School Dog

[duzzlightyearsmum]

We have recently applied for DS secondary school place at the local school which we visited last summer term. For reference DS has ASD and ADHD, very recently diagnosed. When we visited DS was happy that this would be his secondary school.

Since our visit we have now found out the school have an on-site ‘therapy’ dog. DS is terrified of dogs - run out in front of traffic, climb up trees, refuse to move kind of scared. Apparently this dog is used to support children in the school and often wanders the site.

We haven’t told DS about this yet however i wonder where we stand in terms of requesting that the dog not be allowed to wander? If DS encounters this dog he will most likely refuse to return to school.

Any advice as to what we can do from here?

Start with questions, not demands. Tell them the problem and ask how they manage it and how they would support your child. There will probably already be children at the school who have been similarly terrified and they've dealt with it. There may be a written policy in the policy section of their website, or ask if there's one, but mainly, talk to them. I would be very surprised if the school didn't show understanding of students being scared and have an action plan in place. But if they don't, I'd be wary.

We have looked round so many schools both MS and special recently, and I think they have nearly all had some form of therapy dog, usually a teacher's pet trained up. Running free is less common TBF in a big MS school and I would want to check the details on that. But equally the contact time will be much less. I have only come across them running free in smaller specialist units. At bigger schools they tend to be based in pastoral support or similar so they have a definite "home".

DS still hates dogs in general (proper running away vocalising) but he now makes an exception for the school dog. He sees dogs as unpredictable and inclined to chase and snap, whereas school dogs are fundamentally different in his mind - well trained, placid and predictable. He doesn't have to learn to trust all dogs, just the one.

My sons also petrified of dogs and this would be instant school refusal from him!
They would certainly have to stop it being allowed to wandered around.

Thanks for your replies. I will certainly be asking the school how this will be managed.

I am very concerned about how this will impact his transition to secondary school. If the dog is based in the pastoral ‘base’ this will stop him from accessing this service as he will not go in the building where the dog is and the autism team are also based there. I understand dogs can be very beneficial for some people but I think there is a huge lack of understanding around people who are scared of them and how severe that fear can be.

Hopefully the school will be understanding of his fear and support them

We have found this to be a big problem, but allergies instead of phobia.

Personally, I would be looking at whether other local schools have a dog and if they don’t considering changing the order of the schools.

can you work on your DS’ fear over the next year? Even if the dog doesn’t wander the site the likelihood is he will come into contact with it at some point - maybe a kid in his class would really benefit from the dogs presence for example.

We have 2 school dogs. One who is a therapy dog one afternoon a week but always on lead and only works with specific children in a specific room.
The other dog is a PAT (pets as therapy) trained. He does not have free reign of the school but will walk around with office based owner as she does jobs .

When children start school the adults are asked about how their child are with dogs. If they have any concerns dog not allowed in class or wherever the child is. This dog had been in school about 6 years and every single child has come to love him. They stroke and play with him even the children who are petrified of dogs want to speñd time with him. They hear and see other children spending time with him so see he is save. He doesn't jump up or bark. He is a Cockerpoo so no issues for those with allergies.
Ask the school how they deal with the dog and share your concerns. Is it a PAt dog that has undergone training.maybe they can send photos of dog home,we have a book about our school dog with pictures ,his name etc.It is a SEMTH school so a variety of differing needs for the children.good luck

He is a Cockerpoo so no issues for those with allergies.

This isn’t correct unfortunately. There are many, including my DC, with allergies to animals for whom no dog is safe. Cockapoos are low shedding not zero shedding, no dog is truly completely hypoallergenic.

People who think dogs many claim to be hypoallergenic are safe have caused my DC to have reactions, including anaphylactic reactions.