Dog Safety Tips for Postmen

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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We all know that postmen face dogs every single day of their working lives. They're a stranger to every dog of every house, which makes their jobs even harder. Not every dog is prepared to bite but the fact that it will bite is very threatening. This is why postmen should learn the basics of body language in dogs. These might be helpful too, for those who are scared of man's best friend most of the time.

There's nothing you can do about those pesky owners but you can definitely protect yourself from loose dogs in houses. These suggestions are going to be really a treat for you---you've been a good postman after all.

How do you know when a doggy is interested in doing something naughty to you? It's simple, notice the ears. If it perks up or it lessened it focus on what he's doing, you know he's listening further to the tone of your voice and maybe, he'll even form a conclusion on the tone of your voice. You'll know if he's relaxed if he is wheezing.

Contrary to the relaxed mode of the dog, there are also moves that you should remember. The most critical one: the moves when the dog becomes suspicious of you and plans on doing something naughty to you. He will move forward, preparing to move fast. A wagging tail can sometimes mean he's getting more suspicious and excited in a bad way. Also notice if he's keeping an eye on you, in these ways you'll be able to prepare yourself to relax. Yes, relax and focus on what you're about to do. Walk straight without showing any sign that you're scared. Avoid staring at the dog because it will scare you and angers the dog even more.

There are dogs that can be aggressive and very suspicious. The signs are very common: he barks at a higher pitch, and he will bark very aggressively. Even if this happens, remember not to panic. The protective and aggressive dog will continue on barking leaving short time intervals. The dog will also attempt to bite, which we commonly know as "snap and miss". This snap and miss won't always mean that he will bite; this gesture will sometimes only mean a warning. Best thing to do is to avoid any eye contact and move on to another house.

This all goes down to the scariest part of all---how to know when he will bite. You'll know this when he suddenly looks fiercer and his eyes shows the anger that he is feeling at you. An anger which will urge him to bite any minute, to avoid this, just go far away from the area and don't run.

Keeping knowledge about these safety tips will protect not only postmen but any human. It is only in the perfect world where owners would always contain their pets, there's no such thing as a perfect world, so it's best to know the ways to be safe.

[pinstripe]

So what about when Fido comes tearing round the side of the house at 100mph, not bothering to bark, staring intently at where your trouser legs meet, and you're a good twenty yards from the gate? Do you have time to rifle through your bag, pulling packets, packets, bundles, d2ds, packets, light bulbs, specials, packets out of the way, to find the out of date can of dog spray from your pouch, read the safety instructions, then squirt yourself in the face, all in the second and a half before it's on you. Or do you kick it in the head and run?

[brothermagrew]

Dog Safety Tip No 2:

Avail yourself whilst in the safe confines of your DO the Dealing with Dog Attacks - Good Practice Guide most probably sitting in a DOM/Lino's office shelf gathering dust and read it in full. All linos' should have a copy as it was produced by Human & Environmental Consultancy RM Consulting and it's purpose - To enable Line Managers carry out the Royal Mail Policy for Dealing with Dog Attacks.

[k979aaa]

So what about when Fido comes tearing round the side of the house at 100mph, not bothering to bark, staring intently at where your trouser legs meet, and you're a good twenty yards from the gate? Do you have time to rifle through your bag, pulling packets, packets, bundles, d2ds, packets, light bulbs, specials, packets out of the way, to find the out of date can of dog spray from your pouch, read the safety instructions, then squirt yourself in the face, all in the second and a half before it's on you. Or do you kick it in the head and run?

Can we all have a practice run at work with the office DOM as the dog?.

[DGP1]

So what about when Fido comes tearing round the side of the house at 100mph, not bothering to bark, staring intently at where your trouser legs meet, and you're a good twenty yards from the gate? Do you have time to rifle through your bag, pulling packets, packets, bundles, d2ds, packets, light bulbs, specials, packets out of the way, to find the out of date can of dog spray from your pouch, read the safety instructions, then squirt yourself in the face, all in the second and a half before it's on you. Or do you kick it in the head and run?

Can we all have a practice run at work with the office DOM as the dog?.

There's no way I lifting his s*** off the floor

[jockstrapp]

Jack Russel came running at me so I threw the only thing at hand..........a christmas tree..........at it. The owner was'nt amused and reported me to manager who pulled me into the office and I was told I had'nt used the correct procedure. Next time I'll throw the feckin tree at him.

[k979aaa]

Jack Russel came running at me so I threw the only thing at hand..........a christmas tree..........at it. The owner was'nt amused and reported me to manager who pulled me into the office and I was told I had'nt used the correct procedure. Next time I'll throw the feckin tree at him.

Why should you have decorated it first!.

[andy2007]

So what about when Fido comes tearing round the side of the house at 100mph, not bothering to bark, staring intently at where your trouser legs meet, and you're a good twenty yards from the gate? Do you have time to rifle through your bag, pulling packets, packets, bundles, d2ds, packets, light bulbs, specials, packets out of the way, to find the out of date can of dog spray from your pouch, read the safety instructions, then squirt yourself in the face, all in the second and a half before it's on you. Or do you kick it in the head and run?

An exellent point! The author of that article, should really think twice, before giving out such incomplete information. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Especially, when it is presented as a guide to preventing attacks!

Other things that were missed out?
Teeth: If the dog bares it's teeth, it's warning you to "stand down", or be attacked.
Submissive body language (saved me from attacks on a couple of occasions): If you suspect that the dog might attack you. Just lower your head, keep your eyes on the floor. DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT, and avoid looking directly at the dog at all. Just keep it in your periphery vision. Slowly back off, and leave it's territory.

But even this isn't a comprehensive guide. Hopefully. The guide in your DOMs Office, will be a comprehensive one.

[stokes11eg]

Right, thar's it! I'm going to the fancy dress shop, and get me a big bad wolf costume--any dogs that look at me
might think I'm the 'Alpha' and steer clear.

[k979aaa]

Right, thar's it! I'm going to the fancy dress shop, and get me a big bad wolf costume--any dogs that look at me
might think I'm the 'Alpha' and steer clear.

That or you could try and cover yourself in tiger sh*t it works on cats why not dogs?.

[brothermagrew]

Draw your attention to page 3 of Courier June 2009 - Business takes action over dangerous dogs - That's if you haven't already binned it

[andy2007]

Sorry, mine's already filed unde 'B' (for bin).

[stokes11eg]

Draw your attention to page 3 of Courier June 2009 - Business takes action over dangerous dogs - That's if you haven't already binned it

I never read them now, and usually bin it before leaving the office--please could you tell me its contents???/

[brothermagrew]

Draw your attention to page 3 of Courier June 2009 - Business takes action over dangerous dogs - That's if you haven't already binned it

I never read them now, and usually bin it before leaving the office--please could you tell me its contents???/

Where does one begin....

In a nutshell the usual promisary stuff that the business is getting tough on the owners of dangerous dogs, warning them that unless they keep their pets under control, they risk losing their delivery. As part of a series of measures being trialled over 3 months at a number of delivery offices in Sheffield (can anyone from Sheffield confirm this?) managers will write to homes where colleagues have faced dangerous dogs, asking owners to take action or lose out.

The trials are part of a national initiative to find ways of reducing the number of attacks on colleagues, such as the one suffered by (AP) photo insert of (AP) showing dog bite of his thigh. (AP) who was badly hurt said "The sight of 100 lbs of angry rottweiler coming at you is not something you forget easily". (AP) bears physical and mental scars.

The measures, which will be introduced across the country if they work well, also include:

New guides for managers and employees explaining how to reduce the risk of attack.
A new form for postmen and women to record every dangerous dog on their walk.
The manager will assess the hazard, once this form has been filled in. The details will then be recorded in the walk log and warning stickers will be put on sorting frames to alert everyone in the unit to the potential hazard. These measures are based on trials that took place at Dinnington DO in South Yorkshire last year. As we reported in the February issue of Corier, a dossier of every dangerous dog in the area was on display in the office. Managers worked with police and local dog wardens, and letters were sent to dog owners.

This resulted in a sharp decrease in attacks. Other projects designed to cut dog attacks include trials of deterrent devices and plans to work with other agencies - including the police and the RSPCA - to clamp down on the owners of dsngerous dogs.

IMHO - A lot of these so called measures already exist in the current provisions.

Under the current provisions of RM's policy on dogs there is this:
Where the Police decline to take action and RM considers there is sufficient evidence instructions will be given to Legal Services by the Accident Admininistration Units to act on behalf of victims in proceedings under the Dogs Act 1871 or the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Perhaps a lot of CWU members who have been unfortunate to be on the receiving end of a dog attack should be making waves and directly asking Royal Mail - Since the introduction of Royal Mail's Policy on Dealing with Dog Attacks in how many instances without divulging details of individual cases has the Accident Administration Units took direct action and issued instructions to Legal Services in persuance of acting on behalf of victims?

Can anyone come up with a ballpark figure?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I think it should be Royal Mail policy to record every dog on every walk as far as possible. Last year I was helping get the walk logs ready and posties were telling me where a dog had nearly bit them, or looked a bit aggressive. Yet the manager said that he could only record dangerous dogs and they were the ones who had actually attacked or a close miss.

However, I think a dog that jumps up and down behind a fence, or one that goes mad indoors when you drop letters should also be logged as one day if they did have a chance to attack I am sure they will. Safety first - all dogs should be recorded even if they haven't shown any signs or being nasty IMHO.