Dogs vs. the mailman

[Douglas Barr]

This question has been nagging me for the longest time:

Why do dogs always bark at the mailman? Even if the mailman comes to the house regularly, my dog still barks furiously at him. What's the reason behind this?

[Carlito Lucas]

Dogs are territorial animals. They perceive the mailman as an intruder. When the mailman comes, the dog barks. Then the mailman leaves. The dog is proud since it thinks it scared the mailman off; it has succeeded in protecting its territory. The dog will continue to bark at the mailman everytime he comes because it thinks that it is an effective way to keep him away.

[Liz Munro]

Dogs, I think, are natural watchdogs. They are wary of strangers and are always protective of their owners' possessions. The mailman may come to your house often but perhaps the pet still sees him as a stranger/intruder. I guess the pet's contact with the mailman has not yet been established to a comfortable level, wherein your pet can realize that the man is a friend and that it should relax when he is there.

[Angela Gellis]

well-explained liz. i think that always happens because the mailman only has brief time to really socialize with the pet. i mean, come on, the mailman may come often but his contact with the dog is not long and meaningful enough to trigger a good recall! in the end, the pet's still not conditioned to know the mailman the next time around.

[Patrick Ratzenberger]

They're right. Dogs think of mailmen as intruders or outsiders. Strangers in short. Dogs still retain their wolf-like instincts, that they think their human families are their pack members. And they just try protect or warn their pack from potential dangers.

[Maia Shearer]

[Angela Gellis]

exactly. proper training and conditioning will definitely help your pet develop positive response, "no more barking" behavior towards the mailman.

[Irvin Zelasko]

Yeah, I agree. The dog keeps barking because it has not been properly introduced to the mailman. This happens not only with the mailman but with other "regular intruders" -- the milkman, for example. It's just a matter of familiarizing your dog with the people that regularly come to your house.

[Douglas Barr]

Wow! Thanks for all your replies. You know, Maybe I will introduce the mailman to my dog.

[Irvin Zelasko]

You should! That's a new friend right there for you and your dog. Tell us how it goes!

[Joey Concha]

I only have cats and my babies love the mailman, most especially the pizza delivery guy. Whenever someone rings the bell, they both go to the door and welcome the stranger.

[Mikee Hansen]

the dog is just wondering why the mailman always has something for you and nothing for him..perhaps the reason the dog keeps barking is that he is telling the mailman not to ever return without a package or someting exclusively for him..

[Jennifer Trenton]

well, my friend's dog reacts this way. after she issues a bark she then walks around the stranger while continuously sniffing. is this also another way of marking territory?

[Liz Munro]

[Douglas Barr]

Dogs don't bite unless you act in an aggressive manner. That's why they bark and sniff first. They may also bite if you startle them by making sudden movements. I believe dogs act aggressively only when really necessary, except if they're trained attack dogs, of course.