It’s a function dogs perform that can be almost as good as an alarm clock really. Each morning, at a time determined by his route, the postman will visit, and in many doggy homes, this is followed almost immediately by a loud and frenzied session of barking. It may be a cliche, but many dogs do it, and in this post, and in the video below, we’ll try and explain why your dog hates the postman.
Enemy at the gates
While we may see our Poodles as precious, and our Dachshunds as delightful, they see themselves as our fierce and noble protectors. They would do anything to keep us safe and maintaining the boundaries of our territory is a key aspect of their duties. And yet, every day, this strange man, clatters open the front gate, has the nerve to knock at the door and the gall to push those menacing envelopes through the strange noisy little door within a door. That’s how many dogs see it anyway.
Barking at the postman is their way of protecting us and scaring off the intruder who, for all our dogs know, is here to do us harm (and not just drop off two leaflets and a gas bill). Dogs have been performing this function for their humans since their earliest days as our companions, and their territorial nature goes back even further to when they were wolves. We don’t think this is likely to change any time soon.
In this short video from our head vet, Sean McCormack, he’ll confirm all of that for us. And we’d like to say to all of our posties that we know you’re doing a great job, but you’ll just have to forgive our dogs for keeping us safe.
My German Shepard always barks at them..then goes out ..licks them too death! Posties up here always have biscuits for them
My Springer does exactly the same. The postie always gives him a treat (even though I keep telling him not to) -(We are on a farm) The dog sits quietly – takes his treat and then goes mad and will not let him stroke him. He is a good guard dog but will usually back down as soon as I say its ok. Not with the postie. He really doesnt like him…
He is fine with all other regular visitors/callers
Princess doesn’t bark at the postman.
My dog loves the postmen and women. She loves everyone in fact!
Ok, so my dog, not only does she bark at the postie, when they pass by the house, or put mail through the mail slot, but she also will bark at them if she sees them out and about in the neighborhood. Not only that, we were in France on holiday, and she would like out on the balcony overlooking a driveway, residents would come up and down the driveway, and she wouldn’t do anything, one day, the postie came up the driveway, and she started barking like crazy at them. They were completely different colour uniforms mind you. Maybe she recognised the smell of the mail?
My eldest lab hates postmen. he was teased as a pup before I adopted him by them and other delivery people . However my other lab. loves everyone, as long as they give him lots of attention. Even likes the postman !! .
My border collie always barks when the postman calls and if I have to open the door he dashes out barking away. Then he goes back, finds a ball and presents it to the postman. after all, the only reason anyone comes to our house is to throw him balls and most of them do!
My Dukey Boy, mixed breed, hearth rug, god knows what big boy, goes mental at my postie who pelts up the drive, chucks the post in the porch, gives Dukey Boy the middle finger then pelts back to his van.
Maybe one day, I’ll leave the door open 🤣🤣🤣
My cocker spaniel loves our postman and he loves him too!! Growing up we had a corgi who had a specific bark for the postman. He hates him and the feeling was mutual!!!