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 ?

Have you been in a primary school? A dog is going to be one of the most hygienic beings in it 😅

Slightly different but I work on a relatively small further education campus where both the caretaker and counsellor bring their dogs to work on the pretext of them being 'emotional support' for the students. Although trained, both dogs are let to run around - always with their owner but they are excitable..running up to people, down corridors.. the assumption is 'everyone loves my dog' the dog 'makes this a caring and supportive environment' it doesn't work for me and I imagine not others.

Seems to be much more common in independent schools because as I posted above DDs school is exactly the same.

@twistyizzy sorry, hadn't rtft. Yes very common.

All the heads I have known have a dog on site. And currently my DC is being taught with a puppy in one of his classrooms!

The puppy sleeps after all the attention!

DD spends each of her 1-2-1s with her Tutor with a spaniel on her knee (we have working spaniels at home) 🤣. They really help with nervous kids especially when they first start school or if kids need to talk about personal issues.

Sadly, a large number of dog owners are selfish Twats and those taking their dog into their work environment and forcing others to tolerate their presence are the biggest Twats of all.

@Grk Find out what fears your Head suffers from and force them to endure it in an enclosed space with everyone else taking the piss out of them for being pathetic.

Obviously, you won’t do that because it’s deeply unpleasant but so many posters on this thread can’t see the correlation and are advocating doing exactly that to other adults and children.

Well, if you insist on hating something then up to you.

Dislike away if it makes your life happier and more fulfilled.

I am astounded at all the posters saying how normal this is! I've never ever heard of a HT bringing their dog to school!

Anyway, I'd have thought that if this has all been risk assessed and approved, then surely this should have been communicated with staff and parents before just bringing it in daily?

As with many prev posts, there is no way that a dog roaming around a school would have been fine with me when I was younger. If it was on a lead with an adult when in public areas, yes I might have learned to like it or accept it. But having had zero experience of dogs, even a happy excited one would have overwhelmed me totally, esp if I encountered it in a corridor when on my own.

I don't have an issue with this in theory, dependent on allergies within the school. The temperament of the dog would be my biggest concern.

A teacher at our old school did this with her cavalier and it worked really well.

Head at my previous school used to do this and also bring dog through the lunch hall 🤢 I thought it was really unhygienic including walking dog on the playground. Plus it didn't account for children with allergies

This country is going dog-mad, it really is ridiculous. If this completely selfish arrangement had been allowed when I was in school, I would not have been able to attend that school any longer (very allergic to dogs as a child). Absolutely shouldn't be allowed.

What a cavalier attitude!

(sorry, couldn't resist)

Come on.

The head is not doing this because she thinks it's positive to have a dog in the school to help children with anxiety or to promote a home from home environment.

She is doing it because she can't be arsed training her dog to be left at home, and is too tight to pay for a dog walker/sitter.

Dogs do not belong in schools.

I don't think the whole of the UK is dog mad (only 36% of households own one) but unfortunately the majority of dog owners are breaktakingly entitled and think the entire universe should learn to accomodate their pet.

A headteacher abusing their position of power by bringing their pet to work, knowing full well most colleagues and parents will be too concerned about any backlash to protest, is unacceptable.

Any dog can bite if feeling under stress or unwell but not showing obvious symptoms. I wonder if any dog bites to pupils would be insured for? I wouldn't like it.

@HelenWheels , it hasn’t particularly restricted their lives not liking dogs . Obviously if it was a severe phobia it would be different, but they can’t be forced to like them .

I wouldn’t automatically assume she does know about allergies.
OPs post title suggests the dog is in the playground only, whereas it seems to be inside classrooms and the lunch hall.

Two issues. Children not liking /afraid of dogs. And those children with allergies. Of course these can range from sneezing to asthma/ breathing issues.
And yes it’s the Heads job to run the school, prioritising the needs of all the children there not to facilitate her needs and those of her dog. To avoid paying for a dog walker.

I think this is a lovely thing. We share our world with animals. I imagine the vast majority of children love it.

I wonder if any dog bites to pupils would be insured for?

Good point.

No one has said anything hence I'm wondering if it's just me it bothers

Have you considered reporting it anonymously to a higher level? eg asking if this has been approved?

Yes but Im certain it wouldn't stay anonymous there's been numerous situations things have meant to be done anonymously but they don't
It can be an incredibly toxic place at times

But it can be anonymous if you don't put your name to it, and tell nobody. Just say you're a concerned adult

I think if you don't like the headteacher and their leadership or the culture of the school you should think about leaving a finding a place which you like working in.
Life's too short to be unhappy at work.
I don't think the dog has anything to do with your unhappiness, it's like when you are unhappy in a relationship, everything they do is annoying.

Children deserve to be around people with positive attitudes at school.

The number of people on this thread wlho seem to think a headteacher would have somehow been too stupid to risk assess this activity, to consider insurance and allergies is disturbing.