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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:
Plumbus · 11/01/2020 06:43

Given the risks associated and the generally very risk adverse culture we live in (schools especially), I'm surprised at this.

flouncyfanny · 11/01/2020 06:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FuriousFlannels · 11/01/2020 06:44

Lots of benefits for the kids. Much less for the dog.

Many dogs don't make the cut when being trained as a service dog - even when being trained as part of a structured programme by experts - because it's not a life that most dogs would naturally enjoy. It takes a specific type of dog.

I would wonder who and how they are going to assess the dog's comfort and what the contingency is if this dog does not like being petted by a hundred kids every day.

bettybattenburg · 11/01/2020 06:45

If children are scared of dogs, it’s because parents have pushed their fears on them. It’s pathetic

What rubbish. My dd was scared of dogs after a huge dog, not sure what it was, like a young Great Dane, ran up to her in the park when she was three and took the stick off her that she was carrying. It must have seemed elephant sized to her.

SonEtLumiere · 11/01/2020 06:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Scarsthelot · 11/01/2020 06:48

Chances are the dog wont be a small puppy. It wi have been a pet trained for this type of work.

Comparing what its like when you bring a new puppy home to a dog trained for a particular role is ridiculous.

I have 2 dockers. One 9 weeks (rescue puppy) one is 3.5 years old. Was gun dog trained and then trained to support my son. Both are completely different. I would never take the puppy into a school. For the dogs sake and the children's sake. The older one, I would given the right circumstances.

As I speak the older one is laid next to me. The younger one running up and down wrestling her toys.

Surely no one, in their right mind would put a small, untrained pup into a school.

Scarsthelot · 11/01/2020 06:48

Dockers? Cockers

PhilCornwall1 · 11/01/2020 06:51

If children are scared of dogs, it’s because parents have pushed their fears on them.

That's rubbish. I was scared of dogs from a very young age and my parents never pushed any fears on to me, in fact my parents as children grew up around dogs, so your assertion is complete rubbish.

There is very much a "love me, love my dog" culture and it's annoying. As I've said, personally I hate the things and just don't want them and don't have them anywhere near me.

JolieOBrien · 11/01/2020 06:53

My daughter used to have a class hamster and I used to dread the school holidays just incase we had to look after it. We had a couple of cats and it would have been a nightmare trying to keep it safe. I don't think schools should have any kind of pets unless they are fish in a tank.

Scarsthelot · 11/01/2020 06:53

I do agree that some dog owners are over the top.

If you come into my home, I expect you to respect it's also my dogs home. I dont expect people to love my dog, or put up with them outside my home.

However, this dog is not going to be like your average dog living in a home.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 11/01/2020 06:55

Our local high school has 2 "school" dogs, each belongs to a member of staff who has brought them in to see if the initiative helps.
It helps kids who are upset, anxious, have stuff going on at home that they can't talk about but it affects them at school etc. etc.
The costs of the dogs are borne by the teachers who own them (one is the Principal).

I don't much like dogs and would not find it beneficial to have one around, but I can see that it does help many of the kids in the school. Doesn't mean I would advocate for one to be brought into the primary school where DS2 goes - he really can't cope with dogs (and yes, he's been "gently introduced" several times to friends' dogs, but something always goes wrong for inexplicable reasons! I think he'll be better when he's bigger - as a small 7yo though, a lot of dogs are still intimidatingly large to him.

A lot would depend on how the dog is deployed in the school - but the ones at the local high school don't seem to cause any bother.

sashh · 11/01/2020 06:55

Labradoodles are not a breed, therefore and breeder of them is not 'reputable'.

Someone I know recently paid about £400 for what is essentially a mongrel. She intends to 'breed' the dog.

He's a really lovely thing and is well behaved but I still think she was ripped off.

PhilCornwall1 · 11/01/2020 06:56

I used to dread the school holidays just incase we had to look after it

Surely that would have been easily solved by just saying "we aren't looking after it". Problem solved.

JolieOBrien · 11/01/2020 06:56

@Scarsthelot

I agree some people do expect you to love their dogs because they do. A friend of mine has a boisterous spaniel who runs all over the place causing havoc. It once ate my shoes when I left them him her hall and she seemed shocked when I got angry about it.

JolieOBrien · 11/01/2020 06:58

@PhilCornwall1

What ... my daughter would have been so upset if I had said that. Luckily she was never chosen to look after the little rat Wink

JolieOBrien · 11/01/2020 07:01

That is typing too fast I mean to type when I left my shoes in her hall lol

PhilCornwall1 · 11/01/2020 07:01

Luckily she was never chosen to look after the little rat 

That made me laugh, a little coffee just came out my nose! Confused

yearinyearout · 11/01/2020 07:04

Are you sure it's being financed by the school? I know several schools that have a dog, but they actually belong to a staff member and are just called the "school dog" so they can bring them in to work!
I don't have any problem with a dog being around school, if well trained they can be a calming influence (and that's a big IF...are they getting a small puppy and expecting staff member to train it, or is it a trained buddy/assistance dog?)
One important point though, is that labradoodles are not hypoallergenic...so if anyone in the school does have an allergy could cause issues.

Bluewater1 · 11/01/2020 07:11

The school I worked at had a small dog, it was owned by a staff member and it was based in the pastoral care base. The school was a special school and we saw a huge change in children's responses, calmed right down very quickly. A new student with an allergy to dogs joined and obviously the school stopped bringing in the dog before he started because the children come first.

olivehater · 11/01/2020 07:12

I would also say there is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic god so what are they going to do if some of the children are affected by it.
Also my daughter has a fear of dogs. My sons don’t so how does the poster above explain that. Maybe it’s because of instances with inconsiderate dog owners?!? Again not everyone likes dogs and dog lovers don’t have to understand this. They just have to be respectful of people that don’t.

recrudescence · 11/01/2020 07:12

One important point though, is that labradoodles are not hypoallergenic

In fact there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog at all. Some people who are allergic to dogs find they are not allergic to poodles. There is no guarantee in a labrador/poodle cross that the offspring will have the poodle-type hair.

PhilCornwall1 · 11/01/2020 07:14

I would also say there is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic god

You'll go straight to hell for saying this!! GrinGrin

dottiedodah · 11/01/2020 07:15

I know a friend who works in a school for children with Special Needs and she takes her dogs along with her .The children love them .I can only see a positive outcome here really ,having had dogs for about 25 years .They communicate on a different level, and have empathy in spades .They dont care if you are PM, or a little girl who struggles with her reading .They love everyone equally and never judge ,as someone said they are just like humans but with all the bad bits taken out!

StoneColdSaidSo · 11/01/2020 07:16

Our school has a dog. It’s the headmasters dog, a trained therapy dog and works with the senco kids. The dog is also available to any child who feels a bit down and the kids are rewarded with talking him for a walk around lunchtime if they’ve been good. The kids all love him and my dc are always happy to see him as we have 3 dogs and they love animals! He’s always pottering around the school and reception area, comes to the school fete, school event etc. I think they’re great for school but need to be properly trained

Peppapeppapeppapeppa · 11/01/2020 07:16

Neither of my children like dogs (I do like dogs and had one growing up). My daughter in particular was born just disliking dogs... She first saw one up close aged about 6 months and clung to me in fear even though I was stroking it gently etc. She has never stopped being afraid of them. It's her nature. I would therefore not be happy if the school was to get a school dog!

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