Help Please Postman & My Dog

LillyJ

Mojisola wrote: »

Some dogs do have particular people they react against. My neighbour's dog goes crazy when the window cleaner comes - it seems to be the noise the ladder makes that sets him off.

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My dog is the opposite in that he LOVES policemen. My OH is one and obviously the dog has seen in him uniform. Because of this he is absolutely obsessed with all policemen.
He goes crazy with excitement if he sees one. In the street he will start wagging his tail like mad and trying to get to the police man for a cuddle. Some police officers came round to take a statement from me once and I have never seen him so excited. Then the other day there were some in the street and he was at the window with his tail going like mad. It's really weird. It's not the same with female officers, just men.

So Dogs obviously are able to recognise uniforms.

Milford_Cubicle

I would certainly echo the idea of a rattle tin or bottle to try and discourage the barking. It's also worth trying a shock tactic (loud noise or squirt of water) from somewhere the dog doesn't realise it's you. If you're able to hide round a doorway and do it, then great as the dog won't put two and two together and realise it's you making the noise/squirting the water, just that something happens he doesn't like when he barks at the postman. Even just doing it as his back is towards you and quickly hiding the thing you've chosen. Good luck.

UKTigerlily

Only thing that concerns me is that rattles etc aren't supposed to be used without a trainers advice afaik? And isn't this just rewarding the dog?

izzitme

LittleMissRolo wrote: »

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You could (as daft as this sounds) ask the royal mail for an old uniform and wear this yourself, aroud the house, then 'pretend' to be the postman once your dog is used to you in the uniform. See what the reaction is then

I suppose its how much effort you want to put into changing your dogs behaviour

Good Luck

Still watching this thread & this reply has reminded me of something. My next door neighbour has two dogs. When I am wearing my uniform (with the orange hi-vis colours), the pair of them go mad, barking & pulling to try to get to me.

When I am in my "civvies", they are totally different. They either ignore me or approach me to be petted.

A lot of dog walkers I meet on my round also say similar things about the uniform colours.

HTH

kazwookie

My postie brings his dog with him on his round~~~~it guards him:rotfl:

janeys

I am a postie and have had the misfortune to have been bitten 3 times, 1 very seriously and was off work for 5 weeks Im scarred for life and disabled by it. I am a dog lover and did not ask for the dog to be put down even when the owner in their shock suggested it. I know accidents happen but it is how you deal with them that is important. I agree you should contact your insurance but I also agree that you must contact your delivery office, not doing so might show that you are not taking the matter seriously. Most posties come across loads of dogs in their day to day life and have no problems, from what my colleagues have said it is always how the owners react that makes a difference. I have had owners say he wont bite, but the dog is snarling. Others tell the dog to smile and the dog bears its teeth. He doesnt like men, (im female). I think he doesnt like the hat, can you remove it. do you handle drugs (NO):rotfl: , he always goes for the druggies. Hes only being friendly. I could go on but you get the picture. We dont always know when a dog is friendly when it runs at you.

As for getting a uniform and desesitizing your dog, imho this doesnt work as my rescue dog would go for the mail in the letter box even if I was delivering it, we had to get a mailbox on the outside and correct our dog on the inside it is the only safe option. Please contact the delivery office they will be more than happy to help, you are a conciencious dog owner, let them know that.:)

clutterydrawer

I was a postman till a few weeks ago. If you apologise and take steps to make sure it never happens again, everything will be fine. However if you've had a warning and it happens a second time all hell will break loose, as it will look like you don't care.

That's how we worked it at my office anyway. I'm sure as it's a one off you will be fine, especially if you're putting up a wall mounted box - i used to really appreciate it when people did that as it showed they were making an effort :T

I have been bitten several times and as i felt all of these were genuine unfortunate accidents, never took action against the owners or dogs - but I would've if I felt the dog was genuinely uncontrollable and dangerous.

Sammy_Girl

Thanks so much for the replies, especially the Posties input. I have a definite plan now.

1. Call insurance company to check
2. Write an apologetic letter to the Delivery Manager
3. Get an outside mailbox and fix it to the wall by the gate
4. Start desensitizing and training my dog to not bark at the postman - this will prob take some time but it will def be worth it.

Thank you so much for the advice, it is much appreciated.

UKTigerlily

Sammy_Girl wrote: »

Thanks so much for the replies, especially the Posties input. I have a definite plan now.

1. Call insurance company to check
2. Write an apologetic letter to the Delivery Manager
3. Get an outside mailbox and fix it to the wall by the gate
4. Start desensitizing and training my dog to not bark at the postman - this will prob take some time but it will def be worth it.

Thank you so much for the advice, it is much appreciated.

I'm sure RM will see you're a responsible & caring dog owner & customer & are concerned not just for the dog but the postie too. If you do all you can to prevent a repeat they should be happy! I imagine they take each case on an individual basis, some people might not care at all & might not even bother to apologise/contact RM or sort their dog.

I think you'll be fine & it's nice RM at least write. I'd be mortified too if the dog i'm getting does this but hopefully she won't go near the door as I have a seperate door to the main room, but you never know so it's good to know RM at least try to sort it. Think i'll do the posting letters through aswell or get someone too, can't hurt can it!

Ms_Chocaholic

Just one thing that hasn't been previously mentioned, can you fix one of those springy closer things to your garden gate so that the gate can never be left open.

It doesn't stop your dog biting the postman in your garden but stops him getting into the street, biting the postman there or god forbid getting run over.