Why Does My Dog Hate the Mailman?
A Look at the Causes for a Dog's Attacks on Mailmen and Barking
Oct 7, 2008
"Why does my dog bark at the mailman?" It's a very common question that many dog owners wonder about. Dogs commonly bark at the mailman. And over the years, many dogs have bitten and even attacked mailmen, but why is this?
Many wonder why mailmen tend to be more prone to attack and triggering barking than other visitors. The key to understanding why many dogs seemingly "hate" the mailman lies in a dog's instinct.
A Dog's Instinct and Barking at the Mailman
The reason for a dog's tendency to bark at the mailman is simple when viewed from the dog's perspective: the dog sees the mailman, the dog begins barking, the mailman leaves. The dog mistakenly believes that the mailman left because of his barking, so the dog's goal is accomplished - his territory is mailman-free.
In this scenario, the dog does not realize that the mailman was planning on leaving regardless of his barking; the dog assumes that his barking has scared off the mailman. This means that this behavior of barking at the mailman is rewarding and self-reinforcing for the dog.
The reasons for barking at the mailman can vary slightly from dog to dog, though in the vast majority of cases, the dog's barking is territorial in nature. In essence, the dog is yelling at the mailman because he's approached and encroached upon the dog's territory.
Other dogs may find the mailman's uniform threatening. Some dogs feel threatened and can even act aggressively toward people who are wearing dark colors and hats, among other things.
Breaking a Dog's Habit of Barking at the Mailman
A dog's tendency to bark at the mailman can be disruptive to the people in the dog's household and to other residents of the neighborhood. In some cases, the dog may experience feelings of aggression toward the mailman, and this can lead to dog fights that start as the result of redirected aggression.
Breaking a dog of his habit of barking at the mailman takes time and consistency. The dog who barks at the mailman is self-reinforcing the behavior because the dog barks and he's rewarded when the mailman leaves, making the behavior of barking at the mailman more likely to occur in the future. The key to stopping a dog from barking at the mailman involves counteracting the self-reinforcement by providing negative feedback for inappropriate barking behavior, and by providing positive feedback for appropriate behaviors.
Dog owners should begin by sitting with the dog for a few minutes before the mailman arrives. The owner should have a spray bottle with water or a soda can filled with coins to use as a noisemaker - something to divert the dog's attention away from the mailman.
As the mailman approaches and the barking begins, the dog must be interrupted with a spray from the water bottle or a shake of the noisemaker. This should be paired with a firm and sharp "No!" Once the dog's attention is on the owner, he should be put into a "sit" and "stay," with rewards provided as he remains in the "stay." The key is to reward calm and non-barking behaviors while the mailman is present, while interrupting and providing negative feedback for inappropriate barking.
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