School is getting a dog

[SchoolDogBadIdea]

I've named changed for this as there is information that would identify my DS's school. I am a long time poster.

So this week my DS's school (primary) announced that the school is getting an 8week old labrador PUPPY! It will have its own office and will supposedly be a "therapy" dog. They have stated it's gifted by X breeder and put links to the puppy farm breeder in their email to parents. Apparently he's the perfect puppy for the school because he's a Labrador.

I'm actually really pissed off. It's a disaster in the making. They have plainly failed to consider:

1. that Labrador puppies are very mouthy, strong and jumpy and that they need to get to two years old to calm down enough.
2. The risks of overwhelming the puppy with the shear number of different children and extra noisy environment thus risking creating fear.
3. what happens when this all goes wrong - are they going to get rid of the puppy for being too much trouble? (Thus teaching the children, when an animal is a problem get rid) or are they going to spend a fortune on a behaviourist?
4. what happens if puppy gets ill or worse dies?

To make it even worse:

1. the "breeder" is 100% puppy farm - who school have now advertised as a good breeder. Also means puppy is more likely to have health problems.

2. The parents are working type and the "breeder" themselves has described them as hot headed. This puppy is from the wrong type of lines to be the calm therapy dog school believe he will be.

3. This dog will have huge exercise requirements that will not be met by being taken around classrooms.

There's loads of other issues too but there's too many to think of at once.

The school told the children about the dog before anything was said about it to parents. So the children are all looking forward to having a cute puppy in school.

It's just so irresponsible!

Awful idea.

Rainbow you seem to be trying very hard to ignore blatant issues, as well as not only ignoring that the "breeder" is a blatant puppy farm, but even trying to praise them! Are you the puppy farmer, the school or just someone that keeps blinkers firmly on when it comes to seeing a puppy farm for what it is?

I am not alone in my thoughts, there are a number of parents in my DS's class who are very concerned that school have not considered this at all and have been very irresponsible thus far, so are questioning how can this possibly turn out well. I didn't post on the day it was announced, I waited a few days, people have tried to get more info and got nowhere - other than how perfect it will be because pup is a Labrador. School have also made sure the information they send out is very much we are doing X and we don't want to properly communicate with you about it.

All my DS knows about the puppy is it's name and that it is cute, will go around the classrooms and have an office for when he isn't in class rooms. Also that they have to talk not shout when puppy is in their class.

DS asked me if puppy would be sad and lonely when left at school - so blatantly doesnt know if it's going home with a teacher. (Ive told him I think puppy must be going to go home with a teacher - because I bloody well hope so but since school aren't open to discussing that, I don't actually know).

Our primary (and nursery) had a variety of animals brought into school. All from professional animal handlers, all verified (not through bloody facebook either) Pat dogs, guide dogs, hearing dogs, reptiles, arachnids etc. Parents were told in advance so they could flag up any issues.

What this school is doing is "ooh a free dog how marvellous." No obvious thought as to how to pay for vet bills, insurance, training etc. When ptas everywhere are running events to pay for basic equipment, schools are asking for donations regularly, getting a dog is s crazy idea.

They have been told that, both of my children told me he was going home with a teacher they were told in assembly, as I have repeated a couple of times but you choose to ignore it as it makes your story more dramatic again as I have repeated they have also been told he isnt going to spend lots of time in the school whilst he is little and that they have to learn to be very quiet when he is around.
I cant believe you would actually make out they would leave a puppy in the school its ludicrous.
I dont believe they wouldnt have told parents the teacher thats having him as they told my kids the teacher so its not likely to be a big secret.
Ask yourself see what they say no one can tell you on here can they.
Also in regards to the puppy farm the reviews appear very good no slandering on google of poorly puppies. Some people do make a living out of breeding animals not something I agree with necessary but if they arent unhealthy and are sociable then thats the crux of the issue here.

I trust the school to look after my kids so I trust them to make decisions which can impact on my children, I am sure alot of thought has been put into their decision so I will trust them and go with it. Its a puppy not a baby t-rex.

Rainbow I can only assume you run the puppy farm or you've never owned a young lab puppy.
Anyone who has ever owned an 8 week puppy will tell you that they're really not suitable for taking into a classroom with young children at that age, even if they come from the best breeder ever.
Therapy dogs are specially chosen and hundreds of hours are spent training them for the role by people who are properly trained.
This sounds like a monumentally stupid idea.

Rainbow you’re either the puppy farmer, or woefully ignorant in such matters. Either way maybe you should desist from commenting on things you know nothing about.

School dogs are great. School puppies aren't. My dog would be a shit school dog. I know that because he's 3. I wouldn't have known it when he was a puppy.

I think primary school age may be too young to have a school dog - and any school dog should be a well-trained, reliable, older dog. not a puppy.

My dd's high school (so older children) is on a campus near woods, green areas etc - very spread out with lots of buildings. loads of teachers bring their dogs to school with them (not therapy dogs just their dogs who have been properly trained and are on leash when at school unless in an office). Most of the kids love having them around. One of dd's friends is scared of dogs but she just steers clear of them - they don't roam free.

JiminyBillyBob I know more than you, My kids go to the school so I know facts such as the dog not being there all the time and not living at the school which has been mentioned many times, I think they have taken into account it being a puppy by not having it there all the time.
Funny how people think I am the puppy farmer because I disagree..

rainbow My son does not know anything about the puppy going home with a teacher. They have said when it's not working in the classrooms, it will be in its office (that's what DS said and it's what the email said) so I don't know where you've got the idea that it's definitely not going to be in school much. I have not stated or made out puppy will be left in school overnight, however as they won't provide this information and have behaved so irresponsibly with this so far, I can see why people are worried about that. I am hopeful that puppy is going home with someone but with the lack of thought and irresponsible way they have behaved so far, and their inability to just say or answer with a simple sentence like " will be living with ", it has put a bit of a question in my mind.

Can't believe you are still defending the puppy farmer. They don't fully health test and seriously go and look at the conformation of the Cavalier bitch, who has given them their latest Cavapoo money makers puppies. She should not be bred from at all, the conformation is totally wrong, in all the worst ways and crossing her won't magically make those issues go away. There will be puppies with serious medical issues being bred from her.

I said in my (1st?) response, that I'm going to call RSPCA to see if an education officer can speak to them. As at least that should ensure they actually consider the pups suitability before he arrives (which definitely hasn't happened so far). It will also make sure they have actually properly considered the pups welfare and management - which I am not confident they have really done.

That's a constructive way forward and I'm glad that a pp came up with that. I put it on MN because I wanted to vent my annoyance and get ideas like that. I am not prepared to try and speak to them in person again and am concerned about implications for my DS if I raise it fully by email (as are others I know).

Anyone who willingly breeds mixed breeds and mongrels is a puppy farmer. They are quite literally farming puppies for money.

I'm sure they've thought this all through and the dog will be very well looked after. Don't be a stick in the mud, the kids and the dog will love it. What a wonderful idea!

"I am not prepared to try and speak to them in person again and am concerned about implications for my DS if I raise it fully by email (as are others I know)."

Are the teachers part of the Mafia

Doesn't sound good but I'd want to get the full facts from the school first. I'd be interested to know if it is indeed the same school Rainbow is talking about.

@TheHobbitMum you haven't done a good job of hiding the name of your child's school. I can clearly see what it says in the url.

" Can't believe you are still defending the puppy farmer. "
I havent defended the puppy farmer...

"so I don't know where you've got the idea that it's definitely not going to be in school much "
I have told you a ridiculous amount of times now my kids told me they were told in assembly exactly which teacher was looking after him.

"I am not prepared to try and speak to them in person again and am concerned about implications for my DS if I raise it fully by email (as are others I know)."
What do you think they are going to do to your ds?

Honestly this thread gets more and more ridiculous as it goes on.
Good luck with the school!
Hopefully no harm will come to your ds if you ask them a simple question 😂

To be fair, you have no idea that OP and rainbow are from the same school, and even if you are, it's quite possible that your children are in very different year groups, so will take in different facts. You're definitely holding your cards close to your chest with the details on both sides, so you can't compare details!

DD1's (12) HT (Special School) has a 14 year old boxer dog that's a PAT dog. One day she got mad at lunch time and escaped the school grounds, over the fence. School is on a main road, so they just can't have her doing that. If she does, they will have to exclude her on H&S grounds. Her HT took her for a walk with Barney to chat. Now, when she gets really angry and upset with her peers, she goes to the office and asks to walk Barney. Someone gets him and they walk him across the field and back. It works for her.

I don't want them being unfair to my DS because I've upset them by pressing a point they made very clear they were unwilling to discuss. My DS also requires extra support that school are not striclty obligated to give but is good for my son if they do - I won't rock the boat incase they decide they wont do it.

I'm going via the sensible and no come back on my ds method of asking the RSPCA education officers to talk to school. I am also considering typing up all the questions and sending an anonymous letter asking that they provide the information to parents.

Again no one is objecting to a dog being at the school.

The benefits are well known

The op is objecting to this puppy on very justifiable grounds . A puppy who is not trained nor will necessarily make the grade in orsernto serve the purpose intended.

She has already said she is behind therapy dogs. A properly assessed and trained dog from.a reputable source .

Why do people not see the difference here and want her made out to he a spoil sport ?

Lougle I think the right dog can be good to have working in some schools and I'm really pleased your daughter has that option/ solution to help her.

When is this 8 week old puppy going to arrive?

After half-term (he is not yet 8 weeks)

who is going to have overall responsibility for the dog? its walks and training and toileting?

i agree its a terrible idea.

So he will only be at school for maximum 6 weeks before going home with staff member for long summer holidays

My lab is a lovely soft old thing but I wouldn’t trust him around small children, he’s enormous. He has a Tail of Doom that’s like being hit with a whip and he has a very deep loud bark. He’d frighten the little ones. He’s your typical bouncy lab too. It would be a disaster, even if he is a lovely dog to me.