Dog at school and child with phobia

[LittleMissMe99]

In my daughters school they have a wellbeing area where all children can go. If they're upset, lonely, just want a chat etc. Really lovely idea I think and works very well. My daughter who is 11 (just started secondary school) won't go because they have a dog and she is terrified of them. Full blown phobia There have been occasions when she has been alone at lunch time and wanted to go there (where there are other kids in a similar situation). But she's too scared. She's a very shy and anxious child and will not tell them shes afraid of dogs. I'm wondering should I mention it to the school? They won't get rid of the dog because of one student will they? What would you do?

[Hedonism]

@gogohmm

Perhaps the therapy dog can help her overcome her fear. If the dog is ok to be in school it will have assessed, the perfect way to help your dd

Nice thought, but if you are wanting to go to the wellbeing area because you are feeling sad or vulnerable then you probably aren't in the right frame of mind at that moment to work on conquering your phobias.

[CrossStichQueen]

@RueValens great so you can help more than one child at once.with.minimal fuss.

It's not minimal fuss. A decent cage/run needs to be provided for guinea pigs. It's cruel to keep them in small indoor hutches. They need to be cleaned out regular and the food, bedding and vet fees will need to be met by the school. Someone will have to take them home in the holidays and see to them at weekends.

A therapy dog is already owned by someone so those costs are met by the owner and as therapy dogs are "volunteers" there is no cost or fuss and they live with their owner.

[Blahdeblahaha]

@RueValens great so you can help more than one child at once.with.minimal fuss.

[Velvian]

Sorry I meant @LittleMissMe99 (fqt fingers).

Your DD needs help with her anxiety about school, but can't access it at the moment due to a phobia. It is quite a common phobia and usually develops for a good reason.

I say that as a dog owner and mum of DCs that have benefitted from therapy dogs in school.

[CrossStichQueen]

Oh please...specially trained to be petted by a 6 year old that has fallen over...that is so ridiculous. Save money/time/hassle and get a guinea pig.

Yes specially trained. Therapy dogs are owned by volunteers. It maybe that the dog belongs to a staff member and has received the the training.
There is no cost involved as its voluntary.

[RueValens]

Guinea pigs should also not be kept as solitary animals, they should be in pairs at least.

[RueValens]

save money/time/hassle and get a guinea pig.

Honestly I don't think a guinea pig would enjoy being handled by lots of different kids, and it's much easier to mishandle or harm a guinea pig accidently.

A dog you could have multiple children petting it at once and because of its temperament as a therapy dog, it would enjoy this and be happy. You can't train a guinea pig and a load of children trying to pet it or being passed around lots of kids could be traumatic for it. Plus they poo and wee where they are which could be in the lap of a child.

[Velvian]

Your poor DD. I must admit that this is something that always crosses my mind when I see a therapy dog in school.

I think that you should mention it to the school @AliMonkey

[RueValens]

I have a phobia of spiders so your DD has my sympathy. I had CBT for it but it all seemed to be a lot of "isn't it irrational to be scared of spiders, what harm can they do?" But I was already aware that they couldn't hurt me! I'm not scared that they will hurt me! I'm just scared because they look so creepy and horrible. I'm aware that even if a house spider bit me, it's not going to do any damage. I know they are really wonderful creatures that do a job and are needed in our ecosystems. None of this rationalising helps me not be scared.

And that's with a spider! I imagine a phobia of dogs may be worse because dogs actually can injure/hurt and kill people. If I'm terrified of spiders that I know can't hurt me.. imagine being scared of dogs that can hurt you!

I'm not sure what to suggest though. I love dogs personally and find cuddling one to be great for my mental health. Perhaps there should be designated times for the dog to be in the therapy room, or designated days.

[Blahdeblahaha]

Oh please...specially trained to be petted by a 6 year old that has fallen over...that is so ridiculous. Save money/time/hassle and get a guinea pig.

[CrossStichQueen]

Sorry...don't dogs bite too

Of course they do however service dogs are chosen for their placid nature and are trained. It is very very rare service dogs bite if it wasn't they would not be used so widely.

We are not talking service dogs either we are talking young children who just want distracting from their woes and calming.

Of course that's a service dog. Any dog used in this setting will be a trained therapy dog and if it isn't it should not be there. Dogs used in this way have been proven to support those who are anxious, distressed hence why many children with ASD have service dogs and adults who suffer with PTSD.

I get that you are not a dog lover and while I agree that there should be a dog free space also I don't think it's fair to remove something that many children will feel much benefit from for 1 child. I think there needs to be compromise.

[gogohmm]

Perhaps the therapy dog can help her overcome her fear. If the dog is ok to be in school it will have assessed, the perfect way to help your dd

[Blahdeblahaha]

Sorry...don't dogs bite too? I've had gerbils and guinea pigs and not been bitten. Gerbils maybe a bit squirrelly but guinea pigs are usually happy to be petted/held. We are not talking service dogs either we are talking young children who just want distracting from their woes and calming.

[MarigoldPetals]

I completely agree there should be dog free time and space.
Not everyone likes dogs, it doesn’t have to be phobia. Also it shouldn’t be allowed in all spaces in the well being area because some people may be allergic.
Great if the dog is there at set times but not acceptable if it is there all the time.

[CrossStichQueen]

Blah rodents bite and frankly cannot be trained as well as dogs. Rodents don't show the same emotions as dogs hence why they are already used as therapy animals as they can be taught to sit still/lie down while being petted which some people find calming.
Such dogs need little supervision and their walking/toileting can be done at set times. Again service gogs are trained not to bark or cause disturbances.
All this evidence you want already exists if you just look at what sort of working/therapy animals are used the most.

I do agree though that there should be a space that is dog free so that all children can access support.

[Blahdeblahaha]

@CrossStichQueen because I would like to see the research that a dog provides more therapy at school than another animal that may need less looking after at the school, and be happy to be contained in one area without significant supervision by an adult that should be there (paid) to provide a service for children as a whole, and not look after a pet that needs to be walked and toileted outside, potentially bark/cause disturbance and allergies and trauma to others.

[Nightynightnight]

@Mariposista not really if it costs an arm and a leg to "do something about it". You would think that psychological services were widely and freely available to all that need them but they just aren't. As with everything only the rich can access these things quickly and easily.

[Mariposista]

It's not your choice whether or not you have a phobia, but it is your choice whether you do something about it!

[Bodice]

To be honest I don’t agree with dogs in schools at all. Not everyone likes them and a lot of children have allergies. My son has a dog allergy and it annoys me that he has to put up with dog allergens at school.

[steppemum]

Nightynightnight

spot on, well said

[Nightynightnight]

The school should have separate times/rooms for support for children who can not be around dogs. Otherwise they are neglecting to support children with severe allergies, children with cultural aversions to dogs and children who have anxiety around dogs. Perhaps your daughter's school already does this but she hasn't been made aware of it, but if they don't you can ask for them to put it in place and you would not be unreasonable to do so.

Also for those telling op to sort her child's phobia now, I can understand that this would be hugely beneficial to the child it will not be a priority within CAMHS who can barely cope with the number of suicidal children they are supposed to be supporting and if OP is anything like the majority of parents in the UK at the moment finding £50-£100 per session for hypnotherapy or £60 -£100 per session for CBT may not be remotely possible.

But asking the school to provide the same level of support to her daughter as other children is possible.

[steppemum]

I actually feel quite angry with many of the answers on this thread. Poor kid!
I am a teacher. I have a teen who has had many mental health issues over the last 3 years, and has been VERY dependant on the student services for support.
We also have a dog, so I am not anti -dog.

Obviously in an ideal world, the OPs dd wouldn't have a phobia, but she does, and while I think working on the phobia is a good idea, this child needs to be able to access the school's well being services safely and at the moment she can't.

Please talk to the school. Explain the situation. I am willing to bet she is not the only one. I am also willing to bet that they have a work around, another space, or times when the dog isn't there, or someone she can go to and ask to use the centre, so that the dog is taken out of the way for a while.
She needs to be able to access this place. If that means that the school needs to work round the dog, then the school needs to think about this!

There are many reasons why kids might not feel comfortable with a dog there, includeing cultural ones, does this school have any muslim kids? Because many of them might struggle to use this space as the dog makes it unclean. Not great is it?

[CrossStichQueen]

I'd love to see the independent research that shows that a dog as opposed to a hamster or guinea pig gives more wellbeing benefit within a school

Why?
Is it not obvious that dogs are much more sociable and can be trained to follow commands where a hamster cannot?
Dogs are used to support the blind, deaf, disabled and those who suffer with PTSD and in some cases ASD. Therapy dogs are used in hospitals and care homes which has proven to increase people's wellbeing.
Why are you likening dogs to rodents?

[Shlomping1234]

My cousin had hypnotherapy for her phobia of dogs and is fine with all dogs, and now has a Husky which she adores. Definitely worth looking into.

[Blahdeblahaha]

I'd love to see the independent research that shows that a dog as opposed to a hamster or guinea pig gives more wellbeing benefit within a school