Headteachers personal dog in playground whats your opinion

[Grk]

Just wondering what's your thoughts
Our headteacher will sometimes bring her dog to work with her some days and takes it from classroom to classroom and the lunch hall, she also brings it on the playground at morning drop off and afternoon pick up . This dog is a rescue personal pet, it is not a professional emotional/ support/ assistant dog (I know this as im within the school)
This really bothers me both as a parent and a colleague for many reasons
Health and safety, allergies, children are also scared of dogs, dog looks anxious and scared, hygiene issues - the children also play on the playground at playtime and lunch often sitting on the ground , and the main one being parents of the school are not allowed to bring their dogs onto the playground and this has been communicated numerous times it's not really setting an example.

Am I thinking too much into this or would this bother you also ?

I wouldn’t like it either. DS was terrified of dogs. His school now has a very well trained community dog who has helped wonders but this is a different situation as that dog is trained not to react and not to approach anyone. But all you can do is communicate your concerns and the head will probably dutifully ignore you.

At my daughters primary, the headteacher did this. She "sold" it to parents, saying the dog would be like a school pet and provide support for the children.

The little dog, a pomeranian, had no training and was clearly very agitated by the busy school environment. When children inevitably tried to pet it, he sometimes got snappy.

The whole thing left me uneasy, and I kept my children (and their little fingers) away from it.

We're at a different primary now thank goodness.

Head teacher knows their dog and can risk assess appropriately. Can’t do that for parents’ dogs.

Allergies - it’s outside so minimal risk (I say that as a family with serious allergies - me and dd3).

Evidence backs up the impact of a dog being in school with improved attendance and better mental health (especially in dc with autism and adhd). So many schools have this and it’s a very positive thing so long as it’s managed appropriately.

It would very much depend on the breed of the dog for me.

Not acceptable. I wouldn't trust her judgment on other things if this is what she thinks is acceptable.
Complain. And threaten to move schools if nothing is done about it. That's an accident waiting to happen.

Clearly that’s not managed appropriately. Our schools have all had this and it’s been great, and helped dd2 with her fear of dogs (she was hurt by a jack Russell when she was 2). But, as I said previously, it needs to be managed.

Our head did the same once, and scolded a child who got scared and jumped on their desk for overreacting "it's just a dog".
I'm a dog lover but they have no place wandering around in schools (therapy and assistance dogs excepted of course).

I actually think this is lovely and I believe in the benefits of children spending time with animals, provided it’s a well natured, gentle dog which I assume it is being that the head teacher has allowed their dog to be there

At DDs school many of the teachers have their dogs with them, not in lessons but around the grounds and the kids love it. DDs housemistress has a labrador who is usually found lounging on her sofa in her common room office. Never heard of any child/parent having an issue with it and the kids love interacting with the dogs throughout their day. Makes it feel like a home from home.

It's not a positive thing for many of us. If people want their kid around a dog, they can facilitate that. A dog should not be imposed on children. My children are both allergic too, plus have had several very negative incidents with dogs.

People don't risk assess their own dogs at all - they all think their dogs are soft and soppy and wouldn't hurt a fly. Then when they do, it's oh, he's never done that before, or oh, I never imagined he'd snap/bite/whatever.

Potentially a good thing. Presumably there are teachers in the playground with the kids so it’s unlikely any harm will happen.

I know my kids were worried about dogs when little. Dogs are everywhere now so you can’t avoid them so it might help some kids become more familiar with a nice dog and be less fearful.

If the dog itself is overwhelmed or stressed surely that will be obvious fast and headteacher will remove it

People don't risk assess their own dogs. That way of thinking is exactly what causes accidents. Because everyone will say "oh not my lovely, fluffy, soft dog".

A well trained dog in a school environment can be a bonus an untrained snippy dog a nightmare

Dogs can be trained to toilet in specific areas and certain dogs can be more calm around noisy children

It would be a nightmare for my son he tends to climb me at unexpected dogs and he is no longer small

Wouldn’t bother me at all. Pets are wonderful for children. Pretty safe to assume the dog isn’t dangerous in any way - as if she’d bring a dog in if it was, and lose her job / career.

Couple of teachers at our old primary had their dogs come in, the children loved it. So did the dogs.

My child wouldn't like it, so I'd have to just let the headteacher know that mine is scared of dogs in the hope they'd be considerate of him and not come too near him with the dog. But wouldn't object to it overall.

I was under the impression that special permission needs to be sought for a dog to be in school, and that they typically undergo some additional training. I would certainly be wary of a rescue dog being in school. Typically, they can't be rejoined to young families, so I would bet have thought a school environment was typically good for the dog.

I say this as someone who thoroughly supports my child's primary having a "school dog", who is essentially the headteacher's pet. This was a dog that was chosen for typical breed temperament and bought a a a puppy. She had additional training, and is always on a lead when around the children, unless she is in a classroom for a 'class treat'. There is a lot of consideration for children who are scared of dogs, and most actually seem to get over it quite quickly through some gentle introductions, which is ultimately a positive thing for life.

Same happened at my DC previous primary that the head teacher said they were getting a "school dog" but pretty sure it was her own dog that she wanted to bring to work. I'm sure it wasn't a therapy dog.

The current school has several (outside) animals and children can opt into a rota to look after them. They are in a separate area so not in play areas

Well it’s great until it isn’t. A properly trained therapy PAT dog is fine re behaviour and can be very positive.
Allergies are different. I’ve known a school child bluelighted to hospital after reacting to cats when standing outside of cat owners house. Severe asthmatic, severe attack. Had used blue inhaler properly. I was the first aider and knew the child well. It was bloody scary for me so how the child felt would have been terrifying. It would be difficult to prevent exposure completely whilst allowing dog in communal areas and classrooms.

The heads at both our infants and juniors brought their dogs to work. I think that's pretty common in rural schools. Didn't bother anyone at all.

SIL is a primary headteacher and has taken her dog to work every day since she got it. Dog is really popular with the children and never been any kind of incident. I think it's great.

This poses a risk and therefore requires a risk assessment.

I would request this document which should highlight the risks and address them. Do you see the actions in place ( or have evidence that they are not).
Follow the schools complaints policy ( see school website ) to keep this evidenced and objective.
The first stage can be a conversation and in this case, your concerns and the preventative risk assessment can be discussed

If the meeting is not forthcoming, you are not satisfied that your concern is addressed or as this is about the headteacher, follow the next stage of the complaints policy. As this is about the headteacher, the complaint will be to the Chair of Governors or Chair of the Trust.

When I was at primary school in the 80s/90s, the headteacher used to bring his dog in occasionally and we used to be able to spend time with the dog in small groups. We all loved it and were very excited when we knew the dog was in school.

So it wouldn’t bother me and my children would have loved it too.

My DD's school (upper school, not primary, which does make it a bit different) has several school dogs. They occasionally visit classrooms. I think it's lovely and I'm sure allergies and fears would be taken into account.

Our head teacher did the same with her pet. I initially thought the same as you. But I changed my mind when I helped outwith aome events. I saw the children interacting positively with it. A boy formerly scared of dogs, now walks it regularly around the playground. It's actually been a positive experience.

DS's primary school occasionally gets visits from the library reading dog but that would be an opt in thing for the children. And obviously specially trained.