How many of you are familiar with the Good dog Carl series of children's books by Alexandra Day? Good dog Carl is a Rottweiler that saves the day in all of her books. He is loving and gentle with the baby Madeline and her friends. Any way, I was thinking about going to Children's Centers to do a story time and reading or rather telling the story as most of the books have few words but the pictures tell the story very well. I would be bringing one or more of my dogs with me. Posing as Carl or a distant cousin. LOL My dogs are great with children and are around people of all color, shapes, sizes all the time. Just curious, to the parents on this forum... How would you feel if you picked your child up from Day Care and the teacher said a Rottweiler came to visit today? I am thinking it will be another good way to get good exposure for Rottweilers but I don't want to step on toes of the parents either. The Children's Center managers I have spoken to are really welcoming, but then, they are NOT the parents of these children. Just curious. My old girl and other past dogs went to Day Cares Hospitals, Nursing homes, schools and rehab centers but they were Certified Therapy Dog. My 2 boys now are not. One is too young the other one is CGC, but the local evaluator quit and I have been lazy about going through the Certification test. He has been to Hospitals and Nursing homes and 1 Day Care. All with great success. They are both going to Pet Expo coming up in March if all goes well. So, Parents perspectives please.
Inga
I've head of the Carl series 
Have you ever seen the Rottie episode of Breed All About It? They talk to the author, who also happens to use her Rotts in therapy work.
I think it's definitely something worth trying out. I would personally be thrilled to hear about Rottie visits, but then you already know how I feel about these breeds.
I have noticed, that some stereotypes fall apart when someone is faced with an illness or other ailment that has landed them in a care home. While those outside the facility may think you are crazy, inside the people are usually welcome to any and all comfort they can get.
Have you ever seen the Rottie episode of Breed All About It? They talk to the author, who also happens to use her Rotts in therapy work.
I think it's definitely something worth trying out. I would personally be thrilled to hear about Rottie visits, but then you already know how I feel about these breeds
.I have noticed, that some stereotypes fall apart when someone is faced with an illness or other ailment that has landed them in a care home. While those outside the facility may think you are crazy, inside the people are usually welcome to any and all comfort they can get.
Inga, personally I'd think it was wonderful, however I'm sure there are still others out there that would be intimidated or freaked out a bit by a dog of any kind going to their child's daycare. I think it would be a good idea for it to be mentioned in a newsletter home to the children's parents, that way if there were any objections they could be voiced and dealt with beforehand.
My kids had some of those books. I think it's a cute idea and I would be fine with it. Frosty has been to my daughters school before. They sent out a permission slip and it was first thing in the morning, for kindergarteners only, during "be kind to animals month", or something like that. I don't know if any parents declined or what arrangements were made for those kids though.
Hmm...it's an interesting conumdrum. On the one hand you know your dogs well enough to know they'll behave and be fine, on the other hand parents (when they're in parent mode) can be real PITAs. If you have 10 kids in the class, 3 (parents) will LOVE the idea, 3 will be sort of ambivalent, 1 won't read the newsletter and belately get angry and and 3 will start a protest to which the first three will protest their protest and before you know it you've got a riot on your hands because every parent thinks they and there child are ENTITLED for things to be exactly how they want them all the time. (I taught preschool over the summer...try just planning a stupid ice cream party--there's the kosher deal, the vegetarian deal, one kid was vegan, somebody had peanut allergies, one was lactose intolerant, some parents didn't read the sign and didn't bring stuff...::sigh:Anyway, so I would talk to the directors not the parents and let them help make a choice and then try to plan it at the end or beginning of the day so anyone who doesn't want to participate can just arrive early or leave late.
Anyway, so I would talk to the directors not the parents and let them help make a choice and then try to plan it at the end or beginning of the day so anyone who doesn't want to participate can just arrive early or leave late.
Actually, I have gotten the go ahead by several area Day Care Directors. My boys have both been at one already. Both did well and didn't bite anyone. LOL Not that I even suspected it would happen. They are friendly dogs. I just wondered if parents on this board would have an issue if they picked their child up from Day Care and were told "Little Suzie got to play with our special guest today, a Rottweiler named Oliver?"
If my kids went to daycare and the teacher told me a Rotti had been there...I'd run away screaming in terror J/K
I'd think it was awesome that someone came to read them a book and brought the "hero" of the book. but then again, it's not in my nature to be a pain in the butt when it comes to my kids, as long as they enjoyed it and the dog didn't eat their face off...I'm cool with it. No blood, no foul!
J/KI'd think it was awesome that someone came to read them a book and brought the "hero" of the book.
but then again, it's not in my nature to be a pain in the butt when it comes to my kids, as long as they enjoyed it and the dog didn't eat their face off...I'm cool with it. No blood, no foul!I would be thrilled! Seriously, I would love it if someone visited my son's preschool with a Rottie. It can only be a postive thing to have kids exposed to a good ambassador breed from "the list." We live in a fairly wealthy area, though... and I can see some of the other parents going crazy over it. There are lots of people around here that discriminate by breed, and Cody and I get a lot of judgement when we go places together. One woman at Petsmart yesterday practically RAN away from him. He was laying on the floor while I read a book. Just laying there. He didn't even look at her.
My daughters favorite books (besides her dog, cat and horse breed encyclopedias... yes, she's 2) are the Good Dog, Carl books. The vet I worked for for many years before I had kids loved Rotties and had six of them in the house when she adopted her son (the adoption coordinators didn't like it much, but screw 'em), and she bought my daughter the books. They are awesome!
My daughters favorite books (besides her dog, cat and horse breed encyclopedias... yes, she's 2) are the Good Dog, Carl books. The vet I worked for for many years before I had kids loved Rotties and had six of them in the house when she adopted her son (the adoption coordinators didn't like it much, but screw 'em), and she bought my daughter the books. They are awesome!
Hahaha! I'm the same way. I think that will be my new philosophy... "No blood, no foul!" LOL!
I also think it is a great idea! As a pre-school director, I think you should get each parents' WRITTEN permission before proceeding. There may be a child who is terrified of dogs, have allergies, etc. to which the teachers or director may not be aware. Each parent should be given an individual permission slip stating the date, time, etc. of the visit so that they may plan to have their child absent/ arrive later/ etc. if they are against it. Do not proceed with the visit until all permission slips have been returned! Just trying to prevent any issues (there are always some!)
Inga, i think it is a great idea.....i would have no problem if my granddaughter told me that a Rottie came to visit....but you will need permission from every parent in order to do so......i know this b/c last year i took Lacey to Lelia's (GD) class to do a spelling demo and the teacher had to send home permission slips for each kid in her class (to make sure of no fears, allergies, etc. on anybody's part)
The Day Care that I have taken my dogs to in the past is a hospital employees only Day Care. There were a few children that were nervous, they just kind of held back and I kept my dogs away from them. Not all, but many of the nervous ones seemed to calm down and get a little closer for a look when they saw the dogs laying quietly and their friends petting the dog. One little girl was so cute. She had Carsten laying in her lap. He was only 10 weeks so a bit smaller. The girl was 2 years old. She just kept hugging him and kissing him and saying "cute, he cute." LOL He slept through most of the visit. LOL Oliver strikes fear into a few more until they see was a goof ball he is. It is fun and I do enjoy it. I am debating if schools or Day Cares will be most beneficial. I am also thinking about doing a story time at the Library. We shall see.
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