Dogs and letter carriers have a “special” relationship. We are all familiar with the stereotypical portrayal of a dog chasing after the postman as he enters the yard.
It is a stereotype that is often comically perpetuated in commercials, cartoons and movies.
As comical as it may seem, dogs chasing the letter carrier is actually a very serious problem that should not be taken lightly.
Dog bites to letter carriers are increasing in frequency, and British Columbia seems to be the worst of the worst for these canine offenders.
Now, I know what some of you may be thinking: ‘My dog is well socialized and would never bite.’
But the fact is that even the most well socialized dog still has the potential to feel threatened and bite a letter carrier that enters its domain.
That well socialized dog may have been startled, sleeping or in a highly stimulated state due to being aroused by the sound of another dog walking past, or a squirrel jumping branches.
In any case, every dog can make a bad decision in the heat of the moment and react out of either fear or boldness, and when that happens, it is the letter carrier that pays the price.
Even if a dog never bites, the threatening behaviour of barking and lunging is enough to cause serious anxiety to the postal worker entering the property. As a homeowner, you may not think about the fact that your yard is the letter carriers work environment. In essence, it is their office.
And if Fido is lurking in the bushes, it is a work environment filled with fear and stress.
The anxiety created by just the possibility of being bitten by a dog is not a pleasant experience. Trust me, I have endured a few nasty dog bites in my illustrious dog training career and post-traumatic stress is real.
When the situation becomes unhealthy a letter carrier will attach a warning to the mail encouraging the homeowner to curb their dog, be it keeping them inside or leashed. If the notice is not heeded, the mail delivery can be suspended. In extreme cases where a known biter is at large, delivery for the entire street can be suspended.
Captain obvious says the best way to avoid mail disruption is to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place.
First and foremost, dogs should not be left unattended in a yard when a letter carrier is doing their rounds, pretty simple to adhere to that one.
But we should also talk about training.
If you are able to encourage your letter carrier to participate, create a learning environment for your dog where Fido sees the mail delivery person as a vending machine of treats, instead of a chew toy.
Letter carriers may not be able to carry around a pound of dog treats in their already heavy mail bags, so have a special jar of treats near the gate of your property.
When the letter carrier arrives, have Fido leashed and introduce Fido to the delivery person using those treats. I have a greeting exercise that I teach which involves Fido sitting and focusing on their owner.
A helper stands about five feet away and is given a treat. When Fido is sitting calmly it is given the command “Go say hi” and lured with a treat to the helper. Fido then sits politely in front of the helper and then gets a treat and a gentle touch. Fido is then lured away from the helper with another treat.
For dogs that are in the house and attack mail dropped through the mail slot, I suggest that that jar of treats be placed outside the door.
Before the mail is dropped, a couple of treats are dropped first then the mail and following the mail another couple of treats.
Fido will soon learn to ignore the mail for the cookies as the front door mail slot is now turned into another vending machine of treats.
There really is no need for a letter carrier to be threatened by a dog, or have to endure the feelings of stress and anxiety when they enter a property to do their job of delivering your mail.
Be a responsible dog owner and do the right thing, curb and train your dog and help these postal workers do their job, through rain, sleet, snow – and dog.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. [email protected].
