EXPERT ADVICE
An s w e rs to y ou r be h a v i o r a n d tra i n i n g q u e s ti o n s
Don’t Bite the Messenger B y Sa n d ra M e j i as
When the mailman approaches my house and then when the mail is actually being put into our mail slot, my dogs go crazyyyy and bark and jump at the door very ferociously. Why do dogs feel the specific need to protect the house when the mailman comes? QUESTION
Sandy Mejias began her dog training career at the age of 12, showing Irish Terriers in obedience and conformation. In 1975 she and her husband Carlos, opened the Olde Towne School for Dogs in Alexandria,VA. Thousands of dogs have been successfully trained over the years and the school continues to create successful, happy dog and owner teams. To schedule a free evaluation with a trainer, visit www.otsfd.com.
12 Northern Virginia Dog
The question regardANSWER ing dogs and their age-old feud with the mail carrier was brought to our attention years ago when the U.S. Postal Service asked my husband Carlos and I to do the dog training and handling in an educational film. The postal service hoped the film would help decrease the number of dog bites inflicted on their carriers yearly. The opening scene of the film shows Carlos in a tunic with a leather pouch over his shoulder and a large pack of dogs chasing him through rugged terrain. The voice over reminds the viewer that since ancient times dogs and those who deliver messages have had their differences.
The Enemy? Many dogs view mail carriers as the enemy, an intruder on their property | Spring 2011
bringing strange smelling, useless objects in a large, scary looking bag. Why does your dog go crazy when the mail arrives? There are many triggers that cause a chain reaction as the mail carrier approaches. Your dog is alerted by certain consistent sounds—other dog’s barking or perhaps the clinking of a gate or mailbox down the street. His anxiety increases as the “intruder” comes closer. By the time the mail is actually placed in the box or through the door, the dog has launched into a full blown scene that usually includes barking, lunging, hitting the door, and, if the mail comes through a slot, ripping it to pieces. There is a great deal of frustration involved in mail delivery for some dogs, as it is a daily repetitive intrusion over which the dog has no control. The solutions to this problem vary according to how much time and inclination you have to correct it. The best solution is to not let the behavior develop in the first place. If you are fortunate to have a young dog that has not developed problems with the mail carrier, it is helpful to condition the dog to the arrival of the mail in a pleasant fashion. Don’t worry, you can teach your dog to like the mail man and still warn you of a stranger’s approach. Dogs can discriminate— some clients report to me that their dog is difficult around delivery people with the exception of the pizza man. The mail carrier brings nothing of apparent value to the dog but the pizza guy—that’s another story. Even
if you don’t let your dog have any pizza, he smells it and sees your obvious enjoyment of it, this makes “pizza guy” the good guy in many dog’s eyes. Bringing your young dog away from your property to meet the mail carrier and having him offer the dog a treat will go a long way in making the mail carrier one of the good guys. Allowing your dog to walk along with the mail carrier as he delivers the mail to your home, followed by another treat, will also help your dog further appreciate the upside of mail delivery. Repeating this routine a few times a month will usually do the trick. Take care to recondition a young dog as he matures, particularly if he has very protective tendencies or if your carrier changes frequently.
Alternative Solutions Many dog owners already have a problem with mail delivery and because they work during the time delivery occurs they need other solutions. Some of the simplest include an outside basket or holder for mail, as some dogs can’t get past mail being pushed directly into their territory and will always destroy it. For dogs that are very aggressive or loud not just with mail delivery but with new people coming on their property, I recommend obedience training. You can then apply the techniques learned to the problem. A good reliable “down” or “stay” under any circumstances goes a long way in curbing aggression and takes the decision away from the dog regarding who is allowed on the property. Most mail carriers are happy when owners take the time to condition their dog appropriately. “Don’t bite the messenger” should be the motto for all civilized canines in hopes of ending this ancient feud. ND