Dog in school

[Coffeeandcatsforlife]

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.

I have dogs now and love dogs but as a child I was utterly terrified of dogs. Even knowing a dog was somewhere in the school and I could come into contact with them would have massively interrupted and probably ruined my education. One minute we are told teachers are streched beyond their means, which I fully agree with and support but the next they are claiming they have time to piss about with a bloody dog at school, they can't have it both ways!

What about the rights of a child with an assistance dog to attend school?

As PP have said, we’re getting into “competing disability” territory here.

My SIL teaches at a school where the HT has an assistance dog, and so do two current pupils. I imagine if a child with a severe allergy wanted to attend that school, you would expect the other students to have to leave? And the HT? Of course that’s not going to happen.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/xl-bully-rottweiler-horror-attack-29823434

Absolutely insane to have dogs at school, let alone breeds like this.

as a child I was utterly terrified of dogs. Even knowing a dog was somewhere in the school and I could come into contact with them would have massively interrupted and probably ruined my education

Same. Didn't help that I was nipped on two separate occasions when completely minding my own business, little dog running at me through an open gate that I was walking by on a public pavement, and once on the bus as I walked by a little dog under a seat. I hadn't stepped on it.

As an adult I still don't like dogs although I'm not terrified of them any more.
I do avoid them though, especially over friendly ones who stick their noses in your crotch. I visit friends with dogs I'm familiar with who know how to leave you alone after an initial stroke, but would not be happy sitting alone in a room with a dog I'd never met before. Dogs walking by on leads don't worry me at all. They can be an awful nuisance off lead in parks and too many of them are allowed by their owners to jump up at passers by. There was an awful ruckus recently in a sandwich shop when two on lead customers dogs went for it with lots of squealing and growling and flying of fur. I made a hasty exit. There is now a sign on the door banning dogs. All that said, it's perfectly possible to go through life without having to put up with dogs providing you're firm with boundaries.
It's really not fair to force children into situations that frighten them.

Absolutely not okay for me. Many kids are afraid of dogs, allergic, etc and there are cultures which don't keep dogs as pets as they are seen as unclean.

A one-off lesson about dog safety, maybe. But no more than that, and definitely not such a large powerful dog.

Dogs are animals. Ultimately they could snap at any minute. Not many people could hold a rottweiler back.

So there is a specific need for those assistance dogs; they're presumably trained and risk assessed and the school can come up with a policy to manage the needs of the allergic child and the children and staff who need the assistance dog for their disabilities. It's a different scenario to any headteacher who feels like bringing their pet dog to work every day. A minority of people require assistance dogs so they won't be in the majority of schools and the scenario won't arise that often. People here are talking about 'school dogs', and claiming it's becoming 'the norm' for senior staff to bring in their pet dog, not a medical assistance dog, and that's what I'm objecting to.

I think a random pet with no specific therapy training has no place in a school, especially a large breed. If a cockapoo bites you it’s a few stitches at worse. Doberman can take a limb off.

Hmmm... I've got splinters..

My DC are in their 30s. State primary, dogs in playground to meet kids was perfectly normal, no school dog though. The majority of the dogs were working dogs with country families. There was a right whooHa when a family moved to the school and complained.
DS1 went to a prep whose HM had his black labrador in school, but they lived on the premises, and boarding was still the norm. The dog would amble around. Once the novelty wore off, boys tended to just say hello as he wandered around.
DD, senior school, the headmistress had her lab in school, but it tended to stay in the office.
Neither dog ever was an issue that I was ever aware of.

I know a spaniel that goes into a school. The owner would like it to be a therapy dog, but I'm not sure if it's being specifically trained or just relying on its gentle nature and it is kept in a specific area of the admin area, I believe. The owner is the head.

I can see for allergy or phobia that it can be awkward, though, and I would hope mitigation would be in place to avoid trauma.
For some kids suffering other forms of trauma, dogs can provide comfort and a 'listening ear'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-66817795

And a very good motto it is too. 😁

Do you routinely quiz your dentist, doctor, financial professionals, all your kids’ teachers on whether or not they like dogs? It sounds like you should as if they don’t, you won’t be able to work with them.

It is such a silly trite comment spouted by people acting like they are the first people to come up with this clever insight.

In my job role, I have to visit a GP practice as a professional once a month. As soon as I enter the room, the therapy dog bounds up to me and jumps up.

When I sit down and get my laptop out, it rushes up to my feet and puts its paws on my lap and it then snuffles around in my bag.

I am not scared of dogs but find them dirty and gross. I do not want it touching me.

As a therapy dog, I expected it to be trained and not to run and jump up at people. Nobody there asked my permission, whether I had fears or allergies (I luckily don’t) and the dog was not under control. Completely unacceptable.

I'm really surprised at this as I was considering PAT for my dog but their biggest stipulation is that they don't jump up

There , you have just proved my point in that comment !

I HATES DOGS FULL STOP , EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE FUCKERS !!

My main concern would be allergies and asthma - why isn't it the same as nuts? Just because lots of people like nuts doesn't mean that trumps a child's right to be alive??

I was terrified of dogs as a child. Thanks to my primary head teacher’s big, soft, gentle Great Dane I’ve ended up loving them. The best thing for children who are anxious around dogs is exposing to a friendly, non threatening one.

So long as that child doesn't make an 'unexpected approach' or 'startle' the big friendly dog. As a poster upthread said in defence of the school dog that bit a six year old's face.

I'm sure dogs can be a hugely positive and beneficial thing for many children, but headteachers bringing in their pet dogs isn't the way forwards. Trained, assessed therapy dogs brought in under controlled conditions maybe - any headteacher who decides they can save money on dog sitters, no thank you!

We've just had a trainee therapy dog brought into work.
It's awful. It runs at you. It jumps up. If its picked up it licks your face.
I've had to request it stays out of the staff kitchen.

Honestly, the way to make me like dogs is to keep it under control, and not to approach me.

There is a fabulous German Shepard near me. Its never on a lead, but one word from its owner, and it is at heal. No issue with it.

Compared to the idk what dog, Labrador sized, that ran across a road last week to "say hello". Awful. Get it under control.

So, I guess it partially depends on how well behaved it is, and if those who don't want to interact with it can be left alone. Or if anyone can be subjected to an approach.

And for those who say "but my dog really is friendly" I've got the scars to show you you might not always be right. That was a "friendly" dog "saying hello", so I'm now completely adverse to being approached by them.

It shouldn’t be in the kitchen and remember it’s training not trained yet

I don’t like the my dog is friendly either and leash mine when on walks in the street and when off lead at the beach or field I recall continuously if I see any other folks or dogs.

Absolutely excellent point.

We can't take sesame seed products in to school. This really limits us, as a vegan family, as it means staples like houmous are out. But I'm not pushing my houmous sandwiches on people like people push dogs. We simply accommodate the person with allergies.

Dogs gross me out. They are by nature filthy animals.
I have zero reason to try to like them, and no one should be forced to have them around. They are the owner's choice, and should not infringe on others.
On top of that, they do pose a risk of getting bitten, scratched, knocked over.
And many of us are allergic.
I really don't want them in school. Kids deserve better.

I am delighted that at both my children's schools there is clear signage stating no dogs allowed.

Dogs are a real positive in any environment, l would have absolutely loved having a dog in my school. Lucky children.

Where do people push their dogs onto you do tell as I think that bollocks.

@Dullardmullard, err, pretty sure the head bringing her Rottweiler into school is pushing her dog on to folks...

Dog lover and dog owner and absolutely disagree with him bringing his large dog to a primary school that is insane.