My dog grew up loving the postie used to hear her down the street and wait for her to come (crying like a baby) and then she would give him cuddles and treats. Because of her and her helping me train him he was good with her and all others coming up the alley and in the garden. Then she got moved (because a postie who had been working with the post office for more years wanted her round) and within 2 weeks Max was a nightmare.

The new post man walked in and shoved his bag at Max (who was waiting for his treat), Max thought this was a new game and jumped up, new post man shouted very aggresively at me (to which Max took offence and became protective). After a few more run ins i.e the post man refusing to come in a shouting abbuse at me from the gate to come and fetch mine and my neighbours mail. Max became convinced he needed to protect me and became aggressive to everyone coming in the alley so I had to put a gate at the end and a mailbox up.

The first postie still runs over when she sees Max in the street and after she convinces him she isn't the horrible one he loves her again. So I know the problem is not my dog. But now because of one persons actions all the training put in by me and the previous postie getting Max used to people coming and going has been for nothing!!

If you gave my postman that spray he would use it for the hell of it. Even his own workmates have complained about him and his treatment of animals on his round!! So yes if I had known waht would happen I would have choosen to pick my mail up when my first postie was moved!!

but the thing im worried about is that some posties wont just use if for those situations, there are some complete idiots out there and some people would think nothing of spraying a dog with peppermint spray, whether it is needed or not.

i find it very easy to tell who are the dog people and those who arent when walking jake. the way people look or react to him walking down the street, some people look at him like he is some disgusting disease (my boy certainly isnt, he is gorgeous ) so you will get some posties who are like that with the dogs, and they could, purely through the dislike of dogs, spray the dog even if no threat is presented

but the thing im worried about is that some posties wont just use if for those situations, there are some complete idiots out there and some people would think nothing of spraying a dog with peppermint spray, whether it is needed or not.

i find it very easy to tell who are the dog people and those who arent when walking jake. the way people look or react to him walking down the street, some people look at him like he is some disgusting disease (my boy certainly isnt, he is gorgeous ) so you will get some posties who are like that with the dogs, and they could, purely through the dislike of dogs, spray the dog even if no threat is presented

Good for them. Owners of aggressive dogs need to keep their animals contained. A postman or woman is just doing their job; why should they not be allowed to defend themselves? I think some people are jumping to the conclusion that if a dog so much as woofs at a postie, that they are going to get a face full of mace. Unlikely. Most postmen/women are savvy enough to know the houses with the aggressive dogs in.

Do your dogs bark when the door is chapped ? would that be deemed as agressive behaviour, lets face it most dogs will be barking from behind a closed door...doesn't mean they're agressive

I stand corrected

Wonder if they'll get a hip holster for it too, carrying a bag and sorting mail at the same time I'd love to see how fast they could reach and shoot from the hip...most men don't multi task lol...so just maybe the dogs will be safe after all.

Chapped? yes they bark. No, I don't consider that aggressive; of course not. 99% of postmen/women are aware that a dog behind a door can't get them, so that isn't an issue.