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AIBU?

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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:
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6
Tired6789 · 14/09/2023 23:20

I wouldn't be happy about this!

transformandriseup · 15/09/2023 01:21

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.

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

The comment above is exactly it my point, we are the only people in ours and DDs family to not have a dog so it's not like she has not been introduced to dogs but since she was a baby she naturally recoils from dogs and will do so whenever we are out and she sees a dog no matter what the breed and whether it's on a lead or not. As I said I really don't want to be the parent to put an end to something that other children love but I know DD would be terrified of going to school when she has just started and that's not fair. Just to be clear I am talking about dogs which are brought in to school everyday and are in close proximity to the children everyday rather than a pre-arranged one off visit.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 15/09/2023 07:12

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.

Well said @FancyFanny

CastlesCrumbling · 15/09/2023 07:14

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.

This is exactly right, and people who are advocating dogs in schools just don't seem to understand or acknowledge this in the slightest. The children have more right to be there than the dog and their needs have to take precedence! Allergic and asthmatic children, both of which conditions are rising, are disadvantaged by a dog in a way that outweighs any of the benefits it can offer in a school.

Escapingtherealityoflife · 15/09/2023 07:15

My initial thought is it’s being brought in because there’s no one to look after it during the day and the excuse is it’s good for the children.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 15/09/2023 07:19

My motti is "never trust a person who doesn't like dogs".
@topnoddy @Womencanlift

BarrelOfOtters · 15/09/2023 07:24

I’d have loved a dog at school. Like it or not dogs are everywhere so kids getting used to them is good. I’m terrified of cows, friends who grow up round them aren’t, but have an healthy respect…and can spot a bad in unerringly, whereas I think cows are all evilfuckers. . I’m wrong.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 15/09/2023 07:30

I would write to the school and formally ask
if the dog is trained as a therapy dog
What parts of the school does the dog have access to off leash
What arrangements are made for children who are afraid of dogs
What is the protocol for children with dog allergies
In the event of an incident with the dog what is the response going to be

Both schools my kids have gone to have had school dogs. A labradoodle and a retriever admittedly. A Dottie would make me nervous but I've no experience with them other than as a snarling dog at a front door. In both schools I have never encountered the dog loose, and they have mostly sat in the principals office. The kids viewed going to see the head as huge treat and privilege as you got to pet the dog.

vivainsomnia · 15/09/2023 07:31

I love dogs, always advocate for them but I don't agree with a big powerful dog taken to a school.

Schools are overwhelming places. Loud, crowded, unpredictable. Not an environment for a dog. The consequences are too much of a risk.

It's not the school's responsibility to expose dogs to scared children.

It's a definite no for me.

inappropriateraspberry · 15/09/2023 07:38

I knew a couple of massive rotties who the softest animals! Because they were trained properly.
Any dog can turn and bite though, no matter the training and I would be concerned about having an dog that size in school. It only takes one tail pull or scream to spook a dog.

Wassapp · 15/09/2023 07:41

Myusernamehistoryislong · 14/09/2023 21:30

Same situation at my primary school but it isn't a rottweiler. Not sure what it is actually other than massive and the parents weren't consulted, just informed. I'm not happy mainly because my son had a bad experience at the park with a huge German Shepherd when he was smaller and isn't comfortable around dogs as a result. I don't get the point personally and see no benefit. I honestly believe in my case the head teacher needed a dog sitter and saw this as the solution.

Really sorry your son had a bad experience.

However, he will be around dogs all his life. They will always be there. I would say that having a friendly dog at school is the perfect way to start getting used to them.

Sussandbored · 15/09/2023 07:43

Ours has a cockapoo who humps everyone's schoolbag.

ActDottie · 15/09/2023 07:46

DustyLee123 · 14/09/2023 21:23

There are many schools that have dogs to help the kids in many ways.

This.

Rottweilers are friendly dogs. Although I do wonder if you’d be asking this question if it was a Labrador?

TheBarbieEffect · 15/09/2023 07:50

Vile, dangerous dogs are Rottweilers. I would be pulling my child out.

Dullardmullard · 15/09/2023 07:51

TheBarbieEffect · 15/09/2023 07:50

Vile, dangerous dogs are Rottweilers. I would be pulling my child out.

What bollocks no you wouldn’t

Dullardmullard · 15/09/2023 07:53

I see the MN haters of dogs have come out sadly.

a properly trained dog regardless of breed is a good thing in any setting but from here folks want them banned, muzzled or even disposed off it’s like PETA at times in here

RandomUsernameHere · 15/09/2023 07:59

YANBU. Loads of people are allergic to dogs and/or scared of them, for a start.

Aquestioningmind · 15/09/2023 07:59

Duckingella · 14/09/2023 21:32

We have a Rottweiler;we were asked to take him into a local school to talk about dog safety (do's and don't's) as DH worked professionally with dogs and then the children who wanted to were allowed to stroke him (the dog not my husband)he loved it,he adores children.

The fact you clarified that it was the dog made me laugh! Not the point of the thread I know…

In the spirit of the thread; YANBU OP. Rotties probably aren’t the right dog, not necessarily because there’s anything wrong with the majority but because children should be introduced to dogs that are small. If they’ve patted a big dog once and it was fine they’re probably more likely to assume that all big dogs are friendly.

CastlesCrumbling · 15/09/2023 08:04

Dullardmullard · 15/09/2023 07:53

I see the MN haters of dogs have come out sadly.

a properly trained dog regardless of breed is a good thing in any setting but from here folks want them banned, muzzled or even disposed off it’s like PETA at times in here

A good thing in any setting? Again, please read the posts on the thread about severely allergic children - dogs are not a positive addition everywhere and children have more right to be in school than the dog. We can say dogs are not welcome everywhere without being dog haters, and a headteacher not wanting to pay for doggy daycare doesn't justify its presence in a school where it will make some children ill.

BeignetPommes · 15/09/2023 08:07

My sons school has two dogs in daily, it's a SEN school and obviously the dogs are assessed / therapy dogs and are a huge hit

My daughter's special school used to have a dog come in one day a week. One of the kids was allergic to the point of vomiting from coughing. They had to stop it. I was relieved. My dd is afraid of dogs but is non-verbal so can't express it.

KimberleyClark · 15/09/2023 08:07

ABC123DoReMiDoeRayMe · 15/09/2023 07:18

This is a horrific incident. But it does sound like the dog was frightened/startled by an unexpected approach. The boy asked if he could cuddle the dog. Children need to be taught that you do not impose yourself on a dog in that way. I’m often with my DB’s lab or my neighbour’s Golden, they both love children but if a child asked me if they could cuddle them I would say no, that they should stroke him first.

I’m not fussed on labradoodles as a breed. Separately they are both great breeds but I don’t think they combine well.

Stroopwaffels · 15/09/2023 08:09

Dogs do not belong in schools. Sounds like the head just fancies having a "school dog" so they don't have to worry what to do with their pet while they are at work.

The number of dogs has exploded in the last few years, there's hardly a shortage of them and it's not like kids aren't going to have come across hundreds before they start school.

CastlesCrumbling · 15/09/2023 08:11

KimberleyClark · 15/09/2023 08:07

This is a horrific incident. But it does sound like the dog was frightened/startled by an unexpected approach. The boy asked if he could cuddle the dog. Children need to be taught that you do not impose yourself on a dog in that way. I’m often with my DB’s lab or my neighbour’s Golden, they both love children but if a child asked me if they could cuddle them I would say no, that they should stroke him first.

I’m not fussed on labradoodles as a breed. Separately they are both great breeds but I don’t think they combine well.

Show quote history

If a dog is going to bite when startled or approached unexpectedly, a primary school is not the place for it to be. As much as you can teach children how to behave around dogs, you can't ensure 100% perfect compliance of hundreds of children. Schools don't have perfect or predictable behaviour all the time. A large number of young children with a range of needs and behaviours cannot all accommodate the needs of the dog to never be surprised.

neverbeenskiing · 15/09/2023 08:17

DustyLee123 · 14/09/2023 21:38

I wonder what happens if a child is allergic to dogs.

Children who are allergic or fearful of dogs won't be forced to interact with the dog.

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