RTL Today – Dangerous job: UK’s Royal Mail launch guidance for dog owners following 9% increase in attacks

At least in the UK, as unfortunately we don’t have any figures for how frequent the phenomenon is here in Luxembourg. According to Royal Mail, 2,489 attacks on postal workers took place across the UK in 2018, 82% of them by the front door or in the garden.

That, they say, represents a 9% increase on the year before – which has led them to launching a ‘Dog Awareness Weeks’, including advice on prepare your pooch for the postman/woman’s arrival. And it’s a serious matter – they note that one of their postmen in Scotland was unable to work for three months following an attack, while another required surgery and physical therapy after an attack in Cheshire.

While the Post here in Luxembourg have not, to our knowledge, provided any guidance on the matter, the below advice from Royal Mail may still be useful to dog owners. If your dog is reactive to strangers, other dogs, door bells and the like – remember, there’s no shame in consulting a dog trainer.

The Royal Mail’s top tips for dog owners

“Even the most lovable dog can be a danger to postal staff. Dogs are territorial by nature and if they feel they need to protect their family, they can become unpredictable.

Here are some ideas to help your postman deliver your post in safety:

• Ensure your dog is out of the way before the postman or woman arrives. Place your pet in the back garden or a faraway room.
• If you have a back garden, please close off the access, in case your dog could get round to the front when the postman calls.
• Dog attacks can happen when you’ve opened the door to sign for an item. Please keep your dog in another room before answering the door and make sure children don’t open the door, as dogs can push by them and attack.
• Give your dog some food or a toy to occupy them while your mail is being delivered
• Wait 10 minutes after your mail has arrived to let your pet back into your hallway. Keep everything as calm and low-key as possible.
• If your dog likes to attack your mail consider installing a wire letter receptacle. It will protect your post, and your postman’s fingers
• If it’s not practical for you to keep your dog away from a postman delivering your mail, please consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of your property.
• Please ensure your dog is microchipped, wearing a collar and tag and that your contact details on the tag and microchip are up to date.”

Source: Royal Mail.

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