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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog in school

134 replies

Coffeeandcatsforlife · 14/09/2023 21:20

The head teacher has a Rottweiler dog who is by nature a huge dog. He’s brought in to school a lot and the children get to play with him and look after him. Aibu feeling uneasy about this. It’s a primary school.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
LastTrainEast · 14/09/2023 21:49

"some kids might be scared of dogs - yes probably, but some kids are scared of spiders, but they're part of life"

Exactly! other people's pain or safety is not as important as your need to walk through life being catered for at every turn.

It's a school not a petting zoo. I expect some people have really big interesting cars they'd like to bring to school to show off to the kids or perhaps their new fur coat? But schoolchildren are not meant to be a captive audience. If you're proud of something you've got then go stand on the corner and show it to passers-by.

Meanwhile "Rotties are big dogs but I've never met boisterous one - sadly they have a bad rep"

"Girl, 7, mauled by Rottweiler

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/girl-mauled-by-rottweiler-worcester-b2090433.html

Girl, 7, mauled by Rottweiler in front of brother, 11, had ‘life saved by hoodie’

Her step-father says she is ‘lucky to be alive’ after the attack that left her needing facial surgery

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/girl-mauled-by-rottweiler-worcester-b2090433.html

FancyFanny · 14/09/2023 21:54

If your kids are scared of dogs then that's precisely why the dog in school is a good idea to help your child overcome their fears.

Pets are beneficial, interaction with animals is beneficial, dogs are everywhere in the Uk so it's a great idea for kids to be comfortable with them and be taught appropriate way to interact with a dog.

Complaining and having the headteacher remove the dog will compound your child's fears.

Skybluecoat · 14/09/2023 21:55

Many of the schools in my area have school dogs, and mostly they seem to belong to a member of the SLT. It’s just the norm now isn’t it?

There will have been risk assessments, including ensuring any current student who is severely allergic to dogs is kept away from them. Then new entrants would know not to apply for those schools that already have dogs.

I think it’s great. My employer allows dogs in their offices too. Everyone loves it!

Cucucucu · 14/09/2023 21:57

Why ? Is it the size ? I’m assuming this dog was brought up this way so used to children ? Unthinkable it’s a good thing , I see so many children being scared if dogs , it’s such a irrational fear that it’s good if they get to see a well behaved dog ?

topnoddy · 14/09/2023 21:57

FancyFanny · 14/09/2023 21:54

If your kids are scared of dogs then that's precisely why the dog in school is a good idea to help your child overcome their fears.

Pets are beneficial, interaction with animals is beneficial, dogs are everywhere in the Uk so it's a great idea for kids to be comfortable with them and be taught appropriate way to interact with a dog.

Complaining and having the headteacher remove the dog will compound your child's fears.

People just can't take it that other people HATE DOGS and yes that does include yours !

HeatherMoores · 14/09/2023 21:58

No not particularly. Any dog can be a problem with a bad owner. Some dogs have breed traits that are potentially a problem ie bred for fighting etc and they’re highly reactive and aggressive. We’ve seen this with Pit Bulls and now the closely related bully XLs.

Rottweilers are not a banned breed. They were bred for herding and working and pulling loads and search and rescue as well as guarding. There’s no reason to think a well trained, socialised, supervised Rottweiler will be a problem with children any more than any other big dog (except the 4 banned ones and others we know are a potential problem).

Cucucucu · 14/09/2023 21:58

topnoddy · 14/09/2023 21:57

People just can't take it that other people HATE DOGS and yes that does include yours !

Show quote history

No I don’t think many can get that as it’s such a stupid thing to hate a dog that not many will understand it , and they shouldn’t understand it as it’s unhealthy

Favouritefruits · 14/09/2023 22:01

I love dogs, my sons school has a cockerpoo I’d be weary of a Rottweiler my SIL has one, she’s had it from a puppy they are a lovely family but that dog looked at my kids weirdly once so now I’d never let that dog be in the same room as my kids. I wouldn’t trust it but I’m guessing it’s a trained therapy dog?

Dullardmullard · 14/09/2023 22:10

Favouritefruits · 14/09/2023 22:01

I love dogs, my sons school has a cockerpoo I’d be weary of a Rottweiler my SIL has one, she’s had it from a puppy they are a lovely family but that dog looked at my kids weirdly once so now I’d never let that dog be in the same room as my kids. I wouldn’t trust it but I’m guessing it’s a trained therapy dog?

What do you mean weirdly? This is your choice of course but a bit weird in my view. Supervision is key of course with dogs and kids always. As both can be unpredictable when young.

AcclimDD · 14/09/2023 22:10

No that is not ok at all 😡
Crazy behaviour.
Big difference between a Rottweiler's bite and a cockerpoo bite.

Elphame · 14/09/2023 22:13

I have a PAT dog.

He visits nursing homes but Pets as Therapy also take dogs into schools as reading dogs where the children read to the dog instead of to the teacher as it's been shown to be very helpful for unconfident readers.

Mine is also very good with children whose parents are seeking to overcome a dog phobia.

I was always a little worried about rotties until a workman brought one into my house (with permission). This huge scary dog spent the afternoon literally sitting on my lap - at least the head end!.

MidnightOnceMore · 14/09/2023 22:14

I don't understand WTF is going on with the world just now. The head sounds like a CF who has brought her pet in for her own convenience.

HeatherMoores · 14/09/2023 22:21

Having said that I notice a woman was killed this month by 2 Rottweilers. Are they are over represented in the statistics? It’s always good to reflect.

MermaidMummy06 · 14/09/2023 22:22

The high school were looking at for DS has two therapy dogs. Most passive animals around. More interested in pats and sleeping than anything.

I don't trust rotties. My IL's had one.
It was well trained, obedient & spoilt with attention. I was feeding it while they were away & took my DB with me once. He got out if the car before me & it went psycho, really scary stuff, growling, barking & slamming into the (wire) fence aggressively. It stopped when I got out as it knew me. But, wow, I learned they are very territorial. It was protecting the territory while it owners were away, even though it had never been trained to do so. I don't trust most dogs at all.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 14/09/2023 22:23

School dogs are great, but a Rottweiler - wtf?!

Original poster
Coffeeandcatsforlife · 14/09/2023 22:26

He’s not a therapy dog or any type of assistance dog. He seems lovely and the children adore him by all accounts, I think his size just concerns me.

OP posts:
CastlesCrumbling · 14/09/2023 22:33

Skybluecoat · 14/09/2023 21:55

Many of the schools in my area have school dogs, and mostly they seem to belong to a member of the SLT. It’s just the norm now isn’t it?

There will have been risk assessments, including ensuring any current student who is severely allergic to dogs is kept away from them. Then new entrants would know not to apply for those schools that already have dogs.

I think it’s great. My employer allows dogs in their offices too. Everyone loves it!

Your post says dogs are the norm in schools and then that new entrants who are allergic should apply elsewhere - but where, if dogs are so common in schools? As the parent of a severely dog-allergic child, I can't understand how this is ok. Why should allergic students have to go to schools further away or less suitable so that senior staff can bring their pets to work? What do we do if all schools have dogs? And who is vetting them to make sure the dogs are suitable to be around a lot of excitable kids? Based on the number of idiot owners who bleat 'he's only being friendly!' while their dogs are causing chaos, I wouldn't trust their judgement.

Undulating · 14/09/2023 22:37

Dogs are everywhere now. We are expected to accept that. These creatures have been elevated from mere animal status. The children have no choice.

The head is an idiot.

WeWereInParis · 14/09/2023 22:39

Coffeeandcatsforlife · 14/09/2023 22:26

He’s not a therapy dog or any type of assistance dog. He seems lovely and the children adore him by all accounts, I think his size just concerns me.

So he's just a regular pet, being brought in for the head teacher's convenience.

user1471556818 · 14/09/2023 22:41

Just ask if there is a risk assessment. Unfair to judge otherwise .the dog maybe a PAT dog or trained to a certain level.
A parent in our local school objected to a couple of teachers habit of giving out chocolate for good behaviour, good answers etc .
She didn't want her child having sugar so it was stopped across the whole school .Other parents were really angry about this and complained. In the end the teachers just said it was their money buying the sweets it was a good incentive but they weren't going to continue .
Sadly the children of complaining parents got bullied as an outcome

Dullardmullard · 14/09/2023 22:49

Coffeeandcatsforlife · 14/09/2023 22:26

He’s not a therapy dog or any type of assistance dog. He seems lovely and the children adore him by all accounts, I think his size just concerns me.

How do you know this?

Andrea87 · 14/09/2023 23:05

I would be worried about people with dog allergies.
Even if the dog is kept away and there is no direct contact, the dog hairs can spread and bring on an allergic reaction. It is not like a class rabbit/ Guinea pig which stays in one class so you only have to assess the risk of allergies of those children/ adults.
Dogs will move around the school.

People with asthma can suffer and become dangerously unwell even if the dog is not present in the room at the same time. Imagine being only able to breathe through a straw - I understand that this is what an asthma attack feels like as the air ways become narrower due to the reaction of the allergens.
A child or adult should not be subjected to this. With dogs being allowed in so many places nowadays, let the place of learning not become another challenging environment.

Daisydoodo · 14/09/2023 23:10

Rottweilers get too much bad press they are amazing family dogs with the right training it’s the little yappy things thinking they are 10 men that are the problem

Womencanlift · 14/09/2023 23:13

topnoddy · 14/09/2023 21:57

People just can't take it that other people HATE DOGS and yes that does include yours !

Show quote history

Exactly this. Bad enough that they are in cafe’s, pubs, public transport etc.

Nothing to do with a fear that people need to get over. It’s just that there are people who don’t like them, don’t care if they are “friendly” and don’t want to interact with them