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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
tilligan · 01/03/2025 08:53

Haven't RTWT but ....Allan Ahlberg's poem " dog in the playground" springs to mind

user1471538283 · 01/03/2025 08:56

It was high school but my DSs Duke of Edinburgh award teacher used to take her dog everywhere and it went away on all the trips. The difference was we knew the dog had been risk assessed and it was exceptionally well trained. It didn't just wander about.

monsterfish · 01/03/2025 08:59

I would be curious to know if the school's insurance covers this. Yes I would be surprised if a head teacher would not have considered this but when it comes to people & their dogs the rulebook tends to go out the window.

namechangetheworld · 02/03/2025 08:47

TeenLifeMum · 28/02/2025 22:38

you’ve totally missed my point. I’m not expecting sympathy (I don’t welcome inaccurate assumptions that belittle my allergy) I’m saying mn has a hierarchy of allergies they stand up for - mostly peanuts and dogs, and forget any others.

I’m also saying medical professionals are not concerned about dog allergies in hospitals because it’s not a massive deal. Like other allergies that aren’t anaphylaxis, take an antihistamine and get on with life. School will have a record of the allergies and can act appropriately but a single dog walking round a school in a controlled manner isn’t putting anyone at risk anymore than Sarah in class 2 wearing a jumper covered in her pet’s fur from her morning cuddle.

I can understand parents having concerns if their dc has an allergy or is scared, but just talk to the teacher rather than being over dramatic on mn.

Don't be daft, of course there's a 'hierachy' between a small child's allergy to dogs and a grown woman's allergy to balloons. You, as an adult, are capable of speaking up for yourself and removing yourself from any situation where you might come into contact with balloons. A child, having a dog thrust into an environment where they should be safe and protected, would be unable/uncomfortable doing so, and shouldn't be put into that situation in the first place.

Nobody is being 'dramatic', they're just disagreeing with you. OP asked for opinions on the situation and people are giving them.

neverbeenskiing · 02/03/2025 13:50

Nobody is being 'dramatic'

Sorry but some posters definitely are being dramatic. Telling OP to "complain to Ofsted!", go to the Govenors!" "demand to see their risk assessment!", "threaten to remove your child!"

How about calling the school up and having a calm conversation with someone about her concerns in the first instance?

I am NOT a dog person. I don't own dogs, I don't care about dogs, I don't particularly enjoy being around other people's dogs. But I don't understand why people jump straight to outrage, without knowing the full facts.

Firstly, as a parent you have no right to see a schools risk assessment, unless that risk assessment is about your individual child. But you can ask questions, enquire about how they manage allergies, children who are scared of dogs etc. I would suggest OP do this before making a "complaint" based on assumptions.

I've worked in a lot of schools and I've never known a child be forced, or even expected, to interact with a school dog or even be in close proximity to them. If this happened you would have every right to complain. But if simply being on the same playground as a well-behaved dog, who is on a lead and not behaving in a boisterous or aggressive manner, is enough to distress you or your child then I would say that's a severe phobia that needs to be addressed through some sort of therapy. Also, if this was the case presumably you could make your child's teacher aware, they would speak to the HT and the dog could be kept at a distance from them.

I'm also surprised some people are accusing the HT of hypocrisy for not allowing parents to bring their dogs onto the playground at drop off/pick up. Can people really not see the difference between ONE dog, that is known to staff and under the control of the HT, and dozens of random dogs turning up at the same time every day? Some parents may not be responsible dog owners, some dogs are aggressive and fight with other dogs, people don't clean up after their dogs or train them properly. I'd be really surprised if any school allowed this.

I'm sorry OP but I had to laugh at your comment about the dog not being a "professional"! Dogs don't need professional qualifications to be a 'school dog'. They do need to have a calm temperament and be well trained.There is specific training that you can access for school dogs, reading dogs and therapy dogs, but how do you know your HT hasn't accessed this? Do you have reason to believe the dog is not not calm and well-trained?

BigSilly · 02/03/2025 16:32

If you are concerned, why don't you ask to read their risk assessment?

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