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Bernd Settnik / EPA
Postwoman Anneliese Knop interacts with dog 'Liesbeth' during her round in Mahlow, Germany, on Monday. Employees of the post office regularly attend training sessions because, according to the postal service, about 1,800 mail carriers per year are involved in incidents with dogs.
BERLIN -- Aid workers, journalists and embassy employees often undergo so-called Hostile Environment Training. But what about the threats that your ordinary postman faces on any given day?
Mailmen at the German Postal Service (Deutsche Post) are taking classes in dog defense so that they can learn how to behave when entering a dog's territory -- and to avoid any accompanying injuries.
Around 1,800 incidents involving dogs occur every year with roughly a third resulting in bites or more serious injuries, spokesman for Deutsche Post Rolf Schulz told NBC News. Mailmen in rural areas particularly benefit from the program because dogs often roam freely in people's front yards in smaller German towns, he said.
Letter-deliverers are more endangered "because the dog sees them every day," whereas package deliverymen are less vulnerable to the threat, Schulz said.
The classes, which are voluntary, advise mailmen not to shout at the dogs and to avoid sudden movements.
"For the worst-case scenario, we sometimes equip our delivery personnel with pepper spray," Schulz said.
But using the spray incorrectly can accelerate the dog's aggressive behavior. "We caution to be very careful with the use of the devices because you have to spray directly into the dog's nose to achieve an effect."
Deutsche Post has seen a decrease in numbers of dangerous encounters with dogs over the past decade and says the training is key for a safer working environment.
It is all about strict German health and safety regulations, officials say.
The employer of Germany's 86,000 mailmen hopes to save costs by reducing the amount of sick days for stress and injuries caused by encounters with territorial dachshunds, snarling pugs or aggressive German shepherds.
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LOVE that dachshunds and pugs are two of the chosen "mean" breeds. In all actuality, smaller breeds (especially dachshunds) ARE much more likely to be vicious, they just don't have the ability to cause much damage. Larger "scarier" breeds are normally calmer. But in the less likely situation that they become aggressive, they inflict harm much easier. It's really too bad, because the majority of large dogs who aren't aggressive then get a bad reputation.
As for German Shephards, they're not "mean" or aggressive for no reason. They ARE unconditionally loyal, and WILL fight if they think their family is being threatened (depending on how they're raised, of course). That's what makes them such amazing watchdogs and police dogs.
Doxies can be so territorial. I had a beautiful long-haired one, and even though he was small, he had unbelievably sharp teeth! Whenever someone would ring the doorbell I would have him in my arms. Funny thing though, once he decided the visitor was friendly he would pee all over the place. I love those dogs, but I never got the knack of training them properly. I hope I'm better at training my next doxie.
We had two miniature dashies that were friends to everyone, especially if you had food. They loved everybody, because they might have food. They would love to go for car rides, because food might come in through the window. People can give them food and even take the food away. No problem with people because they knew people were the boss, even strangers, . . . and they might have more food.
But if another dog tried to take their food, Oh boy, . . . it was ON! "The face ripping will begin!" Even scared off an English Bulldog. They sure liked their food. Amazingly we managed to keep them trim.
We had to put them both down this April. We miss'em.
By the way, the pee'ing reflex is a statement that says "please don't kill me". All they need is a little confidence building to correct that.
Many times small dogs don't get trained. If you have a large dog you have to train it.
There's a reason Dachsunds are the shape and color of a football. "It's good!!"
woof woof, yap yap bark woof! ( mailmen suck, but are tasty)
...Many eons ago I worked as a postal temp. In addition to the spray we were advised to always carry our shoulder bag. They were phasing out the leather ones for nylon... While you might only have a handlful of letters... placing the shoulder bag between you and the dog could buy you time...
People that let their dogs run loose are idiots and should be criminally prosecuted when the inevitable happens.
I agree with you, but I also live in the city. It mentioned a lot of the dogs running loose were in rural areas. I still don't think these dogs should be running loose, but I DO understand it a little more.
For those that don't know, speaking quietly and nicely actually makes a big impression on dogs while they are checking you out. If you are stressed they wonder what you are up to. I think in the dogs eyes you already are supposed to be seeing him as the guard and you are supposed to show you are not a problem. They're smarter than some people think, but not as smart as others do. You have to deal with dogs as dogs.
I mean, that they probably get that you might be there for some innocent reason, but they probably don't get that it's important for you to stuff paper into the slot every day. They are really good at picking up human queues though, they watch us carefully and smell us. They know what you had for breakfast of if the child next to you is your own.
Some dogs, though, especially those that are left alone too much are paranoid and viscious, probably not so much these rural outdoor dogs though, they probably get their social time.
dog attacks are no laughing matter. do you know what is a laughing matter? when cats attack people, now thats hilarious.
If a German shepherd is charging and there is no fence I would just toss the mail on the ground and run like hell.
Lou,
If that is your strategy, you better be the fastest Olympic runner in history. :-)
Real simple solution- your pooch is properly confined, or you don't get mail delivery. No warnings, confine that pooch, or you drive to the PO the rest of your life.
In my experience, its not the mailman the dogs hate, its UPS men. Something about the brown uniforms? Our dogs love the mail lady (they actually shriek like little Chihuahua's when she drives up) but not the UPS guys. FedEX seems to be neutral - its just the brown uniformed guys.
"Mailmen"?? Really? Are you telling us that all MAIL CARRIERS in Germany are men?
And FlyOverMe -- "mail lady"? Really?
I thought we'd gotten past these outdated terms, at least in the media. I haven't seen articles about "stewardesses" or "murderesses" lately.
C'mon, folks, it's not that hard to use a basic gender-neutral term like "mail carrier" to be respectful to all the women who have to endure the rain, snow, sleet, dark of night -- and dogs -- that this job entails.
It's also not necessary. I have a mailman. I don't know or care what sex it is. If my house is on fire, I hope the firemen come.