Our dog and the mailman

[prolesunited]

We have a miniature schnauzer and every day when the mailman comes, she goes absolutely ballistic. She's such a gentle and sweet girl, but I think if I let her out the door, she would attack him like a pitbull.

She barks a little when other people walk by, but I can't even get her to calm down when the mailman stops by. About the only thing that works is a timeout in the bathroom.

Anyone else have this problem? What have you done to handle the situation?

[Jamastiene]

1. Talk to the mailman ahead of time and ask if you keep

her on a leash, if he will let you train her that he's ok to be in the yard. If he agrees, take her outside about the time he comes, but make sure she is on a leash and quite a distance (at least 10 feet) away from him. Also make sure you control her and keep her on the leash and away from the mailman.

Let the mailman speak to her and you and you act friendly back to the mailman. If the dog sees you accepting the mailman and being friendly, a few days in a row, she may get the picture that the mailman is not a threat to her territory.

Otherwise, make sure she never gets out when the mailman is nearby and get used to the barking, I guess.

I'll admit. I'm at a loss for any other remedy. My miniature schnauzer acted that way toward the sanitation workers picking up the trash until I took him outside on a leash and spoke to them. He started wagging his tail at them and acting happy to see them after that. Thing is, he still barked. It was just a "happy to see you" type of bark from then on.

[prolesunited]

4. That's a good suggestion

But our mailman is surly and sour. I've tried being friendly and he won't even acknowledge me saying hello. I hardly think he would respond favorably to that idea.

[Jamastiene]

5. Sounds like your dog has good instincts then.

:evilgrin:

[PeaceNikki]

2. I hate to speak for others, but I know that fudge stripe cookays has this issue with her dog

And he's a Great Pyrenees, NOT a small dog! I've seen the scratches on the door he's made from trying to get at the mailman!

She doesn't usually post during day from work, but she might be able to offer some ideas... or commiserate anyway. :)

[Dogtown]

3. The Mailman

is a shape-shifter. Dogs HATE werewolves!

[chicagoexpat]

6. Your mailman should carry mace for just such incidents

[Swede]

7. Dog bites are the number one mailman injury.

Number two is falls,which happens when they are reading addresses and do not see something on the sidewalk.