![]() ![]() RoleplayĪ variation on the “quiet” command strategy, this one involves having someone your dog either doesn’t recognise, or a friend of yours they don’t particularly care for, assume the role of a postie - coming up to your door, and (if applicable) rattling your mailbox.Įvery time the pretend postal worker comes to the door, have your dog sit quietly for a treat. Of course, for some dogs, barking at delivery people is their highest priority in that moment, so they may not be interested in toys or fake jobs when they believe they have a real job to do. For example, some people train their dogs to grab a toy and go into another room when a postie approaches. Put them to workĪccording to AKC experts, you can also try giving your dog a “job” to keep them occupied during daily mail delivery. Mary Burch, certified animal behaviorist and director of AKC Family Dog, the key here is convincing your dog that the reward they get for not responding is more desirable than the satisfaction of barking their nemesis away. If they do, give the, a treat as a reward.Īccording to Dr. Once your dog has mastered quieting down with the treat, try using the command without showing them the treat and see if they stop barking. Repeat this exercise until you have given your dog the “quiet” command and they’ve stopped barking about a dozen times. When they stop barking to get the treat, say “quiet,” and then give them the treat. After the dog barks three or four times, show them a really special treat (like chicken, cheese, or another one of their favourites). To do this, have someone walk past your house or start to approach your home, triggering your dog to bark. The MSPCA recommends teaching your dog a “quiet” command. Here are some strategies you can try, courtesy of dog experts and animal behaviorists: Have a ‘quiet’ command Plus, as the MSPCA notes, this is a type of “alarm barking,” which is a natural behaviour, and can’t be completely eliminated. If your dog starts barking as soon as the delivery person arrives (or, in some cases, before, if they’re able to identify the sound of the brakes of a post van, for instance), they’ll think that their ferocious barks did the trick - causing the mail carrier to flee from their property - and that they once again successfully defended their home and family.īut what’s especially tricky about this situation is that the mail carrier probably comes to your home six days a week, which, as the American Kennel Club (AKC) points out, “provides the perfect training stimulus to reinforce this behaviour.” How to stop your dog from barking at the postieĪfter routinely getting rid of the postie with their barking, your dog is probably pretty pleased with their ability to drive this persistent intruder away - which, unfortunately, makes it difficult to stop. They come onto your property - usually up to your door - drop off mail or a package, and then immediately leave. And according to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), dogs learn early on that barking at someone they view as an intruder tends to make that person go away.Įnter: Posties and other people making deliveries. Here’s what to know about how to get your dog to stop this part of their daily routine, and why they get so worked up over mail and package delivery in the first place.Įven if your dog isn’t a breed known for being a guard or watchdog, they’re probably still territorial and see it as their duty to protect their home and the people in it. Of course, just because your dog barks when the mail is being delivered, it doesn’t mean that they’re going to attack, but it is annoying and possibly nerve-racking for you, your neighbours, and your mail deliverer. in 2021 alone, it’s a serious job hazard. ![]() As a common TV trope, it’s often played for laughs, but to the roughly 5,400 postal employees who were attacked by dogs in the U.S. The relationship between dogs and posties is complex. ![]()
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