Teacher’s dogs in classroom?

[Sunnyday14558]

Our son starts school in September. We had a meeting this evening with the new class teacher and fellow parents and the teacher dropped on that she has two sausage dogs. She said she brings one into class and is going to bring the second into class next week and ‘hopes he gets on with the kids’. All the fellow parents made a lot of ‘awww’ sounds but honestly I was a bit surprised.
is this normal in schools? She also said that if any parents were uncomfortable she’d try and work something out. I’m nervous around dogs but mostly because I have a four year old boy who doesn’t have experience being around them. I feel in an awkward situation where I don’t want to be ‘that’ parent if I say I’m not happy but equally, maybe it’s ok? So confused

Just spotted your earlier post saying you are a teacher yourself. Sometimes as a teacher, you, perhaps, don’t want to be the ‘teacher parent’ who queries things. It can make you seem awkward or unsupportive of your teaching family.

However, you’re right; you didn’t ‘sign up’ to this. Your son is starting school which in itself is a big deal for you and him. Fretting about a dog in the classroom and feeling you’ve been duped is no good. Contact the Head for clarity. If you still aren’t happy with the response, request a ‘dog free’ classroom and teacher.

Insist that there are no dogs.

I wouldn't worry as long as they are well behaved and stay in their baskets, which I assume they are.

I think she's actually serious! 🫨

I am a huge dog lover and adore dogs, but this is an accident waiting to happen. Far too much overwhelm for the dogs and a teacher and TA wouldn’t be able to give the supervision needed. My cockapoo is friendly, but when he’s around my 4 yr old nephew I never take my eyes off them, as him running around does make my dog anxious (probably as i’ve told him off for chasing them).

Dogs have no place in classroom or an office. The teacher will be focused on her dogs rather than the children. The person in our office who has two dogs is constantly talking to them, taking them out for walks at odd times of the day, presumably also to poo and wee or trying to keep them out of trouble.

I have dogs put their paws on my table and try to sniff my lunch. Doggie toys strewn in corridors or I hear them hurtling down the corridor. Thankfully no barking except very occasionally.

Just awful to have them foisted on you when all I want to do is get on with work.

Have a chat with the teacher informally. With the level of anxiety you have for it I think you need to. Plan what you say and separate your fear from the concerns about the dog in class.

Completely unacceptable. Report to them to the school head, the government, the police and news agencies to raise awareness. We cannot, and should not, allow our precious angels exposure to venomous and dangerous wild beasts like sausage dogs. The world has gone mad. If we allow this, what's next? A trip to the zoo? Reading? Social interaction? Stop it, now.

I love dogs. We have a dog. But there's no way that I think dogs are appropriate in a classroom with small children.

Apart from the risks in the classroom, where does she take the dogs to toilet? Hopefully away from school grounds.

FFS, you sound like an arsehole.

What about those kids that are scared of dogs? You think they should suck it up because you came up with great sarky response?

Those 'kids' who are afraid aren't the ones posting here? What about people in Guatemala who are allergic? That's what you sound like to me by making up scenarios that have nothing to do with the OP query.

OP, here is a thread about why dogs are considered a positive and 'transformational' experience for students. There are also some comments around minimum safety standards etc

https://www.nationalschooldogalliance.co.uk/why-every-school-needs-a-school-dog-and-why-standards-matter/

FWIW, I don't think your concern is something to be mocked, so apologies to you if my previous comment came off that way, as it was direct towards the comments that aimed to instil panic rather than education for you to consider in addition to your concern

If you do a search, 'dogs in schools UK,' you'll find that there is a national movement to include dogs in the classroom as part of curriculum for a number of reasons so you will probably see that this will be a growing trend. Ask your school what safeguarding they have put in place etc. I'm sure they will be happy to assist.

Excuse any typos: it's just before 4 am and I've had no coffee yet

@BloodyRoses even though I don't agree with creating scenarios to justify responses, your post brought to my attention that my comment to other posters was not helpful to OP, so thanks for that.

People don’t always know they are allergic to dogs. Children could have reactions and it not be obvious initially but every day over time their symptoms would be there and perhaps worse. How can the school ensure carpets or floorings are free for allergens? The playgroup near me has to fog the floor because they had an outbreak of D&V but animals every day?

My dd's state primary school has a resident dog (who belongs to one of the teachers) However he mostly stays in the school office. The kids are occasionally allowed to read to him and pet him etc as a treat/therapy. I think this is lovely and beneficial. However as far as I know he is never forced on kids/parents who aren't comfortable with it. Daschunds aren't the most reliable of breeds around young children and I could only hope that this teacher has fully risk assessed the situation. I do understand your concerns. Done correctly it could be really positive though. My dd loves her school dog.

What do mean making up scenarios? My DC is petrified of dogs. If they went into a classroom where there was a dog, I'd struggle to get them back there again because they have ASD and it's a severe fight/flight response that's not necessarily logical to others.

Is it really that hard to imagine that bringing a dog into school is a bad idea?

It's a bit weird having dog in the classroom, but on the other hand it's no wonder kids grow up with anxiety disorders when parents are constantly trying to shield hem from every conceivable danger, and this apparently includes sausage dogs.

But your child's fear isn't relevant to what the OP is asking. That's my point. I love dogs. But that has nothing to do with what the OP is asking.

is this normal in schools? She also said that if any parents were uncomfortable she’d try and work something out. I’m nervous around dogs but mostly because I have a four year old boy who doesn’t have experience being around them. I feel in an awkward situation where I don’t want to be ‘that’ parent if I say I’m not happy but equally, maybe it’s ok?

The question is specific to her and her son and not all of the potential issues for other students.

I don't see how it's helpful for her to be asked to consider everyone else when she's trying to figure out what to do about her son.

Dachshunds aren’t the best dogs around kids. My work revolves around dogs and they certainly aren’t my favourite breed due to them often being a snappy breed

My eldest daughter is terrified of dogs, so I wouldn’t be happy. We’re working on this ourselves but if I’m not there she is still terrified. I’ve also known a few sausage dogs in my time who are grumpy little sods and werent great around children
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I think therapy dogs bought into school for reading etc great. The owners very kindly volunteer to do this. They are able to not bring the dog if it's not appropriate e.g if its been under the weather. We had an amazing dog come into school once a week. He is now retired.
Teachers getting puppies and bringing them to school to be in all day every day I don't think is great. The dogs haven't chosen this. What if their temperament isn't right for a classroom. What if they have had enough. It's not fair on the dog. It's also an accident waiting to happen. A school cat - great....because the cat won't be there if it doesn't want to be. It will get up and go!!
Also dog poos and wees in the playground and on the field - yuck. Unless they have a fenced off area.

Our school (private) has 600 students and three dogs, belonging to staff. I'm not bothered but I know others are. The dogs are with their owners at all times and always on a lead. One of them belongs to the SENCO and I assume an argument was made about emotional regulation or something. Personally I lean towards to no-dogs camp purely because I don't think it's a good environment for a dog with potential overwhelm and noise and also because of course some children will be allergic.

If the dog is in the classroom, in all likelihood it'll be crated during lessons.

DC's headteacher brings their dog into school. The students love it.

I’m gobsmacked this is allowed tbh. An occasional therapy dog yes but not what you have described. An accident waiting to happen I think. I love dogs too.

What happens if they toilet in the classroom? Is she going to have to interrupt class every time they need to go out?