Postman kicking dog

[Lokiju]

Daily Fail article (I know, I know, but I can't sleep) about a postie kicking a dog. Doorbell video shows the incident - I can see why he did it.

Small terrier type dog running toward him, looks like a purely instinctive defensive kick - I think the owners here were irresponsible and should have had their dog under control.

Poor dog was defending the property, but poor Postman defending himself.

It's horrible the dog was kicked (I love dogs, I have my own and foster) but 33 posties are attacked by dogs every week apparently - they should be allowed to defend themselves.

I don’t see the issue. At all.

I’ve got a dog who likes to bark at posties and delivery men. She is not aggressive any other time, but in all honesty I can understand why a postie would think she’s going to attack. That’s why she never gets to come with us to the door. We have to shut her in another room

The only dog I've ever been bitten by was a tiny little dog. Horrible nasty thing. Nothing to do with the size of a dog. Posties should be able to do their job unthreatened by dogs; if you can't keep your dog inside then tough. If my dog started threatening behaviour towards a postie, I'd be okay with it getting a kick.

I watched the video. It is upsetting but it's clear the dog bit him. The sudden jump from the man followed immediately by a kick indicates to me an instinctive response to being bitten.

Even small dogs teeth are bloody sharp and the shock obviously made him react.

I think a lot of people would do similar instinctively if they were bitten. It's not great and it must have been very upsetting for the child. They need to ensure their dog doesn't run outside when the door is opened.

I was bitten by a Little Jack russell once. Awful dog. If I were there again I'd definitely just kick the blasted thing.
It's the owner's job to control their animals.
Little barking dogs are the worst imo.

3 of my family members have been bitten by terriers (cycling, roller blading, and a baby on the beach). All strangers dogs. They can be nasty little **s! I understand why the postie did it, probably isn't the first time a terrier went for him. And a terriers bite DOES hurt and can cause damage!

Dog out of control.

Well done that postie.

I'm really wary of dogs, I know three people who, while out in public sustained really nasty injuries whilst minding their own business. I've also, as a trauma surgeon treated people who have lost limbs and worse from dog attacks.

As a result, particularly when I have my kids with me, whenever I see a dog, of any type that is likely to get within contact range, I'm sizing up how I would be most efficiently able to disable it if the need arose - that usually means where would I aim a kick.

I'm with the postman on this one.

I kicked a dog whilst out on a walk. It ran up to us and was barking. It went to jump up at me and I instinctively kicked it away. It’s owner hadn’t even been trying to recall it. I didn’t apologise 🤷🏻‍♀️
mice been knocked over twice by dogs whilst out walking even though I’m very used to dealing with dogs.
I don’t think the postman did anything wrong at all. I’d have done the same thing.
I’m amazed Royal Mail apologised. I suspect the dogs owners won’t be getting their mail delivered in future though.

The dog was not hurt. The postman had been bitten, and had every right to protect himself, it's not cruel at all.

Very sad that the owners failed the dog here by not having him under control.

People are allowed to defend themselves from dog attacks in law, even with a weapon. The postman did nothing wrong

I saw a very small dog lunge aggressively at a child walking past it outside a shop just last week. Had it not been tied up, I have no doubt it would have caused injury. It just went mad, bearing teeth and growling. The child had literally walked past it. If it had been my kid, I would have kicked it away too. It doesn't matter how big the postie is, or how old or whatever, he has a right to do his job safely.

Owners have to have their dogs under control by law.

If they don't want their dog getting kicked, they shouldn't let it run out and bite people on the ankle.

And I say that as a dog owner.

I've just looked this up. Ignoring the emotive headlines from the Mail, Sun and that ilk. Manchester evening news looks the most balanced.

The postman said the dog had already bit him before the kick, which appears to have been reflexive and defensive.

I don't blame him. But why did Royal Mail send an apology letter to the dog owner, nothing about keeping their dog under control, considering it had bit one of their staff. I wonder if the postman made a complaint.

But why did Royal Mail send an apology letter to the dog owner, nothing about keeping their dog under control, considering it had bit one of their staff. I wonder if the postman made a complaint

I hope he did complain, and hope as a PP suggests that the family have to pick up their mail from the sorting office.

Seeing as they say the dog is frightened by doorbells now, that would be the best solution all round...

Yes I hope he did make a complaint.

Hopefully a lesson learned for the owners to train their dog

I doubt it, with the (predictable) attitude they're taking

It's hard to know exactly what happened since the video's waist-upwards, but while I dislike cruelty to animals I dislike those just doing their jobs being attacked too

The post office used to be able to refuse deliveries to homes where this happens and force the owners to collect their mail intead; if that's still possible let's hope they do it here

I have at least kicked out at, if not necessarily made contact with, a number of small dogs who came for my ankles when out running and would consider anyone doing otherwise to be foolish.

I was going to say the same thing @AllThingsServeTheBeam. Why would any parent think it was acceptable for their kid to be climbing in other peoples' gardens?

I bet if it was a snake trying to bite him, and he kicked it away, people would be fine about it. Dogs seem to get a pass though, with so many people.

Then you need to train your dog or physically put it on a tether to stop it getting to the door.

Bit aggressive... my dog doesn't go near the front door unless he knows the person who's there. He's trained well. He'd never go for somebody and he couldn't get his mouth round their ankle even if he did want to bite them. I said lots of dogs, not my dog.

What on earth was aggressive about that?

If you (the general you) has a dog that runs to the door and jumps or pesters, they need to be kept from doing that - for their own safety more than anything else.

I know someone who had to have an operation to repair a tendon after being attacked by a small dog. Small dogs can be vicious too. The article says that the dog did bite him and it was a reactionary response. Obviously we don't know if that's true or not but the fact is dogs should be kept under control. If you know your dog is likely to be aggressive - even if it is small - then it should be kept shut away when opening the door/having visitors. I'm sure this family would soon be complaining if he refused to deliver post to the house due to a dangerous animal at the residence.

should he just allow himself to get bitten then?! Or just wait and see if dog will bite him?

It did bite him. That's why he reacted by kicking.

I'm a huge dog lover but only yesterday while out walking with my dp and baby , a small terrier started approaching our buggy barking and snarling and I told my dp that if the dog gets any closer to the buggy be prepared to kick it and neither of us would have had any hesitation in doing so. If you don't want your dog kicked then don't allow it to be roaming free barking at people.