Postman dog attacks are on the rise
New figures from Royal Mail show that there were more than 2,200 postman dog attacks in the past year which is an increase of 15% compared with the previous year. While it’s unclear how many of these incidents involved a dog biting the postman, some have led to permanent and disabling injuries for postal workers.
What’s particularly interesting is where these incidents are typically occurring. Almost half happened at the front door with just over a quarter happening in the garden or driveway. A total of 389 injuries occurred through the letterbox, with some potentially occurring when owners were out of the house.
Royal Mail also listed the postcodes with the highest number of incidents. Portsmouth and Belfast came first, followed by Bristol and Brighton jointly, then Plymouth.
None of these statistics are here to scare you. But if you’re concerned about your dog’s behaviour around post and deliveries, there are some easy things you can do to help prevent an incident and avoid upsetting legal action. (Of course, you should always seek the help of a qualified behaviourist where needed.) Even if your dog is just a puppy, it’s still a good idea to implement at least some of the following tips to reduce the likelihood your dog does develop an issue with postal workers as they get older.
1. Get an external post box
The easiest way to stop a dog from biting the postman is to prevent them from being able to reach someone on the other side of the door. That may mean installing a wire cage by your letterbox so they can’t reach fingers that come through. Or getting an external post box so people don’t have to put things through your front door.
If you have a porch, you can even put up a sign asking postal workers and delivery drivers to leave post there. Anything that means they don’t have to stick their hands near a place where your dog’s mouth can reach them.
2. Put up a gate so your dog can’t access the front door
I think baby gates are one of the most underused tools when it comes to dogs. My dog is eight years old and I still have a baby gate up to stop him from leaving the living room when needed. When somebody knocks on the front door or even when he alerts me the post is coming by barking, I’ll still direct him to the living room and shut the gate. He is highly territorial and will likely rush at the door if given the chance.
While I could train him to do some of the other things mentioned below, I’ve chosen to prioritise other things (like helping his reactivity around dogs). I also always tell clients that if there’s an easy way to solve a problem where everyone’s kept safe and happy, go for the easy way!
The gate is an easy prevention method that requires zero effort. Just make sure it’s stable and big enough to keep your dog in when they’re amped up.
3. Teach your dog to go to their bed when someone knocks
You can combine this with the gate so they go to somewhere comfortable and then you can secure them there. You may also need to do this with the above tip if your dog tends to run straight for the door before you’ve had a chance to secure them behind a gate.
When teaching your dog something new, you’ll need to start in a distraction-free space. And it’ll take time before you’ll be able to use this when someone’s at the door. But once your dog can do it when no one’s there, you can gradually make it more challenging by knocking on the door yourself, then asking your dog to go to their bed, working up to having people they like knocking on the door and then finally trying it when the post arrives.
Here’s a (very brief) run through of the steps you’ll need to teach your dog. Excuse my outfits – it was very hot when this was filmed! P.S. this is real life, unedited training which doesn’t always go smoothly! But amazing what you can achieve in a week when you’re just having fun with training. Another few weeks of this and Winston would have been a pro!
If you need help to master this sort of thing, let me know! Although it’s not something I’ve prioritised with my own dog, it’s something I’ve taught many others to do.
4. Create positive associations from an early age
When someone delivers something, simply scatter some great treats on the floor as soon as your dog hears or sees it.
People often think trainers are using treats as a distraction. In actual fact, what we’re doing is creating a positive association. Someone turns up to the front door and your dog gets the good stuff. What do you think will happen if you keep doing this every time the post comes?
Your dog will detect the post and come to you for their treats. And if they’re coming to you for their treats, they can’t run and bark at the door. I know which habit I’d rather create!
5. Avoid having your dog loose where they can see people
Some gardens wrap around to the front of the house and some back gates may have gaps in between where your dog can see people approaching the house and potentially get to them. Dogs have been known to break through gates in some cases. So make sure that your dog isn’t left loose and unattended if they’re in a place where another person can reach them and that all gates and fences are properly secure.
Although we can ask postal workers not to enter gardens with a dog, they may not realise your dog’s there until it’s too late. And the responsibility lies with us to do our best to ensure there’s not a chance of a dog biting the postman.
If you get caught out and are about to take your dog out for a walk when the post’s coming, just ask your postal worker to leave your post at the end of your drive or to come back to your house when you’re gone. The closer they come, the more chance there is of an incident if your dog’s not comfortable. Good communication can work wonders!
Remember: if you are concerned about your dog’s behaviour, whether it’s around postal workers or anything else, seek the help of a qualified behaviourist. None of the above is designed to replace personalised behavioural advice.
