Has anyone experienced a school dog?

[LaBelleDameSansPatience]

We have heard of it and many benefits ... I think there was an article in the TES once and we'd like one ... I would probably share it with the school ... Any ideas/tips?

Both my DSs are allergic to dogs, so as a parent, I'd be cross if the school had done this.

Our local secondary has one - I could PM you their details if you wanted to talk to someone with experience?

My friends school had a labradoodle. She isn't a dog person, but found it really helpful in making her and children more accepting of dogs. The dog spent the majority of the time in the nurture room, where children who needed extra support went. They built a good attachment to him (the thing about look after a pet and then you can be trusted with people seemed I be the line) and took responsibility helping feed and walk him etc.

Allegedly labradoodles are very docile and something about their fur means it's really hard to be allergic to them. I don't have that as fact though, just what I have been told.

Our local free school has a dog that reads with the children. She's called scout and the children love her.
This tells you a bit more about her

No experience although I went to a boarding school for 6th form and a couple of staff had dogs, but we didn't really pay much attention to them..... but if a school had a dog I would really want me DC to go there.....can't really put my finger on why.

Yes please Besmirched!

Hmmm casually said I'd PM you but now find I don't know how! Have clicked on your name but can't see a link?

DC's school is mostly boarding and there is a whole pack of staff dogs belonging to members of staff who live on site. A favourite wet/snowy day alternative to sport is taking the dogs for walks and some of them are generally kicking around school with their owners - certainly the DC know them all by name and character.

DS regrets the lack of school cats though . A friend's cat once appointed himself school cat to the special needs school next door to their flat - apparently he would wander in about 9am and sit in the lap of each wheelchair bound DC in turn all day, before poddling off at home time to wait for his people to get home from work .

I have heard good things about labradoodles and cockerpoos as well ... love the idea of the cat ....

One of my DDs had dyspraxia and struggled at reading so at 8 spent one day a week at a special unit where there were 6 children, 2 teachers and a black lab. In a year she went from being unable to read to a reading age above her age. A wonderful setting that was cut a few years later. One of the boys who went with her was recently in the local paper for getting into Oxford. She always said it was the lab that did it! Plus the hot chocolate they all got to drink at break.

If it's not too late... I have experience of a school dog that although not official a school one, belongs to the head and may as well be a school dog. Has had huge success, particularly with multi-academy transition. If you want more info would be happy to PM!

What about Muslim kids, kids with asthma, and kids who just really don't like dogs?

Why Muslim children?

Muslims consider dogs haram, dirtier than pigs, although pet dogs are still often tolerated they just have to wash hands like crazy after contact in order to be observant.

I think it's a cool idea, OP, in theory. We viewed a school that had pet rats and I thought they were brilliant.

We had a school cat.

A big ginger tom called Angus.

We have a dog who comes in to listen to groups of children read, it has had a amazing effect on their reading. Her owner sits just outside the circle of readers and the dog sits in the middle, each child has a turn reading to the dog. It is amazing how confident they are reading to a dog but are very hesitant reading to people.

Probably outing myself here, but when I was in Juniors back in the 70s, our HT used to have his dog in school every day - we've just had a bit of an anniversary celebration and people have been sharing photos, and the dog is on nearly all of them

I worked in a school where one of the office staff used to foster Guide Dogs if their owners were on holiday/hospital etc.

The beautiful dogs used to stay in the office and go for a long walk at lunchtime. The children used to come up with the most wonderful excuses to go and visit her!

Many years ago I worked at a boarding school which allowed the pupils to keep outdoor pets in a little copse near the swimming pool. It seemed to work well.

My only experience is from my school days in the 1970s. My much loathed head teacher had a corgi and the clipping of its nails along the corridor was a warning that she was approaching. The head teacher and dog shared a similar temperament and it was said to have nipped several pupils.

Although I love dogs, I do think there would be lots of problems with allergies etc.

Although I can see the benefits, dog hairs are one of the worst trigger for DS asthma so I wouldn't be impressed if his school did this