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My dog just attacked the postman.

that

06:31 / 21.02.03

He's done it before, different postman. I usually lock him up but trying to herd two Border Terriers into a room when they don't want to go is fucking impossible. I tried and for some reason didn't think of locking just my dog in, and grabbing the puppy. I'd just woken up, for fuck's sake. He doesn't like men, and he doesn't like his territory being invaded. It's my fault because I get so stressed when there's a knock at the door and getting the dogs away is so damn impossible, and because he doesn't like men because they remind him of my abusive ex.

I'm now convinced I'm going to have to flee the country with my love. I couldn't let anything happen to that dog, I'd rather they put *me* down. Specially as it's my fault the postman got bitten, not my poor dog. Fuck. Fuuuck.

angel

07:26 / 21.02.03

Awwww, hon! Hyper barking dogs can be very difficult to deal with, especially when you are half asleep.

I can think of a couple of strategies, but suspect that the first few posts here should be to comfort you as you sound so strung out and upset.

Huge Humongous Hugs coming your way hon!

that

07:31 / 21.02.03

He goes for the foot, and then this time the leg. I think he needs to see a dog psychologist because even when we go out with him on walks he's always lunging at people, shouting at them and trying to bite 'em. It's the only thing I can think of, any other suggestions welcomed. Taking him to classes just isn't on because he hates people *and* other dogs. Yet inside he is the world's sweetest dog. And if something happened to him I'd know for the rest of my life that it was my fault, and I don't think I could live with that knowledge.

Thanks for the hug - much needed and appreciated.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

07:34 / 21.02.03

Huggles. Both to you and the dog. As angel says, advice comes only after hugs.

that

07:38 / 21.02.03

Thanks, Stoatie. God, I'm such a fucking idiot. I should've realised that my dog would feel that he had to protect the house. And I should just not have opened the fucking front door.

ONLY NICE THINGS

08:03 / 21.02.03

I know nothing useful about dogs, I'm afraid, but hugs, Chol.

Hattie's Kitchen

08:04 / 21.02.03

Huggles Chol...don't be so hard on yourself, dogs will do anything to protect their owner, and I wouldn't have thought it was the first time your postman's had to deal with an aggressive dog. It doesn't sound like yours is an out-of-control one, he was just doing what instinct told him, which is to guard you from strange men. I don't think any postman is going to kick up a fuss about being nipped by a Border Terrier, 'cos that would just be wussy...extra hug for you and your dog though.

Bear

08:26 / 21.02.03

Hugs Cholister - what did the postman say? I think Hattie's right I can't imagine him kicking up a fuss.

I remember when I got attacked by a dog doing ma job (when I say job I mean paper round) the owners were so worried that I was going to report the poor dog but the thought never crossed my mind.

that

08:29 / 21.02.03

Thanks, Tann and Hattie... I actually just called the post office, and the woman there laughed hysterically when I told her what had happened. Which made me feel better. But I did get to speak to the postman and apologise, and I've got him a fuck-off sized bottle of whisky for tomorrow. So he's not calling the police, and neither of us are getting put down.

Hattie - have you ever looked in a Border's mouth? They have sizeable fangs. I'm just glad he was wearing jeans. The postman, not my dog...

that

08:31 / 21.02.03

Thanks bear. Postman was pretty fucked off, but when I called he told me to keep a collar on him so I could grab him more easily, and was really quite nice about it. The collar won't be necessary, as there is no way on earth I'm ever, ever opening the door with him loose, ever ever ever ever again in my whole life.

Jub

08:33 / 21.02.03

god. I never thought that *really* happened but was just a TV thing. Glad everything seems to be sorted.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

08:39 / 21.02.03

Hooray!

Cos you really don't wanna fuck with the postal service. They go berserk with automatic weapons and stuff.

Glad it all turned out okay...

that

08:42 / 21.02.03

Thanks. Me too. I was so worried. I really couldn't bear it if anything happened to him, especially if it was my fucking fault.

Thanks all!

Shortfatdyke

08:50 / 21.02.03

"I remember when I got attacked by a dog doing ma job (when I say job I mean paper round)"

Bear - do you mean that the dog was doing your paper round when it attacked you?? That sounds ungrateful of it.

Chol - glad all is well. I've been bitten by a dog before, and I would've been a lot more okay about it if the owner had bothered to apologise. And I'd like to state clearly that I'm quite happy to be bitten by anything (or any *one* for that matter) for a decent bottle of single malt.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

08:53 / 21.02.03

sfd- I guess that all depends how much he was paying it. Perhaps he got the dog to do it for nuffink, or maybe bamboozled it in a "Tom Sawyer gets out of painting a fence and gets loads of stuff"-esque manner, and the dog rumbled him and was, understandably, a little narked.

I think it's important to have all the facts before we go slinging around wild accusations of ingratitude.

angel

09:02 / 21.02.03

So pleased that this has turned out OK for you.

Take care today hon, and have a nice soothing bath if you can find the time, you sound like you deserve it after all that strife!

xx oo xx

Shortfatdyke

09:03 / 21.02.03

Trust Stoatie to be on the dog's side....

Bear

09:03 / 21.02.03

"If I could talk to the animals"

Wish the dog was doing my round but alas no I was doing it myself, but the owner did get their kid to finish the round for me and drive me to the hospital.

Thing is after I got attacked my fear of dogs vanished, maybe I should use this method to get over my fear of sleeping with Eliza Dushku - boom boom.

Glad everythings turned out cool

Saint Keggers

19:29 / 21.02.03

I have a cat that attacks the postman. Shocked the hell out of him. HE said he'd been attacked by alot of different breeds of dog but never ever a cat. Tore through his leg like a buzzsaw. But the mailman found it too incredulous to be angry. Just shook his head, bandaged his leg and continued to limp his rounds....
But then again my cat also took after a rottweiler (I think,some damn big black dog) and won. I like my cat.

Cholister: Hope things all go well. What works for me is to lure the cat into a room with a door using food.

that

19:40 / 21.02.03

My dog doesn't even like food, unfortunately. He had a serious gastric bug when he was a puppy that nearly killed him, and ever since he's been really disinterested in food. So that won't work. Grabbing them both and shoving them into the front room is the one practicable option. Usually he just goes when I tell him to, but sometimes not.

Your cat sounds quite formidable, K egboy.

Eloi Tsabaoth

19:40 / 21.02.03

Maybe you could lure the dog into a room with a door using a cat...

w1rebaby

21:02 / 21.02.03

Wow. Did you have a vicar jump out of a wardrobe as well?

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

06:51 / 22.02.03

Reminds me of the time I was rollerskating down the road and these two guys crossed my path carrying a big sheet of glass...
...and then slipped on a banana skin.

that

10:21 / 26.02.03

I just got a letter of complaint from the postal service saying that our dog 'menaced' the postman. Puh-leese. Apparently if it happens again, no more post for us. I'm actually fuming because he had apparently accepted the apology and the fuck-off bottle of Teachers in good humour, but still went and lodged a complaint. I realise this is small potatoes compared to other stuff that is currently happening to people on this board, but I'm right fucked off.

angel

10:34 / 26.02.03

Awwww, Chol! How grossly unfair.

One thing I was originally going to ask is does the postman come along at approximately the same time every day? If so would it help to keep him in a room with a door for a period shortly before that time until sometime after that? It's a less than perfect solution, but maybe useful?

The other of course is your original idea of just never opening the door to the postman ever, if your dog is loose.

Sigh, what a conundrum!

that

10:40 / 26.02.03

Nope, the postman doesn't come at a predictable time each day, so continuing to herd the dogs into the front room every time is probably the most sensible course of action. The other option is just never opening the door to him. We've got a mailbox outside already, and he can leave stuff on the doorstep or take it back to the sorting office if necessary.

Thanks for the thoughts, angel. It really is my fault this happened...

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

12:04 / 26.02.03

That sucks. I'd demand the whisky back.

I dunno. He probably reported it for job insurance purposes or something.

that

12:11 / 26.02.03

Of course, he had every right to lodge a complaint but it just would've been nice, when I originally called to apologise, if he'd mentioned I'd be getting a grumpy letter.

pear

12:15 / 26.02.03

I expect the complaint letter is part of an automatic process which got triggered when he filled in the post office accident log.

I doubt he's gone behind your back after accepting your apology.

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