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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to take my dog on the school run?

47 replies

exasperatedmummy · 22/10/2008 11:06

I know that dogs are a big mnet no no at schools, but would you REALLY mind, if i were to take my gorgous little JRT type dog, who loves everybody with me to pick up DD.

I had resigned myself to the fact that, because there didn't appear to be anywhere to tie him whilst i dropped DD off, that would allow people to give him a wide berth should they want to avoid him, i wasn't going to take him. But apparently we can, unofficially leave them by the bins, where he wouldnt be able to jump up at people (he would jump up you see).

Would this really upset other mums? Someone took a puppy to school, My DD is at preschool, and the children thought he was wonderful. And a lady took her little dog in, it would be really nice to take mine as it would be a good run for him.

OP posts:
Geepers · 22/10/2008 11:08

Why wouldn't he be able to jump up near the bins? If a child approached him, would he be able to jump?

Original poster
exasperatedmummy · 22/10/2008 11:10

he would actually be behind a gate, so no he wouldnt be able to be approached, or jump up - he might be able to be petted over the top of the fence, but i would assume that the mums who let their children pet the dog wouldnt be bothered by it.

OP posts:
Gobbledigook · 22/10/2008 11:11

I wouldn't want the dog in teh playground or near the kids.

If the dog was left away from children it would be none of my business!

Ohforfoxsake · 22/10/2008 11:11

People bring their dogs and either tie them up outside or carry them in. Why can't you carry him?

One mum used to pick up her child at our nursery with her dog, on no lead, leave by the gate for it to jump up on buggies, babies and small children while she collected. Now thats a no-no in my book!

Marne · 22/10/2008 11:11

But if they end the rules for one they will have to do it for others.

Some children don't like dogs (even small cute ones)

People tie there dogs up outside the school gates at our school.

I think if i took my dog there would be loads of complaints (she's a staffy) even though she would'nt hurt anyone.

No dog is 100% safe

BellaMummy · 22/10/2008 11:11

It's probably not what you want to hear, but not everyone thinks your dog is gorgeous or would appreciate being jumped up on. At school drop off time there are lots of children around, and they don't always know to keep a wide berth from your dog.

My dd gets quite freaked by dogs who are exuberant, even though I try to explain that they are just playing. Sorry, I just don't think that school drop off time is the place for dogs.

2shoesdrippingwithblood · 22/10/2008 11:14

I would take himbut stay with him and get another parent to bring your child out.

Original poster
exasperatedmummy · 22/10/2008 11:15

Bella mummy, OF COURSE EVERYONE THINKS MY DOG IS GORGEOUS .

Its difficult to explain the set up actually. I agree with everyone that he shouldnt be tied up outside where he could jump at the children, that is not on. But this is an area cordoned off for compost bins [nice] that the children aren't allowed into.

I'll ask today, but i do appreciate that if they bend the rules for one, then they might have a doggie play group too

OP posts:
Flum · 22/10/2008 11:16

I think its fine.

Its good for kids to get used to dogs, it stops them freaking out when they do encounter one when not used to it.

Its a bit 'nanny state' to say you can't bring your dog out for a walk at school pick-up time.

Much nicer than whinging toddlers - can't they be left at home in a kennel too? Purlease. Someone will always find something annoying about anything.

What you are suggesting is not antisocial behaviour!!!

I do think you should scoop the poop though!!!

hatwoman · 22/10/2008 11:16

if it can go in with the bins (as it were) in a little fenced enclosure then I really don;t see a problem with that. it's not in the playground. can't jump up. can be avoided. dog fearers and haters have to accept that they are part of life. and sometimes they might have to see one.

(there are so many dog threads at the moment on mn...most strange...)

nappyaddict · 22/10/2008 11:17

i would tie him up outside the school gates.

MadreInglese · 22/10/2008 11:17

Not everyone will think your pooch is as wonderful as you, and you can never vouch 100% for your dog's behaviour, especially if you leave him somewhere on his own. Also, not all children coming in and out of school are supervised so you can't guarantee their behaviour towards your dog either.

Would you be happy for another mother to bring eg their beloved pet snake/tarantula/ferret/hawk to school to mingle with the kids?

How old is your DD? Can you stay on the pavement outside school with your dog when you drop off/collect her, or do you need to go in?

mistlethrush · 22/10/2008 11:20

I wouldn't take my dog even though she wouldn't jump up and is very good with children - I don't trust all children to be as gentle with her as ds and so wouldn't want to guarantee her behaviour - although, left to her own devices (so that she can remove herself from situations if she feels uncomfortable and there is no confrontation) I do think she is very good.

I think that the only reasonable way of dealing with this if you really want to walk him to school (which I understand) would be to walk him there then pick him up and put him into a special carrier so that only his head is out, he can't do anything and is 100% in control and out of the way of small people. This way, no one could worry that he could do something to their child. All children would see that the dog is not a concern (some children are very frightened remember). And you wouldn't be worried about what your dog was doing or what other people might be doing to him while you're away.

Original poster
exasperatedmummy · 22/10/2008 11:21

i would think it was great if people brought their pet snake/ferret/hawk to school to mingle with the kids - i might suggest it for show and tell

OP posts:
MadreInglese · 22/10/2008 11:21

Things is, it has to be a blanket rule IMO. If they do allow it then as nice as your dog may be, another dog might not be so nice.

Freckle · 22/10/2008 11:22

Goodness, there are so many dogs outside our school at pick up time, you'd think it was Crufts! Most owners seem to stay with their dogs and the children come out to them, but some leave their dogs tied up alone. There's never been a problem and most of the dogs end up surrounded by adoring children.

MadreInglese · 22/10/2008 11:23

Show and tell is a bit different to a regular occurance at the school gates though

Wouldn't a small dog be a bit freaked out to be left in a little fenced off bin area with all the kerfuffle and noise of school finishing time going on outside?

hatwoman · 22/10/2008 11:24

if I got a penny for every time I hear a non dog liker tell me that not everyone likes dogs...I'd have ooo about a tenner by now. MOST OF US KNOW (we get told enough). if you read the thread the dog wouldn't be mingling with the kids. And sorry but PMSL at the special carrier. your life would be considerably safer if we went back to having people walking infront of cars waving red flags. but no-one suggests that.

Callisto · 22/10/2008 11:25

Get a muzzle for him, just for the school gates bit. Even if he is trustworthy it means that he can't bite whatever, plus people are more likely to stay away from a dog with a muzzle on. When I was socialising my ex-racing greyhound he always wore a muzzle in 'public' and it was more to keep people from crowding him than because he was likely to bite.

From personal experience, JRT's are NOT particularly trustworthy anyway - too independant, intelligent and feisty.

islandofsodor · 22/10/2008 11:25

There are often dogs around at dd's school. As long as they are under control I don't see a problem though I owould be a bit at one in the actual playground.

If we walked to school I could see it would be convenient to combine the daily walk with the walk to school.

bythepowerofgreyskull · 22/10/2008 11:26

I think that if more people took well behaved dogs to the school gates then there would be fewer children afraid of dogs..

MadreInglese · 22/10/2008 11:27

I'm not a non-dog liker btw, I love dogs

GylesBandwidth · 22/10/2008 11:28

agree with bythepowerofgreyskull.

mistlethrush · 22/10/2008 11:40

btpogs I agree - but this would be 'to' the school gates rather than into. Despite being a dog owner and lover, I think that it is not unreasonable to expect 'inside' to be dog-free...

bythepowerofgreyskull · 22/10/2008 11:40

what is a JRT?

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