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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

530 replies

LoveTheirDogs · 07/10/2021 12:02

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?

OP posts:
Cactus1982 · 07/10/2021 13:35

When someone says that they ‘hate dogs’ its usually a massive red flag with regards to their character in my experience (I feel the same about people who say they ‘hate children’ as well)….

I really don’t see the problem? My DM worked in old people’s homes for years and it was very common for the home to have it’s own dog or cat or sometimes even both. I work in a school and most of the kids (and indeed the staff!) would absolutely love this. Schools are using therapy dogs more and more, some have even brought them in for children to practice their reading to them! If you were to complain you would be ‘that parents’ and everyone would that you were a massive PITA so please don’t say anything.

AlternativePerspective · 07/10/2021 13:36

I'm surprised you bought it into a children's playground, round here the signs say no dogs allowed , sometimes see them tied to a fence outside. it’s a guide dog. “No dogs” doesn’t apply to it.

Tal45 · 07/10/2021 13:36

I would have loved that when I was at school.

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 13:38

someone says that they ‘hate dogs’ its usually a massive red flag with regards to their character in my experience

I dislike dogs not because I'm a psychopath but because I am petrified of anything which is unpredictable. I understand human beings...I can guess how they will respond to certain situations. I have no idea how dogs will respond so I'm permanently on edge around them

madisonbridges · 07/10/2021 13:38

@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?
@LoveTheirDogs 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...the whole school have to go to these (non-accredited) 'courses' that clearly cost a fortune

How can these courses cost a fortune when students are just interacting with the HT's dog? I don't see why it's all a big deal. I'd have loved a lesson where I got to deal with different animals.

SirChenjins · 07/10/2021 13:38

I don't think the dog needs to be aggressive to be one you want to keep away from - a bouncy dog who jumps up at everything and everyone and who is "just being friendly" can invoke fear or anxiety just as easily. I think we forget just how big some dogs are in comparison to children.

ineedsun · 07/10/2021 13:39

I'm surprised you bought it into a children's playground, round here the signs say no dogs allowed , sometimes see them tied to a fence outside

Are you suggesting that a PP should leave her guide dog outside the school and navigate around it without it?

Seriously?

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 13:39

If you were to complain you would be ‘that parents’ and everyone would that you were a massive PITA so please don’t say anything

Please do say something. If your DC will be impacted by something, you are within your rights to ask about health and safety and what measures have been put in place to mitigate any risks.

ineedsun · 07/10/2021 13:39

*apologies playground

Stellaris22 · 07/10/2021 13:40

Would be interesting to hear if these dogs are being forced on children/parents at the gates every morning.

More likely they are kept away and children can meet the dogs if they choose to.

Like I say, developing and learning boundaries around animals is very important for children. Learning not to stroke dogs you don't know and how to treat animals in general is brilliant.

Even educating how to interact with service dogs would be useful.

ineedsun · 07/10/2021 13:43

@Comedycook

someone says that they ‘hate dogs’ its usually a massive red flag with regards to their character in my experience

I dislike dogs not because I'm a psychopath but because I am petrified of anything which is unpredictable. I understand human beings...I can guess how they will respond to certain situations. I have no idea how dogs will respond so I'm permanently on edge around them

So maybe learn?

All these people with fears around dogs (or whatever) don’t you want to address that? Are you happy to pass this onto your kids?

I had a full on spider phobia and overcame it rather than pass it on. Now I know that everyone is different but I don’t understand why anyone would not seek to make changes for their kids benefit

Powertoyou · 07/10/2021 13:43

I wonder if a teaching assistant would be allowed to bring in their dog?

AlternativePerspective · 07/10/2021 13:45

Even educating how to interact with service dogs would be useful. it’s actually incredible how often an adult goes to stroke my dog and their children say “no, you’re not supposed to stroke that dog it’s working.”

Of all the people who need lessons in how not to:

Grab the dog’s lead in order to drag me across roads,

Offer the dog a biscuit/panini/I have a friend where a restaurant offered his dog a whole sea bass 😂
Not to stroke the dog A, while it’s working i.e. walking down the street, or B, while it’s stopped but without asking the owner first

Adults are the ones who need educating the most.

MaggieMagpie357 · 07/10/2021 13:45

Our DD's school sent a letter last year about getting a "therapy" dog for school. What a load of bollocks. It's the Head's dog and is four months old, so still a puppy and in no way trained for any kind of therapy!! They also let it poop on the field. I objected via the letter/form we were given but never received and feedback or reassurance as to how this would be beneficial for the kids. Frankly it makes me bloody cross!!

LaetitiaASD · 07/10/2021 13:45

@MadamMedea

I couldn’t care less, provided the dogs are trained and appropriately supervised, and assuming children with allergies aren’t exposed to them.
£10 says that they aren't properly trained or appropriately supervised, and that children with allergies are exposed to them.

I note that you say nothing about kids who dislike dogs, or hate dogs, or indeed are traumatised by their previous interactions with dogs.

Blurp · 07/10/2021 13:46

"School dogs" are great, but they're also well trained, with good temperaments, closely supervised, and of a breed that is unlikely to cause allergies.

If they're used for any kind of "exposure therapy" (ie to overcome a fear of dogs) it's handled very carefully. It's not a random "stick the child beside the dog and let them see how nice it is".

This doesn't sound like that at all. I'd be very wary of dogs being in school where there are likely to be all kinds of random noises, kids pushing and shoving etc.

Comedycook · 07/10/2021 13:47

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,?

Vispa · 07/10/2021 13:47

We are in the process of getting therapy dog for our child, it's an extremely in depth application process and the dog is carefully bred and trained over a long period by specialists. It is carefully matched to the family circumstances and then carefully monitored. There's no way the school staff can know the history of the Romanian dogs and there's always a risk that something could trigger fear/aggression. We have always had rescue dogs, and a previously gentle dog got fright one day and suddenly bit me out the blue. I love dogs but I wouldn't be happy with this.

BelleOfTheProvince · 07/10/2021 13:47

@Powertoyou

I wonder if a teaching assistant would be allowed to bring in their dog?
Yes I would be interested to know the answer to this as well.
cricketmum84 · 07/10/2021 13:47

@LoveTheirDogs

Thanks everyone. I will ask to see the risk assessment - cheers. I guess they'll have it covered by these 'be kind to foreign species' or whatever the fuck activities they've got running, but I will ask anyway.
You sound ever so slightly mean. Why are you allowing this to wind you up so much?
Igloo71 · 07/10/2021 13:49

I love dogs. I love my dog. I would have loved this as a child, as would my own kids.

But a rescued adult dog does not sound appropriate in this situation at all. Trying to pass them off as trained "official" therapy dogs under the guise of "the school dog" is reprehensible CF behaviour. Some people just try to blag every situation to meet their own ends and this sounds like one of those situations.

TheHumanSatsuma · 07/10/2021 13:49

We had one, I really dislike dogs and this one kept crapping on the classroom carpets

Stellaris22 · 07/10/2021 13:50

We live somewhere where guide dogs are trained to exposure, traffic etc. I often see children try and pet because they don't recognise it's a guide dog being trained.

So yes, teaching children about dogs, especially service dogs, is very important.

SirChenjins · 07/10/2021 13:50

@Powertoyou

I wonder if a teaching assistant would be allowed to bring in their dog?
Or any other type of pet.
UltimateBugKilla · 07/10/2021 13:50

They're getting a 'School dog' at my sons school, can't wait!