Our rather new rescue dog, friendly to everyone, bit a substitute mail carrier. It became a big deal given NY state protocol for such incidents. Whoops.
Eva - 9 years ago
The minute my dog hears the mail truck, she runs to the back porch and waits for the mailman to walk by. As soon as he does, she's at the front door barking constantly. We had one episode when I was holding her on her leash and the mailman walked up behind me. She immediately turned and started for the poor guy. I don't believe the reason was because he was the mailman because she always hated the truck more than anything. That time, I believe she was simply attempting to protect me from a person walking behind me. I've been told that when a mailman walks up to your mailbox and then walks away, the dog thinks they've chased them off, when in reality, the poor man is just doing his job, walking to his next designated house to deliver the mail. But the dog thinks they've run someone dangerous away from your home.
audrey lucas - 9 years ago
my two go crazy when the mail carrier comes! they love them to pieces . carriers alwlays leave biscuits in the mail box for them and they know it.! often the dogs get "mail" and i dont! hahahah
Denise - 9 years ago
My dogs are both herding dogs and they hate the mailman and even mail trucks going down the road.
I was told by my vet it is because when the mailman comes and the dogs bark, he goes away - job well done! Then this job is done again everyday re-enforcing the dogs behavior. Unless you know somebody that has the uniform and will come visit and stay, it is a hard habit to break (especially if you are not home when the mail is delivered).
Jean - 9 years ago
Bella does the whole gambit of wagging tail, barking, growling which she has taught to Chase, they try to find a way out to get at the mail carrier, not sure what they would do if they got out...so far they haven't. I have to drag them both back into the house; we have a sunroom out front which they lie in wait for the mail person. I swear they smell the mail carrier on the other side of the street, half a block away. Good thing he comes every day around the same time & we try to keep them in the house & praise them when they let him come & go (which isn't frequent) with out noise. They like to bark & growl at people who wear hoodies, thick parkas as well & takes all my strength to hold him if we're outside at the same time. :/
Klezmer - 9 years ago
My dog goes crazy, barks, jumps up, scratches at the door every time the letter carrier comes to our mailbox, but when she goes outside she licks her and wants her attention.
Our rather new rescue dog, friendly to everyone, bit a substitute mail carrier. It became a big deal given NY state protocol for such incidents. Whoops.
The minute my dog hears the mail truck, she runs to the back porch and waits for the mailman to walk by. As soon as he does, she's at the front door barking constantly. We had one episode when I was holding her on her leash and the mailman walked up behind me. She immediately turned and started for the poor guy. I don't believe the reason was because he was the mailman because she always hated the truck more than anything. That time, I believe she was simply attempting to protect me from a person walking behind me. I've been told that when a mailman walks up to your mailbox and then walks away, the dog thinks they've chased them off, when in reality, the poor man is just doing his job, walking to his next designated house to deliver the mail. But the dog thinks they've run someone dangerous away from your home.
my two go crazy when the mail carrier comes! they love them to pieces . carriers alwlays leave biscuits in the mail box for them and they know it.! often the dogs get "mail" and i dont! hahahah
My dogs are both herding dogs and they hate the mailman and even mail trucks going down the road.
I was told by my vet it is because when the mailman comes and the dogs bark, he goes away - job well done! Then this job is done again everyday re-enforcing the dogs behavior. Unless you know somebody that has the uniform and will come visit and stay, it is a hard habit to break (especially if you are not home when the mail is delivered).
Bella does the whole gambit of wagging tail, barking, growling which she has taught to Chase, they try to find a way out to get at the mail carrier, not sure what they would do if they got out...so far they haven't. I have to drag them both back into the house; we have a sunroom out front which they lie in wait for the mail person. I swear they smell the mail carrier on the other side of the street, half a block away. Good thing he comes every day around the same time & we try to keep them in the house & praise them when they let him come & go (which isn't frequent) with out noise. They like to bark & growl at people who wear hoodies, thick parkas as well & takes all my strength to hold him if we're outside at the same time. :/
My dog goes crazy, barks, jumps up, scratches at the door every time the letter carrier comes to our mailbox, but when she goes outside she licks her and wants her attention.