Attacks on postmen are unfortunately common, with most being at the front door or in a front garden as the post is being delivered. Royal Mail reports an average 479 separate dog attacks incidents in Northern Ireland on postal staff each year over the last five years.
Last year Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council reported 165 dog attacks in their area, with 29 dogs being euthanised. (I don’t have the figures for Ards and North Down.)
The majority of bites overall occur in the home to family members, but for people who are strangers to the dog, postmen and other delivery people are at greatest risk of being bitten.
Legally, you as the owner are responsible for the behaviour of your dog and you can be taken to court of your dog bites someone. Allowing your dog to roam free in your garden or out and about is not an excuse as you are responsible for your dog even when you are not with them. The penalties if your dog bites are severe – a hefty fine or the dog having to be put to sleep.
Any dog can bite, even the most placid hearth-loving hound. But dogs do not bite for no reason. So why do they bite postmen?
Your dog may bite a postman if they are startled by their sudden appearance, or scared of strangers, or if they are protecting their property. They may be fearful of the odd appearance of a human holding a bundle of letters or parcels – dogs look at the silhouette rather than the detail and anything that causes a human to appear a different shape can cause your dog to react.
One previous puppy of mine once barked madly at my mum when she came in one day as usual to let him out at lunchtime, simply because she had her anorak hood up, which changed her silhouette.
To prevent your dog biting anyone, not just postmen, make sure that you always have control of your dog – that you can call them in from the garden, call them back when off lead, and don’t allow them to roam.
Make sure you socialise puppies properly. I accosted our postman every day for the first few months of Gus’s life so he got used to the strange men coming to deliver things then going away again – luckily our postman loves dogs! (That means now Gus will usually bark as people leave, but not always to tell us someone has arrived!)
Protect your postman – teach your dog good manners and train them properly.
Ask us if you need help.
Keep training and keep safe,
Carol