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Original poster

Dog lurching at children in playground

71 replies

Jogonlogonpip · 06/09/2022 09:32

Would you say something to the owner of the dog or the school?

The rules of the school are that well-behaved dogs are allowed in the playground but this dog is a breed known for being aggressive and not good with children and the owner had no control over it.

It was on a lead but she was chatting and it was jumping up at little kids and lurching forward with no muzzle. It's not a banned breed in the UK but massive and typically used as guard dogs.

OP posts:
smileandsing · 06/09/2022 11:21

The school shouldn't allow dogs on school grounds, regardless of their breed or behaviour, and parents/carers must be respectful of that.
Be aware this rule would not apply to the public areas around the school grounds though, they can't police that contrary to what some over zealous parent council members at DCs school think

mountainsunsets · 06/09/2022 11:44

Jogonlogonpip · 06/09/2022 10:31

Thanks everyone for your input and sorry to hear that so many have had similar issues.

Looks like I need to contact the school. I like the policy that well behaved dogs are allowed in the playground but this one isn't, sadly, and the owner doesn't have any control over it. She was also not paying any attention so I found it to be quite unsafe.

I'd be satisfied with a muzzle rather than a complete ban but will see what the school have to say.

But surely this is evidence that it's not a good policy at all?

Jules912 · 06/09/2022 11:50

I'm surprised this is allowed, ours is no dogs on playground or tied to school railings.

Alliswells · 06/09/2022 11:55

Notanotherwindow · 06/09/2022 10:08

If its on a lead and can't actually get to the children, I don't see the problem. Is this particular dog actually aggressive? Because all you have said in your post is that it was jumping and lurching towards the kids. Dogs do that, they get excited. If the owner was preventing it from actually getting to the kids it wanted to jump up at, its not exactly a danger is it. Its restrained, which is more than I can say for some peoples kids

The problem is it's pulling on the lead and lurching towards children and it's a massive big guard type dog.
Do you think that's ok??

TheUsualChaos · 06/09/2022 11:56

I would be perfectly happy with well behaved dogs on leads that sit and wait with their owner.

Dogs that lunge, lick and jump up at people while owner is oblivious and chats or on phone, definitely not ok.

CharlotteFlax · 06/09/2022 12:00

Don't concede on a muzzle! A big muzzled dog could still knock a small child over. It needs to be a no dogs at all rule. Like someone else has said most dog owners think their dog is well behaved, whether that's actually true or not - and you should mention that when you contact the school.

mamabear715 · 06/09/2022 12:05

Very liberal behaviour from the school.. am shocked, tbh.
Playgrounds are no place for dogs, and I speak as a dog lover.

Beamur · 06/09/2022 12:05

Tell the school.
I tried taking my previous dog with me to collect DD from school. Ruddy dog was a nightmare. Overexcited by all the noise and activity and barked like a lunatic.
I had an email very soon after from the Head telling me not to bring it on the premises again! The school acted very quickly (and correctly) in banning my bad dog.

Sciurus83 · 06/09/2022 12:14

No dogs in playgrounds. Well behaved according to who? My DD3 is very unsure around dogs due to behaviour of one's I'm sure their owners would call friendly and well behaved. Dogs are very big when you are small, children shouldn't have to be around them in a playground at all.

catandcoffee · 06/09/2022 12:25

Can the people who walk their dog to school explain why ?

balalake · 06/09/2022 12:25

I am with the no dogs in playgrounds suggestion.

Anything such as 'if the dog is large' rules will be met by the usual entitled parent who thinks it does not apply to them. Probably the kind who drive an SUV and cannot park it properly.

balalake · 06/09/2022 12:27

@catandcoffee I don't blame anyone for walking with their dog to and from school, good exercise for them and the dog. Just keep out of the playground.

SurpriseSurprise · 06/09/2022 12:31

I always loved it when I was at school (many moons ago) and parents brought the dogs with them. I think it teaches children how to behave around them. You’d be amazed how many children just run up to dogs and touch them. In those days the “poop and scoop” rule wasn’t really about either

The dog is probably excited to be waiting for it’s little human and is looking to see where it is. Surely a staff member at the school would’ve noticed something by now if it was really out of control and dangerous

Wineythepoo · 06/09/2022 12:31

"If the owner was preventing it from actually getting to the kids it wanted to jump up at, its not exactly a danger is it."

It's bothering kids in a place that is meant for kids.

noclothesinbed · 06/09/2022 12:32

It was jumping up not biting Confused

noclothesinbed · 06/09/2022 12:35

Wineythepoo · 06/09/2022 12:31

"If the owner was preventing it from actually getting to the kids it wanted to jump up at, its not exactly a danger is it."

It's bothering kids in a place that is meant for kids.

It's on a lead so they don't have to go near it did they If they don't like dogs don't go past it simple.

minipie · 06/09/2022 12:35

Our school allows dogs carried in arms only.

Which in effect means no big dogs and no unruly dogs as they wouldn’t be still enough to be carried. Also no risk of them pooing while being carried.

Could be a compromise?

noclothesinbed · 06/09/2022 12:37

catandcoffee · 06/09/2022 12:25

Can the people who walk their dog to school explain why ?

Why wouldn't they ? They are walking to school and they have a dog ? So it gives the dog a walk. Could you really not work that out

Wineythepoo · 06/09/2022 12:38

"It's on a lead so they don't have to go near it did they If they don't like dogs don't go past it simple."

The playground is the kids space, not the dogs.

Stellaris22 · 06/09/2022 12:39

I’d mention it to the school. I have no issues with people bringing their dogs on school runs, it’s much better than dangerous driving by parents around school.

mountainsunsets · 06/09/2022 12:44

noclothesinbed · 06/09/2022 12:32

It was jumping up not biting Confused

It doesn't matter!

A big, lunging dog could easily knock a small child over and injure them. Biting isn't the only behaviour that makes a dog dangerous or out of control.

mountainsunsets · 06/09/2022 12:45

catandcoffee · 06/09/2022 12:25

Can the people who walk their dog to school explain why ?

I don't, but the obvious reason is that they're walking to school anyway so it kills two birds with one stone - school run and dog walk both sorted at the same time.

Wineythepoo · 06/09/2022 12:48

You can see who the owners of badly trained dogs are.

PlutoCritter · 06/09/2022 13:08

School playgrounds should be a safe space, who on earth brings dogs onto school grounds?!

No ifs, buts,or "oh but he's friendly/small/good with kids" they should not be on school premises.
I'm surprised they weren't asked to leave immediately.

And that they thought it was acceptable tbh.

FrankLampardsBrokenHand · 06/09/2022 13:12

I'm unsure. If the dog was jumping up at your child, presumably you'd say something to the owner there and then?

If the dog is jumping at other children, it's presumably something for their parents to decide whether is OK or not?