School dog should be trained?

[Hortonhearsadoctorwho]

Happy to be told iabu!
Basically school dog lunges, pulls and barks. Have noticed the dog trying to get at other dogs and having to be dragged away from them.
Ianbu - a school dog should be trained.
Iabu - it’s fine.

Also had passing thoughts about allergies and fears amongst the kids at school 🤔 is a school dog a good thing or not in your opinion?

The PAT assessment is geared to ensuring the dog is friendly, sociable and calm. They are looking for good behaviour (calm round strange people and other dogs) walks nicely on lead (no lunging or pulling), takes treats nicely, can be stroked/handled all over, no jumping up, pawing or excessive licking. It must be OK with sudden noises, not be nervous around people of any ages, and enjoy being fussed.

They have to be in good health, well groomed with short nails, wormed and flea'ed on a recognised schedule and fully immunised, and must be a minimum of 9 months old and have been with the owner for at least 6 months.

Thank you, seems obvious now you've explained!

So dog update.
There’s ANOTHER dog!
Another staff member with a dog going into school 🤔 maybe all the staff can take their dogs in if they want?

They’ve done a school dog at my kids school (London) which really annoys me as I hate dogs, shouldn’t be a thing imo a “school dog”

A school pig made me laugh 😂 I would prefer that!

School reading dogs

www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2017/august/how-these-adorable-dogs-are-helping-children-love-reading/

You’ve asked two different questions here so the vote button is pretty pointless.

A well-trained school dog is a wonderful addition to a school, and can be used to help in teaching resources and also to teach children who may never come close to animals, how to engage with, care for and respect them.

I have never really heard of dog allergies (cat yes, dog, not so much l), so I don’t know how much sense this rational would make.

If that dog is behaving that way, make a direct complain to the HT and ask to see evidence of training, and a proper risk assessment, in light of the dogs current behaviour (was a governor at a primary school with a dog, and this is a reasonable request!)

We have a school dog. He's impeccably trained and if there is a kid with allergies or a dislike he gets to sleep under my desk and I take him out and throw his ball for him. Makes my bloody day!

@TSSDNCOP Aw, that’s lovely! I personally think a school dog is a great idea. We didn’t have them when I was at school, although occasionally a stray dog would wander onto the school grounds and we’d all chase it and throw balls for it, which was fun.

@TurnUpTurnip

A school pig made me laugh 😂 I would prefer that!

She was awesome!

When you got to year five/six you got to help feed her (with adult supervision) if you wanted to!

Not sure what the rationale was behind getting a pig though! We also had cats (we were a rural school so they were mousers), Guinea pigs and rabbits.

@Hortonhearsadoctorwho
You should contact the school for information about dogs being in school. Ask what level of training they've received, PAT standard or local classes.
Ask which areas of the school the dogs are allowed in? Are they allowed to roam freely or are always on leads?
Say you are not against dogs in schools as you can see the benefits but with the recent horrendous news from Wales you would like reassurance the children's safety is not being compromised.

I know the tragic event happened in a house but untrained stressed dogs have the potential to bite in so many circumstances.

Mine definitely wouldn't be able to cope.

@FlibbertyGiblets

What training does a therapy dog have further than the usual sit/stay, come by, fetch, paw/shake hands?

They don’t get any training - they’re volunteers pet dogs.

The requirements are basically, calm and friendly and well trained enough that they don’t pull on the lead, jump up, lick excessively and will take food gently.

Not sure at all why people are talking about it as anything above what is basic dog training tbh - it’s not a particularly high level of training required to pass the temperament test.

@Hortonhearsadoctorwho

So dog update. There’s ANOTHER dog! Another staff member with a dog going into school 🤔 maybe all the staff can take their dogs in if they want?

Bound to happen, OP - if one gets away with bringing their untrained hound in, the "me too" brigade will follow

What on earth is a school dog.

Allergies and fears is usually considered tough luck - stay away from dog. Your child could be in a space with a service dog at any time in their life so it's something they need to be able to work around.

Dog behaviour is I think a valid issue.

Contact the LEA and Governors.

Is it a state or private school ?

State school, I have asked some of the other parents and nobody had a clue.
It’s a secondary school if that makes a difference.

A school dog would have been fab for DD.
Just before Covid she was spending time in a quiet area where there was a dog and it was so calming for her.

However luckily she is now at college on a course where dog walking is part of the syllabus.

Presumably schools do a risk analysis wrt allergies.
And also presumably school dogs can be used to help children be less afraid or at least how to react appropriately.

Of course they should be trained.

But you do realise training is like education, it is an on-going thing, pitched at the appropriate level for the age and ability of the student.

It doesn't happen overnight.

But you do realise training is like education, it is an on-going thing, pitched at the appropriate level for the age and ability of the student.

True, I suppose I assumed walking nicely on lead and not jumping up or barking excessively would be in place before being at the school?

Ok so today ds and another child were kicking leaves while I was getting feedback on his day etc
School dog comes out with the head teacher, starts growling and lunging at the kids. The members of staff talking to me told the children to get away and leave the dog alone.
Headteacher drags the dog away without so much as an apology or telling the dog no.

So have decided to email the school as that’s not right to me.

Growling and lunging at kids kicking leaves around could simply be a frustrated dog who wants to run and play...

However the fact that the person handling the dog doesn't appear to have a clue is what worries me there.

I'd be having the dog at a distance, watching the kids and being rewarded for seeing them play, so that they feel relaxed and chilled about this sort of experience.

Getting too close (having to tell the kids to move), and then dragging the dog away - isn't training (nor would telling the dog 'no' be, no isn't a behaviour the dog can do, it is a meaningless sound unless paired with something else).

Our dog comes with its owner and handler for a few hours at a time. It is always calm and friendly and has an amazing impact. She goes home early if a bit tired or less engaged than usual.

I love dogs but would challenge what you are describing.

@Suzi888

A school dog? You can’t be in the U.K? YANBU either! Of course the dog needs training!

What?? Both my kids have school dogs. One at secondary and one at primary. We are in the UK.

This dog should not be in school. Email and ask for a copy of the risk assessment and the school dog policy as you have some concerns. I say this as someone who believes wholeheartedly in the value of a school dog. When done properly.