Royal Mail threatens to stop deliveries over dog attacks

We have too many dogs with owners who have little idea what their dogs basic needs are, much less how to meet them. Dogs are dogs, not fur babies, or status symbols.

I have two dogs now but have had three in the past. I’ve found increasingly I avoid some much loved walks because of the number of over stimulated, barky dogs, off lead who run up, no manners around other people, never mind dogs.

My son went to deliver a parcel to the neighbours one evening - thankfully without his 2 little boys in tow . The neighbours had just got a new rescue dog - it hit my son on the leg and he was 7 hrs in an A and E a few miles away . Faf to have stitches and antibiotics . The rescue place wouldn’t let the dog be returned until it had a psychological assessment . Poor postman in that area !

I also worked on the post as a student and it's not as easy as people might think. Out of control dogs are a real problem. It's far from funny.

Why don’t Royal Mail just do it now instead of pontificating.

Jaxjacky

Why don’t Royal Mail just do it now instead of pontificating.

Exactly. It's obvious that there is a problem, so just take action now. Our neighbours have a very yappy little dog which they just let outside and pay no attention to whatsoever - and so whenever anyone walks past or is delivering to them, it causes absolute havoc. I don't think it's actually bitten anyone (yet), but I have seen people actually stepping out onto the road because they've got such a fright when it rushes up to the gate yapping it's head off, so it's an accident waiting to happen. And yes, it was bought on a fad during lockdown...

Please stop either the ‘rant over’ instruction. You have a point to make, not a rant.

In 1970 I worked on the post at Christmas! I loved it but I was told in no uncertain terms that I did not deliver to any house where a dog was loose or could be heard at the door! To receive their delivery, the dog owner had to go to the sorting office, without the dog !

Some terrible stories here and I feel for all those affected by dogs ether threatening or biting them. The huge increase in dog ownership during lockdown has really changed society in many ways. I am not sentimental when it comes to dangerous dogs. They may have bitten a man today but tomorrow it might be a small child or baby with tragic results. They should be put down, no exceptions, and the owner banned from keeping any more. The risk is too great I feel.

We don’t have a dog (wild ducks and rabbits visit) but recently a popular delivery company has sent a text message asking for all pets to be shut inside when a delivery was due. Most of our neighbours have well behaved dogs so perhaps our postcode has got a bad name?

Oh my goodness, obviously we don't want them getting bitten by dogs,but to do that, they first have to have the intention of delivering letters, which in my area they seem to have no desire to do. We don't all have a vicious dog or maybe not any dog, but hey we might have a scary looking letterbox, you know, that gaping slit in a door in which letters used to come through. Then of course it's the sickness levels why they can't deliver, oh but now it's holiday season so they can't get the cover, then someone dropped their ice lolly in the sorting office so work had to stop for three weeks while thy delivered all the Amazon parcels. Grrrrr, makes me growl like a dog !! ...Rant over...'As you were' !!!

Aren’t the householders responsible for keeping their dogs under control in the first place?

Do people still use ‘Beware of the Dog’ signs?

My job involved home visiting. I was very clear with people that I expected any dogs to be put in a separate room and not to be in the front garden when I arrived. Some people did not like it but that's just tough!

Before I started doing this I once rang a doorbell and there was a massive crash on the front door and the barking of the massive jobs scrabbling behind the door. I left!

Massive jobs!? .... dogs

1summer

My Dads twin brothers were both postmen many years ago and both were bitten and chased by dogs on numerous occasions. They were required to report to Royal Mail when attacks happened and Royal Mail reported to the police.
On one occasion my uncle after being quite badly bitten by a serial offender dog reported the incident ( in fact he was unable to work for over a week) and the police removed the dog and the dog was put to sleep. The owner, when my Uncle returned to work, beat him up and put him in hospital. Royal Mail did take action against the man. Also he was put on a black list and all his post had to be collected from the sorting office.

The mentality of that dog owner beggars belief.

Clearly there are individuals who simply should not be allowed to own dogs.

Luckygirl3

My job involved home visiting. I was very clear with people that I expected any dogs to be put in a separate room and not to be in the front garden when I arrived. Some people did not like it but that's just tough!

Before I started doing this I once rang a doorbell and there was a massive crash on the front door and the barking of the massive jobs scrabbling behind the door. I left!

Paramedics also insist that pets are isolated in another room.

Apparently, there are still those who object.

I had to call an ambulance during a Covid lockdown because my now late OH had fallen from outside the shower cubicle - into it, could not get up, and I could do nothing but try to make him comfortable as I was just out of hospital myself and weak as the proverbial kitten.

The shower room led directly into the conservatory where the back door had a cat flap installed. My cat is not aggressive, but a cat is a pet, so I immediately locked the cat flap from the inside.

The ambulance crew were talking to and attempting to pacify Mr Dickens whose main concern seemed to be the banging and high-pitched wailing from outside the back door.

Still in the shower though now in an upright position but obviously in pain and quite disorientated, my OH whispered to me as he winced with the pain "I think the cat is stuck outside and wants to come in"...

The crew explained to me that even a docile animal - of any description - is a distraction, and can be unpredictable in its behaviour in such abnormal (to an animal) situations. It's patently obvious to anyone with a modicum of sense that dogs are territorial and protective of their environment and their owners, and can never be relied upon not to attack someone they see as an interloper. No matter how many times they insist - whilst holding on to its collar as it strains to 'greet' you, "oh, he won't hurt you"...

You did the right thing.

I am an ardent dog lover and I think this is perfectly acceptable. It is my responsibility to keep our postman safe, even from being loved to death as with our current dog!

I do think that the number of dogs has gone up so much that now there doesn’t seem to be anywhere free of them. And I am a person who loves dogs and has had them as pets. Sadly I can see that many dog owners don’t have a clue about training their animal and will laugh indulgently when their dog misbehaves.
Also the ‘my dog is just friendly’ comment by way of apology is lamentable.
And with dogs now in restaurants and cafes what next?
In cinemas and theatres??
Of course posties shouldn’t be delivering to addresses with unrestrained dogs.

Blossoming

Aren’t the householders responsible for keeping their dogs under control in the first place?

Do people still use ‘Beware of the Dog’ signs?

I recently put a beware of the dog sign on the tall gate into my back garden. It’s part ironical as my big dog is a typical people loving Labrador but largely to warn potential intruders of possible risk. He’s a powerful muscled boy with a loud menacing bark which is a deterrent, as long as you don’t know him

One issue in many is people buying what they see as personal protection dogs, people who have no idea how much training is involved in helping these powerful dogs from a line of other potentially aggressive dogs.

Paramedics can and do insist in dogs being locked away, so do the gas board technicians. Police and social workers can and do ask - with varying responses

Fallingstar

I do think that the number of dogs has gone up so much that now there doesn’t seem to be anywhere free of them. And I am a person who loves dogs and has had them as pets. Sadly I can see that many dog owners don’t have a clue about training their animal and will laugh indulgently when their dog misbehaves.
Also the ‘my dog is just friendly’ comment by way of apology is lamentable.
And with dogs now in restaurants and cafes what next?
In cinemas and theatres??
Of course posties shouldn’t be delivering to addresses with unrestrained dogs.

You're absolutely right. The dog population has increased so much they seem to be everywhere and there are so many more bad owners who don't seem to understand the concept of training. It's the same with children, so many 21st century parents and pet owners, neither believes they should stop their children/fur babies from doing exactly what they want.

Remember the dog trainer Barbara Woodhouse? Watching that would blow their little minds, the idea of brutally telling your dog what to do.

Chestnut, you’re spot on. Force free trainers avoid the word no and use treats to train, never use halti or other head collars and see balanced trainers ( who do use head collars, half choke collars etc along side posituve methods, as the work of the devil, though not as dreadful as eg gun dog trainers who use a variety of tools (and in my experience have well behaved responsive dogs.

icanhandthemback

I am an ardent dog lover and I think this is perfectly acceptable. It is my responsibility to keep our postman safe, even from being loved to death as with our current dog!

... even from being loved to death as with our current dog!


I've never had a dog but I do like them.

The woman next door has a dog, not sure of its breed. She's out at work all day and the poor thing sits at the window looking out forlornly - people stop to say 'hello' to it - it never barks, just sits there looking glum.

Anyway, that's off-topic, but yes posties really shouldn't have to run the gauntlet when delivering letters. Maybe they should wear a gauntlet, too.

Dickens, I agree posties should be safe at work

Dogs are pack animals, I try to never leave my dogs more than 4 max 5 hours, I’m lucky to be retired so my time more my own. I’m honestly amazed by the number of posts on specific breed sites, from people with three young children two full time jobs asking how soon they can leave their puppy crated so they can return to work 🙈

Iam64

Dickens, I agree posties should be safe at work

Dogs are pack animals, I try to never leave my dogs more than 4 max 5 hours, I’m lucky to be retired so my time more my own. I’m honestly amazed by the number of posts on specific breed sites, from people with three young children two full time jobs asking how soon they can leave their puppy crated so they can return to work 🙈

I don't think crate training is inherently bad and can be effective in keeping your puppy safe if you can't be around for a bit to watch for chewing cables and the like. They are also used to it if they have to stay at the vet which can be discombobulating at the best of times. My dog sleeps in a closed crate quite happily overnight in my bedroom but now she is older, if I leave her, the crate is open because she is not a chewer. My last dog had a crate within a large playpen as she was a chewer when I went out.
People have to work but they rarely give the puppy time to get used to being left when they first get the dog. They seem to forget they are babies who need to be gently trained to be on their own for a bit and then complain like mad that their dogs have separation anxiety. It is nonsensical to me.

I don't believe it is right to have a dog if you go out to work full time. I certainly wouldn't. Dogs are for non-workers, retired or WFH people.

icanhandthemback, apologies if my post seemed critical of crate training. I’ve crate trained my last five puppies with good results
One of my puppies is 8 years old now, and in the vet hospital tonight. Obvs I wish she was home, but she’s in the best place right now. She was a. Rate trained puppy, sleeps in the utility with her dog companion so I know she will settle tonight.