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 ?

But they will need to live in a world with dogs. Service dogs/police dogs/people walking so they need to learn coping mechanisms and doing that in a safe, risk assessed and managed way is positive. That said, if managed appropriately, dc should be able to choose if they engage or not.

I think this is really poor judgement by the Head

All the schools that have brought in a dog that I know of have definitely completed a risk assessment. Other people can’t be trusted and rightly can’t take dogs onto school property.

I really wouldn’t be happy about this , both my younger children dislike dogs .

i think its a lovely thing to do

I agree with you OP. I'm a dog lover, but don't agree with the way dogs are allowed everywhere now: shops, cafes, even schools...
It's different for service dogs obviously.

This dog is a rescue personal pet, it is not a professional emotional/ support/ assistant dog (I know this as im within the school)

How long has the headteacher had the dog?

I understand your concerns, have you asked to see the risk assessment? It's also worth pointing out that many rescues won't rehome dogs to families with young children, I wonder if the rescue knew that the dog would be spending a lot of time in a busy school environment.

i think you need to let the head make her own decision regarding this

I love dogs and used to take mine to school pick up BUT school had a no dogs policy so I waited in a corner by the gates so nobody had to walk past too closely if they didn't want to.
The Heads dogis not there to benefit the school or its pupils, its so she doesn't need doogy daycare or a walker I would imagine. its inapporopriate and shouldn't be allowed

For me it depends entirely on how impartial the dog owner can be in the risk assessment.

I worked in one school where the DHT's dog came in and it was a great thing. It was a school with two separate buildings so allergies could be properly managed, the risk assessment was done properly and the time children spent with the dog was closely monitored and beneficial.

In another school the HT was completely blind to the fact her dog was entirely unsuitable. The dog frequently escaped her office and had to be chased around corridors barking its head off disrupting lessons. There were also at least 4 incidents where children or staff were nipped by the dog. Each time the HT managed to blame them - they were in the wrong place, they were too loud, or some other thing. At the pint I left staff were getting the union involved

so it is not that unusual a scenario by the sounds of it

Same at my kids’ school, and their last. Reading the comments it’s feels like something perhaps more normal/ accepted in an independent school?

I didn't say no risk assessment. I said people don't risk assess their own dogs. Meaning they shouldn't because their view is biased. They can't remain impartial.

Both kids have teachers' dogs in school and in the classrooms. There's lots of data on how beneficial it is for children. It has to be well managed like everything else. We play rugby in school, swing from the play set etc. School is not a risk free environment.

Possibly yes. We are rural so most kids grow up with dogs hence no allergies/fears of dogs. The kids get so much from being able to interact with the dogs, especially if they are upset/worried. They aren't trained therapy dogs but from what DD says, the majority act like they are 😆. Personally I feel really strongly that the dogs add a special aspect to the school.

I would ask to see if there has been a risk assessment carried out. I think it does also depend on the breed. I would also imagine that school will welcome parents views and feedback.

HT at DS old school had a lovely cocker spaniel he brought to school with him and I can genuinely say that she brought all the children much pleasure - but will also add she was very well trained and well socialised and had her own area during the day that she could rest in. I had no concerns

Parents at DDs school are allowed to take dogs onto the school playground at pick up and collection and over the last few years I have seen no issues. I will add as a dog owner myself, with an old dog (collie cross breed) and now also a very giddy puppy (spaniel) I have discussed with the HT about bringing puppy on the school run with me explaining she is giddy - HT has no concerns at all but as her owner I will be keeping her on a very short lead and have carried her a few times when she has been too excited - because I do appreciate that no child wants a dog jumping up at them. I do think it’s healthy for children (even one’s scared of dogs) to see dogs regularly to see that generally, dogs are not to be feared, and I do allow with close supervision, children to pet the dogs.

Ridiculous. The headteacher is presumably earning a decent salary. Why can't she get a dog sitter?

She will have risk assessed it.

I wouldn't be at all happy.
My children are all very nervous of dogs. They didn't start out like that but through hiking and the beach being our main pastimes, they've been chased, jumped up at, bowled over, barked at etc countless times (won't even get started on all the incidents that are simply disgusting rather than daunting). My husband has been bitten multiple times in his old line of work where he had to visit people in their homes. We know someone who was badly mauled with terrible consequences. Many dog owners are the scourge of society and anyone who bleats 'he's just playing/he wouldn't hurt you/he's friendly' deserves to be punched. And now increasingly even schools are not safe from constant threat of dogs. Completely unacceptable.

Perhaps all staff should do what they like and bring their pets into school. Just because she loves the dog doesn’t mean others do

Love this response!

I would have loved this when i was at school! I think it's great and really good for kids that have a fear of dogs that their parents think is best treated by keeping them far away from all and any dogs. I'm allergic to dogs and cats but it wouldn't have put me off having a dog at school, I'd have loved it.

Of course random other dogs shouldn't be brought onto school grounds though, you could have all sorts of large, powerful dogs arriving with their completely irresponsible owners.

My concern would be for the dog if it is stressed and anxious due to the environment. If that's the case then it's not fair for it to be brought to school.

I’ve been bitten by Labradors, never been bitten by any of the “ dangerous” breeds.

Training and personality is more important than breeding. Obviously then power of said dog is critical here too. No bully breed should ever be allowed in a school.

DDs school had a school dog but it was trained not to react and was incredibly gentle. It helped DD1 who was terrified of dogs (she's still not keen but much better than she was) and DD2 loves animals.
However that's different to just bringing a random dog in. I wouldn't be happy but I expect complaints would be ignored.
I was thinking the other day it would be nice if DS's school had a dog. He's low functioning autistic but does love animals but then I remembered when he was at nursery a staff member brought in their tortoise and DS tried to pull it's leg so perhaps it's just as well there's no school dog.

My dc secondary school has a therapy dog who is great and the children love him. I wouldn't be happy about a head teacher bringing in their pet though.