Does your dog chew up your mail?

Nice_Username

My 10-month-old labrador sometimes decides to chew up the mail that comes through the front door - not every day but just every now and then. Why do dogs do this? Is it boredom, hunger, attantion-seeking when they have been left alone? Does anyone have any tips for getting them out of this habit?:think:

Also, if I need a letterbox cage is there one that fixes on a UPVC front door without needing screws?

minnie123

My dog does this he has been doing it for 5 years since he was a puppy - we got one of those door cages but he ended up ripping it off the door to get to the mail. Dogs just love postman & their post - It must be bred into them x

vicx

My Yorkshire Terrier (who has now sadly passed away) used to go mad when the postman came. As soon as he seen or heard him he would jump up at the letter box and try to bite the postmans hand then bite the mail as it came through the door! He wouldnt actually chew it though.

We have a porch now so it's not a problem. The yorkie I have now runs to the mail as soon as I open the porch door to collect the mail, he would probably bite it if he seen it come through the door.

You can buy the guards which have suction cups especially for upvc doors. You probably find one on Ebay.

elsien

Mine used to be ok but started doing it a couple of years ago - I put it down to boredom as it's only when I'm out and if I leave any newspapers out as well the house looks like a snowstorm. The cage worked for me - she has a bit of a woof then leaves it alone.

Stephb1986_2

My border collie does this we have a letter box cage too but she's worked out how to open it so we've tied some wire around it but she can pull the post through it how she does it I do not know! She's a devil she just likes to do it I think she rips up her foam bedding now so I've bought fleece blankets she is only 14 months old.

Steph xx

BubblyMumbles

I would suggest that you restrict access to the letterbos eithe by closing a door or putting up a wire box thingy to cath them mail, but mostly I would suggest training them not to do it.

It'll take time but I'd watch for the postie coming, get your pup in a sit and stay and reward them for staying there when the post comes through. chuck some treats in another direction so they'll associate the post coming through the letterbox with a good thing happening elsewhere etc.

I'm sure there's a few methods to try.

have a look at Victoria Stilwell's site, i've seen her train dogs on her TV programme not to do this, so there will probably be some info on her site.

foreign_correspondent

my dad's does!!

Buying him one of these from Aldi this week I think!


http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_13566.htm?WT.mc_id=2010-03-29-11-15

bethie

can't help as the dog shows no interest in the mail, but the cat will start mrawing once it arrives, and won't stop until you come downstairs to pick it up!!!!

mrcol1000

Just to add Royal Mail in my area are getting very tough on dogs and are refusing to deliver to people whose dogs go for the letter box. I think you get one warning and then you have to go to the sorting office to get your mail. I am also getting increasing mail returned to me with comments written on regarding it being inaccessible due to dogs.

This is very bad behaviour that you need to train your dog out of before the postman gets bitten.

custardy

mrcol1000 wrote: »

Just to add Royal Mail in my area are getting very tough on dogs and are refusing to deliver to people whose dogs go for the letter box. I think you get one warning and then you have to go to the sorting office to get your mail. I am also getting increasing mail returned to me with comments written on regarding it being inaccessible due to dogs.

This is very bad behaviour that you need to train your dog out of before the postman gets bitten.

once you have lost flesh/nails to a dogs teeth at the back of a letterbox you are less undderstanding
although the most painful one i got was from a cat doing it!

suisidevw

Our border collie goes nuts when the postman arrives, never seen him go for the door but when we get back from work etc it has often moved around the house but not ripped!