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Original poster

Headteachers personal dog in playground whats your opinion

206 replies

Grk · 27/02/2025 09:11

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 ?

OP posts:
HelenWheels · 27/02/2025 12:11

presumably the ht got an agreement from the governors

Natsku · 27/02/2025 12:12

Newbie887 · 27/02/2025 10:05

It would depend on the dog…if it’s a calm lovely natured dog then this sounds like a lovely idea and I would be pro it. She doesn’t sound like she’s letting it wander about on its own (presumably it’s always supervised?) and so children who are afraid will have support, or not have to go near it. If my kids were scared of dogs I would welcome this as fear of dogs is actually a horrible thing to grow up with given they are all around us in public places, and so exposure to a calm friendly dog to help them get over this fear would be very helpful.

my kids nursery (ofsted outstanding and generally brilliant in every way) used to have the nursery managers dog in once a week. He was a very sweet teddy bear like cockapoo. The kids adored him and did dog theme activities / learning on the day he was in. It was my son’s fav day of the month and one of the only days the nursery staff would hear him speak when he talked to the dog and to the staff about the dog.

Re: the dog turning the playground unhygienic…lol! YABU here

My son's nursery used to bring in dogs. Not regularly but once in a while. Specially trained "friend dogs". The children absolutely loved it, even my son who was very wary of dogs eventually got the courage to stroke one.

HelenWheels · 27/02/2025 12:13

@Grk what do your colleagues say?

FedUpandEatingChocolate · 27/02/2025 12:15

I find it so unprofessional.

At dd's previous school, the headteacher did exactly this. New puppy, no specific training etc.

But then the SENCO did the same, but properly. She introduced the dog carefully, she followed a specific dogs in school programme. The dog is used for emotional and behavioural support. She was very aware of the dog's needs, and it wouldn't be in school the whole time.

Thankfully the HT left and a much better one came in. The wonderful SENCO stayed with her properly trained dog!

FuckityFux · 27/02/2025 12:20

It’s a Primary school not a petting Zoo!

Change dog in this scenario to pet tarantula/pet rat/pet snake….and would you still think this was perfectly reasonable?

Honestly, the Head is being totally unprofessional and not putting the children first but her own need for doggy daycare. Ludicrous.

whatsappdoc · 27/02/2025 12:21

When I was at school we had two school cats, vicious bastards who would swipe at you if you came near, who were kept as mousers. Each class had an animal eg guinea pig, hamster, bird whose welfare formed part of our education. It was great for children like me who didn't have pets at home. Don't remember any dogs though.

The first school I worked in, the deputy head used to bring her dog in. Deputy Dawg sat in on staff meetings in his own chair and we used to say 'what do you think of that, Deputy Dawg?' And he would do a short bark in response. If it was boring he would walk out. We all loved him and so did the children.

namechangetheworld · 27/02/2025 12:22

KimberleyClark · 27/02/2025 12:09

Isn’t it better for the child to overcome their fear rather than for the fear to overcome them?

Show quote history

I would actually prefer DD was learning and having fun with her friends at school, instead of being forced to 'overcome her fears' because some selfish twat thinks everyone in that school should enjoy her pet roaming the halls as much as she does.

DD might overcome her fear at some point, when she is ready, with the help of their DH and I, in a suitable environment, with a dog and owner that we know.

HelenWheels · 27/02/2025 12:23

FuckityFux · 27/02/2025 12:20

It’s a Primary school not a petting Zoo!

Change dog in this scenario to pet tarantula/pet rat/pet snake….and would you still think this was perfectly reasonable?

Honestly, the Head is being totally unprofessional and not putting the children first but her own need for doggy daycare. Ludicrous.

you dont know it is due to lack of dog day care
and how can you compare this to a tarantula?

HelenWheels · 27/02/2025 12:24

school is a great place to learn to overcome fear , parents obviously havent succeeded

namechangetheworld · 27/02/2025 12:24

whatsappdoc · 27/02/2025 12:21

When I was at school we had two school cats, vicious bastards who would swipe at you if you came near, who were kept as mousers. Each class had an animal eg guinea pig, hamster, bird whose welfare formed part of our education. It was great for children like me who didn't have pets at home. Don't remember any dogs though.

The first school I worked in, the deputy head used to bring her dog in. Deputy Dawg sat in on staff meetings in his own chair and we used to say 'what do you think of that, Deputy Dawg?' And he would do a short bark in response. If it was boring he would walk out. We all loved him and so did the children.

All the children loved him? You checked with them all separately?

Because I can guarantee there were several children who were nervous or downright terrified of a dog being in what should have been a safe space for them, but too embarrassed to speak up in front of their peers.

mewkins · 27/02/2025 12:25

Not the point but I love the idea of a dog being a professional 😆 My dog is a professional pain in the arse.

DustyLee123 · 27/02/2025 12:25

I think they should be trained therapy dogs, not just teachers pets from home

ACynicalDad · 27/02/2025 12:26

If it’s risk assessed then fine. Usually they should be in school from very early so it’s normal to them, harder with a rescue.

Snowmanscarf · 27/02/2025 12:26

My first thought was that because it is due to lack of doggy day care, else why do it.

namechangetheworld · 27/02/2025 12:28

HelenWheels · 27/02/2025 12:23

you dont know it is due to lack of dog day care
and how can you compare this to a tarantula?

Show quote history

You're right, tarantulas are much smaller and there's no risk of them hurting a child, shitting in the hall or pissing up the classroom wall. There's no comparison.

whatsappdoc · 27/02/2025 12:29

All the children loved him? You checked with them all separately?

Yes, 70 children in the school, all had voices, all had parents to advocate for them if there were potential problems. Satisfied?

Mrsttcno1 · 27/02/2025 12:30

I can see the benefit of having a dog in a school occasionally but I would prefer it to be a properly trained dog specifically for that purpose rather than just someone’s pet- and I do have a dog so no issues whatsoever with dogs.

My dog has done the courses to be able to visit at the care home over the road from us as the residents always used to speak to us while out walking and asked us to bring him in so we put him through getting the certificates he needed to be allowed to do that. So I trust my dog, he’s lovely, we also have a 10 month old daughter so he is “used” to being around a young child and is amazing with her. He’s great natured, friendly, has never snapped or gave me any reason to think for a second that he would do anything to anybody- but even despite all that I wouldn’t take him into a school environment every day.

ParrotParty · 27/02/2025 12:30

There is a small school dog belonging to the receptionist at our DCs primary and its a very beneficial situation for the children. There were forms to fill out giving permission for contact and if allergies are known about.
The children allowed to see it are allowed to take their work to show to the dog, or walk or stroke it. It's helped hugely with our DDs fear of dogs as its allowed her regular contact with a calm predictble dog to get over her fear.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 27/02/2025 12:33

Do as I say not as I do springs to mind

namechangetheworld · 27/02/2025 12:36

whatsappdoc · 27/02/2025 12:29

All the children loved him? You checked with them all separately?

Yes, 70 children in the school, all had voices, all had parents to advocate for them if there were potential problems. Satisfied?

So you didn't check with them all then, gotcha.

As per the OP, parents are nervous of bringing things like this up and getting on the 'wrong side' of the school. And there's absolutely no chance a 6 year old would have the wherewithal to stand up to their teacher and say they're uncomfortable with a dog in the classroom, most would just sit silently feeling on edge. Even if 99% of the children are fine with dogs (doubtful), 1% will be uncomfortable. Children should be learning and having fun at school, not worrying about whether there will be a dog roaming the halls when they pop to the toilet.

Neither the children or parents should even be put in the position of having to question this. Dogs don't belong in schools, no matter how cute you think they are.

FuckityFux · 27/02/2025 12:37

HelenWheels · 27/02/2025 12:23

you dont know it is due to lack of dog day care
and how can you compare this to a tarantula?

Show quote history

Easily comparable.

I had a boss years ago who had pet Tarantulas and luckily, spiders don’t bother me so I was fine visiting her house. Other colleagues wouldn’t have driven past her front door as the thought of massive spiders wandering around would completely freak them out.

Luckily my boss wasn’t a twat and would never bring them to work or minimise the staff’s distress if they said they were afraid of spiders, unlike the selfish Head in this case.

school is a great place to learn to overcome fear , parents obviously havent succeeded

Sadly, some of you seem to think that having a fear of dogs is unreasonable and the children should be made to get over it.

What’s your own fear? If you were expected to tolerate your particular phobia on a daily basis at work, I’m sure you’d be the first to complain about your Human Rights being breached.

Clearly kids feelings don’t matter? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Truthiseverything · 27/02/2025 12:38

Teachers at my sons school brought their dogs in to class although many of them lived on site as well.
My boys loved it
The dogs used to sit next to the teachers or follow them around the classroom.
I can see if some kids have allergies or phobias it would be an issue but I never heard of it being a problem at their school.
Many found them a calming influence.

TorturedParentsDepartment · 27/02/2025 12:39

mewkins · 27/02/2025 12:25

Not the point but I love the idea of a dog being a professional 😆 My dog is a professional pain in the arse.

The Head at the kids' school brings her dog in, and does end of day gate duty with the dog with her. Dog even has her own school tie that clips onto her collar which the kids (and parents) think is hilarious, and has been known to be sitting at the reception desk for parents evenings at points.

Head doesn't push the dog onto kids who don't want to engage with it, dog is on a lead close to the Head at all times, and is beautifully behaved.

It's rumoured that pilfering of tennis balls from the PE cupboard and managing to get them out of the school gate has reduced dramatically though.

Ilovelowry · 27/02/2025 12:41

Mine have both been to prep school and senior school privately where lots of staff have their dogs on site all day. It's normal.

In fact the reason we chose the prep school was because the head had his two collie dogs lying in front of the fire in his study and we wanted our children to be around that kind of environment.

I think dogs add massively to a learning environment and as long as they are well trained and on a lead, I don't see an issue.

Lilplp · 27/02/2025 12:41

Unless you have very specific concerns relating to your own children, or yourself, then I would leave it.

I think it's a pretty common thing. My kids' school had dogs around. They absolutely loved it and for most people, it will be a nice situation. There were a very small number of complaints and it has now ceased. My eldest has left, but my youngest really misses the dogs. Even though we have our own dog!

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