This is another dogs outside schools thread I'm afraid.

[theBFG]

But I don't want it to degenerate into a dog lovers vs dog haters thread.

There are lots of parents who bring their dogs to school to pick up the kids. The rule is that dogs are not allowed inside the school gates, and on the whole parents keep to this. moreover, most tend to only bring their dogs if there are two people, and one keeps hold of the dog while the other goes in and gets the kids. I have no issue with this.

However, there is one parent who brings his dog to school, ties it up outside the gates and then goes in to drop off/collect his child whose classroom is on the other side of the playground. The dog is agressive. He barks, snarls and growls at other dogs who walk by, bearing his teeth and straining at his lead. He is a big dog, and although some of the other dogs do bark/growl back, they are all with owners, on leads and all under control, and immediately disciplined for their behavior.

My concern is that an unattended dog is unpredictable, and cannot be controlled, and therefore should not be left alone outside the gates.

Ibu?

YANBU at all.

I think I'd have a word with school and mkae sure they're aware of what's happening. Perhaps suggest they could send a letter to all parents, something along the lines of "dogs should not be left unaccompanied outside of the school gates"

yes I do agree with that.

My concern is more that he is left unattended, and that if he were to slip his lead for instance, or the lead were to come off the railings and he got loose, he could go for another dog and there would be no-one to control him, or worse, a child could go and stroke him as another dog went by and the child could get caught iyswim.

YANBU and I am a dog owner and I walk my dog to pick up ds but only when dh can come with me and then he sits on a bench a little way from the gates while I go and get ds - because although I have a very old docile golden retreiver some kids are scared of dogs and we respecct that. I never take him on my own and I would not tie him up in case some child tried to poke him in the eye for example and I cannot predict how he would reacct - you can never predict a dogs behaviour - even though mine is docile and lazy - perfect for me .

I used to leave my dog with a friend outside the gates, but not sure if I would have left her alone (she's a staffie). Bring it up with the head, especially if he is aggressive. Not all dogs who snarl at other dogs would bite a person, but you don't know the dog at all.

YANBU. I agree with timmette - I am a dog owner too and I would never tie my (extremely docile and child-friendly) labrador outside a school unless someone was staying with her. It's not fair on the dog if another dog has a go at her, and it's not fair to expect dog-loving children to walk past a cute-looking dog without wanting to pet it! Also not fair on kids/parents who are scared of dogs etc etc. Definitely have a word with the school.

YANBU. I have two dogs, one of which behaves in the manner described. We don't leave him ties up unattended ANYWHERE - especially not outside a school. It's not fair to passers-by.

YANBU no problem with quiet calm dogs outside school, but a dog that's getting wound up by being there shouldn't be there. A staffie slipped it's lead when tied outside our school and attacked one of the other dogs there. A nice quiet dog that was just minding its own business. I didn't see it but my friend did and found it very distressing.

YANBU the sad thing is this one owner could get all dogs banned from the school gates.

I have a tiny, girly dog so he goes in my bag with his chewy snack and the zip done up. He doesnt mind at all.

Its one of the reasons I got a tiny, girl dog (that people laugh at) this time. I
know my dog owning limits and a big lovely doggie just wouldnt suit. One problem is that I wouldnt be able to leave him outside the school because he would get nicked.

Anyway - back to you . I am sure there a many parents who are getting wound up about this scarey dog and the school may well decide if one goes, they all do.