes you are being g unreasonable and a killjoy

I would have loved it when I were little. Sounds fun, and I can see all the benefits. I would be so excited if mr DC brought that letter home.

in our DCs' primary school the head teacher had a dog - not a specially trained hypoallergenic dog but a probably-mostly-terrier-and-spaniel mutt, who was brought into work because the head teacher could do what she liked and it was better than being kept home all day.

when that head teacher left, the school really felt the loss. the dog hadn't had an official role but children had loved many aspects of its presence (eg privileges of walking, petting or playing with the dog were much- coveted rewards for good behaviour)

not long after the departure of the head and her dog, the SENCO acquired a dog with the intention of it providing the same opportunities and it is working out brilliantly as far as I know. obviously important for the breed, the individual personality of the dog, and the training to suitable for the busy school environment and it would be possible for an arrangement like this to go wrong, so I am doubtful and cautious about the idea of the school fundraising for the animal and being responsible for its upkeep as if the animal turns out not to be personally suitable it could end up being put up for rehoming so it can be replaced and that's no way to treat an intelligent animal.

aside from that concern I think it's brilliant for any school to have animals of various sizes and species (the school also has ducks) for learning opportunities of many kinds.

I used to run revision sessions over the spring half term and Easter, and I used to bring my friendly, placid spaniel in with me. He was a big draw, got lots of petting and cuddles and when not being petted dozed on the sixth form common room sofa (which in the way of such things, was in a terrible state anyway). Then I was told not to as he was a health hazard. The kids missed him.

The Primary School my DDs used to go to had a "School Dog" (another labradoodle!) It was close to an Army base, so there were loads of Military families living nearby and most of the children from those families attended the school.

The dog was mainly 'used' as a comfort and 'tool' to encourage communication from the children. Often, they were more comfortable telling their worries to the dog whilst a Teacher was present, than speaking directly to the Teacher. The dog was mainly there for the benefit of children whose parent(s) had been deployed, or when a child's Military parent was injured and when new families arrived (often mid-term) and when children left the school due to their family being posted elsewhere - children in Military families move, and therefore change schools on average every 2-3 years.

If my DD's current (animal-free!) schools were to table the idea of getting a dog, I wouldn't be hugely keen. I agree with some PPs that schools are massively underfunded and dog food and Veterinary expenses seem an extravagance when parents are being asked to 'fill a Smarties tube with 20p pieces to help fund replacement PE equipment/replacement bookshelves for the Library/to replace lead roofing which has been stolen' etc. and Teachers are paying for glue sticks and pencils with their own money.

There are also the children who have a fear of dogs to consider. It feels unfair to bring someone's worst fear into an environment where they should - and have previously - always felt safe. Their fear is likely to adversely affect their learning and they will constantly feel some level of anxiety and will find themselves always in a state of 'high alert', which aside from anything else, is exhausting.

There's also the welfare of the dog to consider. As PPs have mentioned, it seems unfair to put a dog in a school environment with (potentially) hundreds of small people crowding round it on a regular basis, being touched and stroked by unfamiliar children everywhere it goes and there are always going to be the odd 1 or 2 children who think poking it's eyes and pulling it's tail are 'sport'.

I'm probably a bit biased, as I'm just not a fan of dogs (I don't like cats either to be fair - I'm just not a 'pet person', I feel I made a huge compromise when we bought our daughters each some Goldfish! )

Do you have any idea on the impact of therapy dogs on sen children? They’re invaluable. If children are scared of dogs, it’s because parents have pushed their fears on them. It’s pathetic. The therapy dog at DS’s school has done wonders for the children.

As I get older, I get more and more despairing of he human race. What a load of killjoy, non - issues people.can seem to find about anything

They have a dog at DSs secondary school and because he has SEN, I see a bit of it when we go for meetigns as the SEN room is where it spends most of its indoor time. It seems happy and is very very calm . It, is walked during the day on a rota by the sen staff ( though it is owned by one in particular). DS has no particur interest in it but is happy to have it aeound. As a child who was once terrified of dogs that is massive progress for him.

There was definitely the option to ask that your child.had no contact with the dog when it was first brought to the school so I imagine there are processes in place to make sure.this happens. I definitely do not agree with the OPs view at all and think the dog is a brilliant idea. It really is not.that new anyway, we had school, pets when I was at school ( in the 70s and 80s!!) and I imagine we had many fewer risk assessments. in place in those days

It will trained to be a service dog. So the points about it getting stressed etc arent valid. Its not going to brown in the school yard or in a full classroom.

If you have concerns about how other children with allergies or fears will cope, speak to the school. I am sure you will find there is a plan. My employer used to have therapy dogs brought in. They managed without people kicking off (and many people there would kick off about anything) do it must be doable.

I feel the same as @isittheholidaysyet

I also don’t think it’s fair on the poor dog

It's not ideal to grow up with a fear of dogs. Our youngest was petrified of dogs until we got our puppy. Now he couldn't love dogs more.

agree with other PPs that it's good to overcome a child's fear of dogs.

I do feel sorry for the dog though - aside from boistrous behaviour, don't children in school get lots of nits and headlice? Will the poor dog pick them up too?

A local primary school has chickens and goats - the children I've met have generally been better behaved around animals than others.

sprucetree I think in relation to most people’s carbon footprint my dog ownership is the least of the problem.

At this rate the advice should be we all commit suicide to save the planet as that is surely where this hysterical advice is going? And I say that as someone who now rarely flies

DS1’s high school has a dog. She belongs to the social worker and stays in her office unless she’s needed somewhere. The dog doesn’t wander around the school, nor is ever overwhelmed with large groups of kids having unrestricted access to her. It’s the same as with dogs in care homes, service, rescue etc. They’re trained and supervised.

There are only positives, afaik, the children love having her around.

I wouldn’t be happy. My daughter has a fear of dogs. The fear came about when someone r Ed fused to put away their snappy little dogs that they thought were lovely.
If it’s a puppy they are getting it’s especially stupid as they have no idea why temperament it will have. Even if it’s a nice breed, dogs are individuals.
I would write a letter of complaint/concern to the governors. It’s obviously a dog loving teacher trying to impose their love of dogs on everyone else. Not everyone likes dogs.

My primary school head used to bring in his basset hound called Charlotte. We loved her in the 70s.

*refused