AIBU to think school staff should make care provision for their dogs?

[LoveTheirDogs]

Our headteacher and business manager have both got dogs in the last six months. Now they're bringing those dogs into school. They're saying that the dogs are 'school dogs' which seems to mean that they're dogs that mostly hang around in school. They've also scheduled a number of 'enrichment activities' for the kids so that they can 'learn how to interact with different species' ie their dogs. AIBU to think this is taking the piss and they should just make provision for their dogs same as any other working person rather than having the whole school have to go to these (non-accredited) 'courses' that clearly cost a fortune and are only being put on so that BM and HT can tick a box that says everything is ok with them bringing their pets to work?

They have only had the dogs 6months - that is nowhere near long enough to know the term permanent of an adult rescue dog.

That would be my main concern about the whole thing. That they don’t really know the dogs.

*temperament!

@Comedycook

So maybe learn?

All these people with fears around dogs (or whatever) don’t you want to address that?

Not really. I can walk past them in the street without cowering in fear...I will cross the road when I see a devil dog though or one out of control. Dogs can kill and some do. It's like women who are cautious of certain men...do you think they should learn not to be afraid,?

I think that most people would choose to overcome a fear which is disproportionate to the level of threat and interferes with the way they live their life.

Why would it have to be a severe allergy? Should people with mild allergies just put up with it? to refuse a guide dog? Yes if they don’t have a medical certificate to prove it.

In a school a child with a mild allergy doesn’t have to interact with the dog.

In a taxi a driver with a mild allergy can gain an exemption certificate or carry the Guide dog, or have his licence revoked if he refuses.

No one thinks a dog needs to have a psychology degree.

Fact is a rescue from another country is more than likely to have trauma. A dog can be beautifully placid but still have unpredictable reactions. Fil has a wonderful rescue greyhound. Very meek. Obedient. He's done a good job on her. However, she was mistreated. It's on her file. He knows a dog ultimately is a wolf and doesn't let her go around young children unless he's carefully controlling the situation.

And to anyone saying that therapy dogs don't need much training, well that's rather concerning. Everyone thinks their own dog is flawless, but many, many people are attacked by dogs each year. Dogs are animals and I would expect an animal used around children to have adequate training. The RSPCA don't even let a lot of dogs go to households with children in them, as they understand that however nice a dog is it is not a person. It is an animal with animal instincts.

And all that aside, no one has managed to explain why two dogs were needed, who just so happen to belong to the senior staff. It's abusing their position of power for their own gain. Did they offer the opportunity for all staff dogs to have this training? No of course not. How convenient the person with the power owns the perfect dog. What an amazing coincidence.

Ultimately a school is a place of learning and that's why we don't have random dogs, cats and budgies around the place. Usually, in a school all decisions are well planned with steps taken to make sure that learning is paramount.

The school is a workplace. Most workplaces do not have pets because they are distracting and can upset others. Any animal in a school needs proper provision and planning behind it. I've seen no evidence that this has happened in this case.

Will something happen? Probably not. But if it does I guarantee a child or another member of staff will have the blame pinned on them if it does

Our HT brings his dog in at set times for specific pupils. The dog is always supervised and it is simply a nice thing. No child who doesn't wish to is forced to have any contact with the dog at all.

OMG a DOG in a SCHOOL!!?

Therapy dogs have to be family dogs though, they don’t just get put away in the cupboard at the end of the day. damn, and here was me thinking I could hang my dogs up with their leads at the end of the day and they wouldn’t bark to go out, or bark at the front door, or bring me their toys to play with or go running in the park.

In all seriousness though, my now retired dog is currently lying at my feet, while my working dog is lying on his bed and wags his tail every time I walk towards him. He is currently sulking because I’m self isolating so haven’t been able to take him out, but yesterday he went for a lovely long free run to the park.

He barked at the front door when the deliveroo driver delivered some groceries (as I said, I’m having to self isolate ATM) and the driver couldn’t get away fast enough even though dog was behind the lounge door.

And I have absolutely no issue with a guide dog who barks at the front door when I’m often in the house on my own at night. Just before someone says that a guide dog shouldn’t be barking, like the person in the chemist who complained that the dog was wagging his tail because “surely they’re not supposed to do that?

set times for specific pupils

Different dog. Different scenario. For a start is his dog a rescue which he has only had for six months??
He is also presumably taking it in for those set times so isn't taking the mick out of other staff who would like their pets at school but can't because it's not allowed.

I

Qualified dog trainer here. Unless the dog is registered therapy dog, I can’t imagine them being insured. It’s not something id be happy with without seeing relevant documentation. Unfair on owners, kids and most of all the dogs.

@damnthisvirusandmarriage

Qualified dog trainer here. Unless the dog is registered therapy dog, I can’t imagine them being insured. It’s not something id be happy with without seeing relevant documentation. Unfair on owners, kids and most of all the dogs.

Indeed.

This would've been awful when DD was younger, she used to be terrified of dogs! I'd have struggled to get her in to school. It's fairly common for children to be wary of dogs so seems very unfair.

@Comedycook

So maybe learn?

All these people with fears around dogs (or whatever) don’t you want to address that?

Not really. I can walk past them in the street without cowering in fear...I will cross the road when I see a devil dog though or one out of control. Dogs can kill and some do. It's like women who are cautious of certain men...do you think they should learn not to be afraid,?

What in blazes is 'a devil dog'?

I don't think there are any schools where men aren't employed/allowed to apply/are banned because a member of staff is uncomfortable around males, so your analogy falls over quite quickly there, as they would have to at least learn to act appropriately if they wished to remain in employment.

However, I am the Animal Person at work - I'm apparently responsible for rescuing people from marauding spiders, beetles, moths, bees and wasps, partially concussed birds, squirrels, badgers, foxes and visiting cats. And it's been very useful for the kids to see somebody just stroll up with appropriate equipment (plastic cup and a piece of card, plastic box with lid and some gloves, etc) and just deal with the visitors without shrieking, shaking, crying or suchlike - plenty have peered at the prisoners and some have been really happy to watch the ensuing release. So the idea of school dogs, who are being trained (like PAT dogs are, they have to be a certain age before commencing training) isn't that much of a leap for me.

I think that's lovely! My kids would love it. One of my sons' schools have a Labrador school dog, and I know they would LOVE two! 😍

Our school dog costs a fortune in specific school related training and has done since day one. She gets assessed etc and has all the proper insurance.
If they’re not doing it properly then they are def BU.

OMG a DOG in a SCHOOL!!?
I know, right?? My son's school has one. We were soo excited when we found out. The boys all love her so much 😍

Yay, dogs, I love puppies and kittens...sooooo cute.

Grow up

@Comedycook
Children need to be educated. Dogs don't need to be in schools.
Hth

Helps what?

@Comedycook

Yay, dogs, I love puppies and kittens...sooooo cute.

Grow up

Haha that's rich 😅

@LoveTheirDogs. Is the dog really the issue? It sounds like you just don't like the head and so are going to criticise everything they do. I mean you don't like...
Pets
Foreign pets(!?)
The school vibes
The HT
The BM
Small towns
Middle classes

I think you have a few issues going on here. 🤔

@Lockheart

For those saying "what about those with fears / allergies / asthma?" and "there's no such thing as a child friendly dog" - you'd have to deal with it somehow if a child or teacher had an assistance dog just as much as if it's a regular pet. Guide dogs aren't robots, nor are they hypoallergenic.

If you can handle a guide dog in school, you can handle a non-working one. Adjustments would have to be made.

I can’t speak for everyone with a dog phobia but I’m actually fine with guide dogs and real assistance animals (not just any old dog in a vest). They are trained to a high degree and are normally so focused on task that they leave me be. There is a world of difference between this and the head teacher deciding to take in her dog.

@LoveTheirDogs

I don't like or dislike the business manager but it's blatantly a made up job for someone who is pally with the head. There's a few of those on the non teaching staff team including the mate who he now shares a flat with having been kicked out of his family home after his wife found out he was shagging another teacher.

It’s not remotely a made up job. I’ve worked in 20+ schools over the years and the vast majority have Business Mangers. Only a few very very small schools didnt.

[quote madisonbridges]@LoveTheirDogs. Is the dog really the issue? It sounds like you just don't like the head and so are going to criticise everything they do. I mean you don't like...
Pets
Foreign pets(!?)
The school vibes
The HT
The BM
Small towns
Middle classes

I think you have a few issues going on here. 🤔[/quote]
This.

OP, I suggest you write to the HT saying exactly what you've said here. About everything.

[quote madisonbridges]@LoveTheirDogs. Is the dog really the issue? It sounds like you just don't like the head and so are going to criticise everything they do. I mean you don't like...
Pets
Foreign pets(!?)
The school vibes
The HT
The BM
Small towns
Middle classes

I think you have a few issues going on here. 🤔[/quote]
You missed off Brits. Don't forget the Brits and their attitude to animals. She really hates that.

@LoveTheirDogs please check that their risk assessments includes the dog from Romania having been tested for Brucella Canis this disease is endemic in Romanian dogs and is a zoonosis in humans it is a life altering disease in particular it can cause infertility. They should also consider tongue worm and eye worm both zoonoses and endemic in Romanian dogs.
I am very pro-dogs in schools my autistic nephew would find school unbearable without the school dogs. But there are very, very specific risks with Romanian dogs that some of the charities gloss over.