[nagdu] Why do dogs hate the mailman?

Linda Gwizdak linda.gwizdak at cox.net
Sat Jan 16 05:33:10 UTC 2010 

I think that radio vet was a bit far-fetched.  The mailman would be just 
carrying paper and not brandishing it in a threatening way as if the person 
was aboout to hit him with the paper.  But the sound of the mail dropping to 
the floor inside the door or into a catch box inside the door could sound 
like an intruder trying to bust in.

Yes, I think socialization is VERY key in how a dog will turn out later as 
it matures. I think most problems that dogs have stem from lack of proper 
socialization.  That is what makes a guide dog puppy raiser's job so 
important!  And why it is important for the puppy raiser to socialize the 
guide dog pups as the school wants it done - it prepares the dog for its 
future job guiding us in a very scary world.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wayne Merritt" <wcmerritt at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 1:51 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Why do dogs hate the mailman?


> At one time long ago, I heard according to one radio vet, the reason
> why many dogs had adverse reactions to the mailman was the letters or
> paper that they carried. This radio vet said that the dog saw the
> paper letters and connected them with paper that was used to correct
> the dog's behavior, such as when some people roll up newspapers and
> bop the dog on the nose. Not sure how true this is, but it makes sense
> with certain dogs. I do think that it depends on the dog's upbringing
> and socialization. Amazing how many behavioral issues come back to
> early socialization.
>
> Wayne
>
> On 1/13/10, Linda Gwizdak <linda.gwizdak at cox.net> wrote:
>> Nichole,
>> Who knows!  Why do lots of dogs not like the mailman?  I didn't hear the
>> details of Olivia's sister's reaction to the mailman - just that she was
>> aggressive.
>>
>> My theory is that the mailman comes, leaves the mail, and leaves. 
>> Meanwhile
>> the dog is barking like crazy at him.  the dog thinks: "Oh, I bark at 
>> this
>> guy and he leaves my territory! I'll do this again and see what happens!"
>> Next day - same thing.  Mailman comes, I bark like crazy, he leaves.  The
>> dog thinks that the barking chases off the mailman.  The dog has no idea
>> that the mailman will leave regardless of barking or silence.
>>
>> I've seen dogs be suspicious of people in uniform in general.  I haven't
>> been able to figure this out.  What is it about a person in uniform that 
>> is
>> different than a person in regular street clothes? I do think it has to 
>> do
>> with socializing or a lack of socializing with all kinds of people -
>> genders, races, children, adults, things people carry or wear, people's 
>> body
>> language, etc.
>>
>> When I had Jacob, he LOVED the mailman! He got an association of mailmen 
>> and
>> treats!  We had this mailcarrier - a woman - who came to our blind center
>> when I worked there. Everyday she'd come and talk to the dogs and give 
>> them
>> each a small Milkbone - with our permission, of course. She loved the 
>> dogs
>> and they loved her!  Sinse that, Jacob would generalize his thinking 
>> about
>> mailmen.  One day a few years later, we were in a surfing museum with a
>> grooup from our center.  While we were there, the mailman came to leave 
>> the
>> museum's mail.  Jacob started to act excited and alert.  The mailman
>> wondered why my dog sat by him and looked expectant of something.  I 
>> laughed
>> and said, "I think he thinks you will give him a treat like our mailman
>> does!"  He laughed but had no treat for Jacob.  Poor Jacob was 
>> disappointed.
>> I think how a dog reacts to people in uniform depends on what the dog
>> associates with the uniformed person.  Many mailmen are afraid of dogs -
>> with good reason!
>>
>> Anybody else have any ideas about this?
>>
>> Lyn and Landon
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Nicole B. Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 4:21 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Refresher training and retirement for our dogs
>>
>>
>>> Lol, I wonder why she did not like the mail man.  No, that would not 
>>> work.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Linda Gwizdak" <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 2:21 PM
>>> Subject: [nagdu] Refresher training and retirement for our dogs
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi Albert,
>>>> Most of the time, guide dogs don't need "retraining" but it does happen
>>>> at times.  With Olivia, it happened to me.
>>>>
>>>> I think all first time dog users wonder how they'll know when the dog
>>>> needs to retire and sometimes people almost obsess about it.  You know
>>>> your dog almost more than you know your partner or spouse!  We are with
>>>> our dogs almost 24/7 and we become familiar with everything the dog 
>>>> does,
>>>>
>>>> its reactions to things, its bathroom habits - everything.  If you are 
>>>> a
>>>> person who has stuck pretty much to the program that you learned at 
>>>> guide
>>>>
>>>> dog school, you will become alert to when there's a change in your dog.
>>>> They may be more distractable than normal, they may not seem like 
>>>> they're
>>>>
>>>> enjoying going out to work.  They may slow down from what you came to
>>>> recognize as their normal pace and pull.  If these things happen, you
>>>> have the dog checked for any health issues. you can then have an
>>>> instructor from your school come to observe the dog's and your work.
>>>>
>>>> Sometimes, after several years the dog decides it's done and wants to
>>>> retire.  Olivia was 7 when this happened.  My dog, Jacob who was before
>>>> Landon, started extra distractions and walking slower when he was 9 and 
>>>> a
>>>>
>>>> half.  Both were ready for retirement.  Jacob is now 12 years old and
>>>> living the good life as a "brat" with his new family!  He is still in
>>>> reasonable health for a senior dog.  They love him to pieces! LOL!
>>>>
>>>> I've seen people make their dogs work way beyond what they should.  I
>>>> remember a 13 year old Dobie who could barely drag her butt up bus 
>>>> steps
>>>> being made to continue working.  THIS IS WRONG!  Clearly this dog was
>>>> well past retirement age.  It looks bad to the public as well - I sure
>>>> heard comments by people when they saw this dog.
>>>>
>>>> One thing about guide dogs is that they work or quit working because 
>>>> they
>>>>
>>>> want to.  You can't force a guide dog to guide if it doesn't like the
>>>> work. When a dog is in training, the staff looks for signs of lack of
>>>> desire to guide.  Olivia's sister was dropped from the program just
>>>> before matchong with a student. She was being used by an apprentice in 
>>>> my
>>>>
>>>> class. She showed signs of not liking the work and she didn't like 
>>>> people
>>>>
>>>> in uniform such as the mailman.  She was dropped from the program.
>>>>
>>>> HTH,
>>>>
>>>> Lyn
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
>>>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 4:15 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dogs of America
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hey there, noticed you mentioned that your guide needed retraining.
>>>>> While I
>>>>> am not at that point perhaps you seasoned handlers could give us 
>>>>> newbees
>>>>> some things to look out for as indicators of our guide needing some
>>>>> refresher courses or what to look for as signs that our pooch may be
>>>>> approaching retirement age?  Would be helpful as doxology and I are 
>>>>> into
>>>>>
>>>>> our
>>>>> 4th year together and since moving out of Manhattan our daily travel
>>>>> demands
>>>>> have changed a bit so as to make me think about and even ask these
>>>>> questions.
>>>>>
>>>>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>>>>> CEO/Founder
>>>>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>>>>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>>>>> New York, New York  10004
>>>>> www.myblindspot.org
>>>>> PH: 917-553-0347
>>>>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>>>>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one 
>>>>> who
>>>>> is
>>>>> doing it."
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>> Behalf
>>>>> Of Linda Gwizdak
>>>>> Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 4:52 PM
>>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dogs of America
>>>>>
>>>>> Sylmar, California.  Sylmar is in San Fernando Valley east of Los
>>>>> Angeles.
>>>>>
>>>>> I had a dog from there in the early 1990s and she was pretty good.  I
>>>>> had a
>>>>> yellow Lab named Olivia and she did a fair job - she did "lose" her
>>>>> traffic
>>>>> training when she was around 4 or 5 and I had to send her back for a
>>>>> couple
>>>>> of weeks of retraining.  she got cocky about cars.  When she was 7 she
>>>>> decided that guide work wasn't so fun so I retired her from service. 
>>>>> I
>>>>> do
>>>>> like The Seeing Eye's training better.  But, I have seen many good 
>>>>> dogs
>>>>> from
>>>>>
>>>>> GDA and, Jessica, do check them out.
>>>>>
>>>>> When you apply, send them a detailed letter explaining your lifestyle,
>>>>> needs, likes and dislikes in a dog. If you describe the "perfect 
>>>>> dog" -
>>>>> which we all know does not exist - then you will help them find you 
>>>>> the
>>>>> next
>>>>>
>>>>> best thing!  Good luck to you!
>>>>>
>>>>> Lyn and Landon
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at qwest.net>
>>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 12:29 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dogs of America
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Jessica, where is Guide Dogs of America?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cindy Lou
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: "Jessica Pitzer" <rolosgirl at gmail.com>
>>>>>> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 1:24 PM
>>>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Guide Dogs of America
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>> I'm wondering if there is any GDA graduates amongst us.
>>>>>> If so, I have questions.
>>>>>> You can either answer here or send me a private email, or add me to
>>>>>> msn at rolosgirl at gmail.com
>>>>>> 1. Did you keep a blog of your experiences.
>>>>>> 2. Does your dog have any issues with cats?
>>>>>> 3. Can you describe your harness, AKA how it releases the belly 
>>>>>> strap,
>>>>>> any reflectors, how the handle connects, etc.?
>>>>>> 4. What did you like and dislike about the school?
>>>>>> 5. How long did you wait to get in?
>>>>>> 6. Did you feel your dog was a good match?
>>>>>> 7. Any recommendations for going there?
>>>>>> 8. Can you give me an overview of the facilities, common areas, 
>>>>>> rooms,
>>>>>> etc.?
>>>>>> 9. Can you describe to me what happens from when you get there until
>>>>>> you get the dog?
>>>>>> 10. Can you describe dog day to me and how they introduce the dog to
>>>>>> you, what happens after that up until your first work out?
>>>>>> 11. Are there any hallmarks of the program, AKA visits to specific
>>>>>> places that always happen?
>>>>>> 12. Was your dog well trained in all types of environments?
>>>>>> 13. How does your dog do with food distractions?
>>>>>> 14. How about cat/dog distractions?
>>>>>> 15. What all commands are used.
>>>>>> 16. How is your dog at home? Do you use a crate, tie down, both?
>>>>>> If I think of more questions I'll post them but these are the ones i
>>>>>> have right now.
>>>>>> I'm doing the application process now, hoping for an April or July
>>>>>> class. I've asked for a female yellow lab, we'll see!
>>>>>> Jessica
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>
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>
>
> -- 
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> http://wayneism.blogspot.com
> My websites:
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> www.whitecaneday.org
>
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