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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think learning how to behave around dogs should be part of the national curriculum

665 replies

Itsadogsworld · 15/11/2021 21:58

I think schools should teach children how to behave around dogs, canine body language and so on. I think it would significantly reduce the number of children that end up in A&E each year due to dogs bites. I’ve seen some dreadful behaviour in my local park where children will run up to my dog and one child was continually trying to bear hug her own dog. Children clearly aren’t being taught this at home so I think they should include it in schools. I welcome your thoughts on this.

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 15/11/2021 22:09

Yes, all those dog bites are clearly the teachers fault 🙄

Ylvamoon · 15/11/2021 22:10

I don't think schools should teach children how to behave around dogs.
But parents absolutely should! It's really very basic like "always ask the owner" or "don't touch / pet an unknown dog!"

I have to say, the amount of children touching my dogs in passing is shocking! Imagine being petted on your head / back by random people while you are out on a walk minding your own business...

Sparkesy · 15/11/2021 22:10

Bloody hell, what happened to parenting?
Teachers and Schools can't be responsible for everything, especially things like behaviour around dogs. Fgs

Cocomarine · 15/11/2021 22:10

It’s a great idea. The curriculum is so light, there’s so much spare time - good way to fill it 👍🏻

AvocadoAndToast · 15/11/2021 22:10

Our school has the dogs trust come out every year and do a day of assemblies and workshops for the children. Very important when so many children are bitten and worse.

MythicalBiologicalFennel · 15/11/2021 22:11

BUT who is going to teach some dogs that not every child wants it to come up without a lead??

Who indeed... Hmm

Oh and OP here you go Biscuit

Potatolatkes · 15/11/2021 22:12

@Helpstopthepain

Maybe children could be taught how to be responsible owners instead?

What next, teach children how to drive at primary because people do have accidents, teach children how to ski because people do have accidents etc

Well surely this would be a precursor to being responsible owners too.

Don’t really get the driving and skiing analogies-schools teach lots of things that would be the basis for both of these

TotallySuper · 15/11/2021 22:12

Whilst they're teaching kids this maybe they could also teach the adults how to own a dog and actually restrain it properly. No dogs should be allowed off leads and owners should take more responsibility. If you think a dog might react badly to a child running up to it then you should muzzle the dog or take it out at times when children aren't around
YABU and the reason why so many kids get bitten etc - dog owner attitude and their entitlement is the problem.

legalseagull · 15/11/2021 22:12

I think you're getting a hard time OP. No, it shouldn't be up to teachers, but I think schools could invite in organisations like the dogs trust to do an assembly. That's what they do around here and it's a great initiative.

mnahmnah · 15/11/2021 22:12

Yep, because we have tons of time to teach them absolutely everything about life! We’re not there for the academic stuff. We’re replacing parents, families, friends, communities…. Take some maths or English off the curriculum to teach about dogs

Notdoingthis · 15/11/2021 22:12

No. You need to train your dog. Schools have better things to do than train children in case they find a dog with a shit owner. Children can be told to leave dogs they don't know alone. That doesn't take up curriculum time.

Sparkesy · 15/11/2021 22:13

@Cocomarine

It’s a great idea. The curriculum is so light, there’s so much spare time - good way to fill it 👍🏻
Hahahahaha
Fallagain · 15/11/2021 22:13

Is there anything you think shouldn’t be schools responsibility in the short time children are there?

Howshouldibehave · 15/11/2021 22:13

I can imagine this would eventually lead to litigation cases where it is suggested children weren’t taught well enough to cope with dogs and one still got hurt! Lazy teachers just couldn’t be arsed to do it properly etc

Shall we add it to the list of other things people think primary school teachers should do for their pupils…

Clean their teeth so it’s done properly
Apply sun cream
Brushing their hair
Check for nits
Teach road safety, first aid and Makaton
Teach an instrument to a very high standard (free)
Teach a language to a very high level (free)
Teach a sport to a very high standard (free)

Or, you know, maybe-parents should try doing these things.

Rupertpenrysmistress · 15/11/2021 22:13

I think first aid would be a better option, can't believe this is not taught.

CrimeJunkie01 · 15/11/2021 22:14

I can just imagine the law suits that would follow this "but the school said they'd taught DD/DS how to be around dogs" after the child is viciously mauled.

tigger1001 · 15/11/2021 22:14

It's the parents responsibility to teach their kids not to approach dogs without the owners permission. And it's very much the dog owners responsibility to train their dog properly and ensure their dog is on a lead if it's recall isn't great.

A child does not need taught dogs body language at school. Schools are overburdened already, let's not put more on them.

PeachesPumpkin · 15/11/2021 22:14

In this time of climate emergency, with the notable exception of assistance or working dogs, no one should be getting a dog as a pet due to their large carbon footprint.
Dogs are a luxury the planet cannot afford.

Teachers are not there to raise children- that is the parents job. Teaching them about behaviour around dogs is the parents job not the teachers.
I have to say though my experience of dogs has been mostly negative with owners letting them run up to me barking, jump up scratching me, getting mud and dog snot on me, jumping over my picnics in parks and knocking over my children like skittles - making them scared of dogs.
In my view it is the dog owners who educating not the non dog owners.

Absii · 15/11/2021 22:14

I don't know about the involvement of schools, but I think children should be brought up close to nature and familiar with the idea that they are part of an ecosystem. Part of that entails being comfortable around and respectful of animals.

WiddlinDiddlin · 15/11/2021 22:14

I think some sort of animal safety/awareness/responsibility should be covered in various topics through primary and secondary.

In primary, simple stuff like what a growl means (little children do not know this) what a bared teeth snarly face means (again little children often think this is a happy smile).

Moving on to things like not approaching animals you do not know that do not have an adult with them, whether we believe the person with the dog/cat/rabbit/horse when they say the animal is safe because some folk do NOT know...

In secondary, incorporate it into other subjects - for example PSHE - History, Economics - you can cover irresponsible breeding, the dangerous dogs act, why people buy dogs to look 'hard' (often young kids in their first bedsits will buy a 'staffy type' puppy as its cheap, easy to feed, makes them feel more secure), what the dangers are.

Dogs are a huge part of our society, this country trades to a great extent on its 'animal loving nation' and yet our education covers next to NOTHING.

I don't see anyone saying that children are to blame when dogs bite or kill, even if they are actively abusing an animal.. an ADULT is responsible for the animal AND an adult is responsible for the child!

I do think if education starts with children, from a young age, we stand a better chance of avoiding young people buying dogs to look intimidating or to use as weapons, avoiding 'just one litter' back yard breeders, avoiding the use of aversives as training methods which often results in a dangerous and unpredictable animal.

I doubt this will ever happen, it needs a model of education that works practical stuff into the curriculum and we don't currently have that!

DroopyClematis · 15/11/2021 22:14

Parents should teach their children about dogs, not schools, as they already have enough to teach.

Maybe get all these lockdown cockyshitpoo owners go on behavioural training classes so that their little darlings don't snap and snarl at anyone who walks past them?

Puffalicious · 15/11/2021 22:15

Aye, we have sooooo much space in the curriculum for pet training. FFS.

ballsdeep · 15/11/2021 22:15

Yes, let's just slide it in with the million other things we need to teach.

People have no idea.

Absii · 15/11/2021 22:16

What @WiddlinDiddlin said.

WiddlinDiddlin · 15/11/2021 22:16

It is all very well saying 'parents should teach their children about xyz'... but parents clearly are NOT doing so.

This generation of people owning dogs that are a fucking liability are parents, they were children in MY generation and we were not taught this, how do THEY teach to their children that which they not only do NOT know.. but do not even realise they NEED to know?

We've got parents who can't teach their kids how to cook, manage basic finances, read... how are they going to teach a specialist subject like responsible pet ownership and dog behaviour?