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Original poster

Letter from school saying Dogs at the school gates are scaring younger children.....

124 replies

DrNortherner · 22/01/2009 16:11

It is reminding us that dogs sniffing at young kids is scary and that a few parents have complained. It says if you must bring your dog, do not leave it tied up at the gate.

Now as a dog owner, who walks to school with my dog I can't help but feel a bit miffed about this.

Are they suggessting we should leave our dogs at home?

Are these parents who have complained over reacting slightly?

All of the dogs I see at school are much loved family pets and are used to young kids. No harm has ever been done, no barking no nothing. Maybe a bit of sniffing, but hey, isn't that what dogs do? Shouldn't these parents be teaching their kids to walk on by confidently and ignore said dog if they are a little scared rather than complaining that the dogs are actually there?

Or do I need a little bit of prospective here. Interested to hear points of view from all, especially non dog owners.

Thanks.

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gagarin · 22/01/2009 18:59

My two are older now - but...

I like dogs

dd2 loves dogs

dd1 so terrified that she would rather run into the road than walk next to a dog

That is not your fault DrN and other dog lovers - but it's not mine either.

As long as you and your dog were far enough away from the school gates that dd1 could calm down after passing the dog - time to stop shaking and trembling, keep control of her bladder (!) and time to dry her tears of fear then that's fine by me.

But if you were near the school gates so these massively anxious feelings overflowed into the school environment EVERY DAY then I might wish you weren't there!

Also not sure of cultural mix in your area and at your school gates - but the African, Pakistani and Bangladeshi people I know fear dogs - adults and children - as harbourers of rabies and biters. I have seen a grown African man shake when he had to come close to a dog.

PixieMoon · 22/01/2009 19:02

"As a parent I think I should be the one to decide when and where my children face dogs"

Thing is though - that's virtually impossible. You could walk past them in the street, in the park, on the bus at any time. Just like you could 'face' anything else that is a normal acceptable everyday part of our society. Therefore children need to be equipped to deal with them.

southeastastra · 22/01/2009 19:05

i've tried to get my son to 'deal' with it.

doesn't work. especially when a dog is left tied up (with no owner in site). it's a no brainer really.

our school has a no dogs policy, in the playground and on gates.

LynetteScavo · 22/01/2009 19:06

Well, the mum who brought the pet rat onto the playground scared the hell out of me.

The only dog we have tied up at the school gates is abssolutely georgous, and obviously a massive softy.

Sidge · 22/01/2009 19:06

I don't think dogs should be tied up at the school gate - it doesn't leave the children (or parents) any way of avoiding them.

If you want to walk your dog to school fine, but tie them up well away from the school gate if possible and if that's not possible then don't bring them.

(There's also the factor of dogs weeing and pooing by the gate, not all dog owners are responsible enough to clear up after their pets and seeing dog poo by a school gate is just revolting.)

CarGirl · 22/01/2009 19:08

I love dogs, I had to get dd2 over a major fear of dogs then last summer my dd3 was bitten by a dog on a lead just because she walked past it.

She is scarred for life, she is now petrified and I don't think having to walk past several dogs on leads in her "safe" environment of school. Our school gates are heaving with people and the beginning and end of the day.

Leaving them somewhere away from the congestated areas where it is easy to get past/avoid tied up dogs is acceptable though IMO.

coppertop · 22/01/2009 19:18

PixieMoon - Out in the street I have the option of crossing over the road, using a different area of the park etc. I know because my eldest child had an absolute phobia of dogs. If there is only one way out of school and dogs are tied at the gate then there is no option.

littleducks · 22/01/2009 19:28

I dont mind dogs being around my childrenbut i dont want themto touch my kids, simple, my children arent scared so the presence of dogs doesnt irritate me but they need to be kept under control,and if the owner isnt present they cant be controlled

If you have a dog,on a lead that (with in reason) obeys you and you dont let it touch me or my children (no sniffing/licking/jumping/pawing) and recognise when i avoid contact with the dog thats fine, i wouldnt be happy about unattended dogs particularly several dogs together

littleducks · 22/01/2009 19:28

I dont mind dogs being around my childrenbut i dont want themto touch my kids, simple, my children arent scared so the presence of dogs doesnt irritate me but they need to be kept under control,and if the owner isnt present they cant be controlled

If you have a dog,on a lead that (with in reason) obeys you and you dont let it touch me or my children (no sniffing/licking/jumping/pawing) and recognise when i avoid contact with the dog thats fine, i wouldnt be happy about unattended dogs particularly several dogs together

littleducks · 22/01/2009 19:28

I dont mind dogs being around my childrenbut i dont want themto touch my kids, simple, my children arent scared so the presence of dogs doesnt irritate me but they need to be kept under control,and if the owner isnt present they cant be controlled

If you have a dog,on a lead that (with in reason) obeys you and you dont let it touch me or my children (no sniffing/licking/jumping/pawing) and recognise when i avoid contact with the dog thats fine, i wouldnt be happy about unattended dogs particularly several dogs together

littleducks · 22/01/2009 19:28

I dont mind dogs being around my childrenbut i dont want themto touch my kids, simple, my children arent scared so the presence of dogs doesnt irritate me but they need to be kept under control,and if the owner isnt present they cant be controlled

If you have a dog,on a lead that (with in reason) obeys you and you dont let it touch me or my children (no sniffing/licking/jumping/pawing) and recognise when i avoid contact with the dog thats fine, i wouldnt be happy about unattended dogs particularly several dogs together

littleducks · 22/01/2009 19:28

I dont mind dogs being around my childrenbut i dont want themto touch my kids, simple, my children arent scared so the presence of dogs doesnt irritate me but they need to be kept under control,and if the owner isnt present they cant be controlled

If you have a dog,on a lead that (with in reason) obeys you and you dont let it touch me or my children (no sniffing/licking/jumping/pawing) and recognise when i avoid contact with the dog thats fine, i wouldnt be happy about unattended dogs particularly several dogs together

littleducks · 22/01/2009 19:28

Sticky keys oops

DontCallMeBaby · 22/01/2009 20:35

DD has actually become much happier around dogs since she started school and walks past the school-run dogs every day. There is an ever-changing variety of them, they will be tied up to the school railings, never less than about four metres from the actual gate. If someone had a problem with them they could cross the road to get away from them, or cross the road later than they might otherwise do. DD is really interested in them, and it's given me a chance to teach her how to approach a dog (she likes to stroke them on their backs for some reason, so I'm teaching her not to just march up to a dog with its back to her and start stroking ...)

There are two reasons why this is okay in my book - the layout of the school means you can tie a dog up without people HAVING to walk past it, and so far all the dogs have been very well behaved (taking a very jumpy/bad-tempered dog on the school run in this manner would be irresponsible, children ARE going to appraoch it whether you think they shouldn't or not).

wb · 22/01/2009 21:00

I love dogs BUT if most dogs were 5'5" tall and so on eye level with me I would not like to walk through a narrow gap with them on both sides.

YABU - take them on the school run by all means but tie them up well back from the gate.

gagarin · 22/01/2009 22:05

pixie - I worked very hard to teach my daughter not to run in a blind panic when she saw a dog.

She learnt to stand still (shaking and crying) until I reached her and could steer her round the dog at a safe distance while saying positive things about dogs and dog owners.

But if I'd had to face that every day at close quarters at the school gates I think we'd all have been exhausted and her fear/phobia of dogs would have become more entrenched.

And she was never scared of being bitten - it was being jumped up at with licky pink slimy doggie smelly tongue and drool that did it for her - so puppies were the worst torment!

Comma · 22/01/2009 22:06

Fucking dog owners never get it do they.

Original poster
DrNortherner · 22/01/2009 22:11

You sound lovely comma.

OP posts:
Mspontipine · 23/01/2009 00:33

But you don't do you? - If you did you wouldn't assume everyone else wants to wade through your vile smelly dog poo.

Mspontipine · 23/01/2009 00:35

That's the poo - not the dogs - I love dogs but I have little love left for dog-owners.

Mspontipine · 23/01/2009 00:42

I live on a new estate - which should be pleasant to walk round but sadly many dog owners think so too.

Many dog owners from the terraced streets across the road think it's fine to walk through our estate letting their dogs crap all over our little open-plan lawns, verges and green spot. It is vile.

The poo also surrounds the local school - right up to the gates - so they're obviously dropping off. If they have so little consideration for others I doubt they give a jot about anyone else's child's feelings or safety.

aGalChangedHerName · 23/01/2009 07:01

The parents at our local primary have had numerous letters to tell them that dogs are not allowed at school (and also not to park outside the school) but as usual thay do whatever they damn well want.

They are inconsiderate and ignorant imo. We also have the problem of the dog shit outside the school/on school paths. They are ofter chained up opposite each other too and start fighting and straining to get to each other. It's not nice to see and it is frightning for children.

sandcastles · 23/01/2009 07:12

I am a dog owner & there is NO way I would take my dog to the school.

He is a 2yr old Border Collie that LOVES children. He loves to play & jump up at anyone too! But jumping up at a child can easily knock them over & something that happens easily on a lead.

He almost knocked me over with a friend jump up not so long ago.

Yes, I think YABU.

twentypence · 23/01/2009 07:16

Children are taught "if a dog is on its own leave it alone". If it's tied to the school gate you can't really safely do that without going presumably near the cars.

Taking your dog is fine. leaving it on its own outside a school is not.

Furball · 23/01/2009 07:22

Please consider those that don't like your dog. I don't want to offend you as it's your pet, but

My ds (7) is always very wary of any dog and sometimes we have to squeeze past some dog owner stood in the way to get out the school gate assuming we might want to pat their dog.

One person who hasn't got a school child walks their rottweiler past the school at going/home time and lets the kids pat it to prove that he's a big softy.