[nagdu] Why do dogs hate the mailman?

Meghan meghan at n-republic.net
Mon Jan 18 04:34:50 UTC 2010


I agree with Linda.  Dog barks, male man leaves, dog got what he wanted.  Of 
course he'll do it again tomorrow.

Meghan
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 4:00 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Why do dogs hate the mailman?


> it has to do not with the mailman, but with the training of the dog, maxx 
> barks when the mailman comes, but wags his tail.  It also may have to do 
> with the Uniform itself.
>
> Cheryl Echevarria
> Independent Contractor
> www.Echevarriatravel.com
> 1-866-580-5574
> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel 
> CST-1018299-10
>
>
> ----- 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 4:51 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
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> _______________________________________________
>> >>>>> nagdu mailing list
>> >>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> >>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
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>> >>>>> for
>> >>>>> nagdu:
>> >>>>>
>> >>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40qwest.net
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>>>> for
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>> >>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/linda.gwizdak%40cox.n
>> >>>> et
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>>
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>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
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>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> My blog:
>> http://wayneism.blogspot.com
>> My websites:
>> www.wayneism.com
>> www.whitecaneday.org
>>
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>
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