Health and safety risk????!

[SheDontUseJelly]

Hi there - advice please:

I have a 3 year old rescue dog who barks a lot if I go out and leave her alone in the house (which I hardly ever do). The neighbours are not happy and have spoken to me about it, so I try to take her with me, or get someone to look after her.

Tomorrow morning my DS is going on a pond-dipping walk with his class. The walk route and the pond are located on public land with no dog restrictions. I would really like to go and I asked if it would be ok to bring my dog, but the teacher said No - bringing a dog would be a health and safety risk.

I don't get it - they will be coming across other dog walkers, I intend to keep mine under control on her lead, she's not a 'problem' dog (apart from barking at home alone) and I always pick up her poo...

Would you persevere with this one and talk to the Headteacher or just turn up with your dog anyway? Or just give up and not bother? It's too late for me to line up a dog-sitter for tomorrow....

Bit fed up and disappointed really :-(

Tough one!!! From the dog lover point of view I'd go along as you can technically walk your dog there.

From the being told you cant view, what would you do in the unlikely event your dog snapped at or nipped a child? Or if a child had an asthma attack because of the dog. Or the dog accidentally tripped over a child because the child walked into it and fell over and broke their arm or leg.

Mmmmmm

Looks like I'm probably staying at home with my dog... Can't be bothered to press the issue, DS isn't really that bothered if I don't go.
But I do think it's health and safety gone mad.
AND if I find out anyone else went with their dog I will be the one doing the barking tomorrow!

I had a bad dream the other night that town centres were starting to ban dogs. It's probably only a matter of time though...

Yup totally crazy!!!

I remember walking on the beach with one of my dogs and a tiny kid came running up shouting 'doggy doggy doggy' and grabbed my dog and cuddled her. Thankfully she's silly and loves things like that so just stood but I'm not sure how tolerant my younger dog would be to that? Or where I would stand if my dog had nipped her (which she had the right to do IMO). The same dog also got grabbed on snowdon as a lady fell. again she just stood like a rock.

It's a shame you had to ask really dogs are part of some families lives.

Yes indeed - I try to take my dog everywhere with me. I hate leaving her miserable at home. It's a shame there are so many places you can't take them. But to be 'banned' from going on a country walk like this is rubbish...

I see what you're saying, but if they let one dog go, which might be well behaved, they can't really say to the next parent, 'no, you're dog is appallingly behaved', can they? I imagine that is the reason they no longer let any dogs into playgrounds now too. Plus, a dog would be a distraction to the children.

Could u not have a word with your neighbour and explain its a one off and apologise in advance for any barking?

You may have a well behaved dog - but what if there are children who don't like dogs or have a fear of dogs - we know they exist because alot of MNers tell us so

I see your point about it being a public place and dog walking area but as you are going along with your DS class aren't you expected to be there as a 'helper' , in that case best not to have the dog around.

and your dog is not being banned form a country walk she is being banned from a school trip essentially and the responsibility lies with the school - so I think they are right to say no .

Stoney, surely the issue here isn't just that the neighbour will be annoyed by the barking, but that the dog is clearly unhappy being left alone?

OP have you considered seeing a decent behaviourist for help regarding the barking when left?

It was cancelled anyway due to staff illness... and I now have bigger fish to fry on the 'barking' front.. Just about to do another post :-o