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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to request that the post man doens't bring his dog out with him on his rounds?

89 replies

SarkyandGeorge · 17/10/2008 08:13

We get a lot of parcels delivered to our house (thanks to OH and ebay ) so quite often have to open the door to the postman. The past few times i've had to do it i've noticed he's got his dog with him on the lead. I havn't said anything since the dog doesn't look particularily dangerous (although you never know). Now, I have no problem with dogs and have two myself but I keep thinking what if someone is terrified of dogs? It's not exactly fair on them for the postie to be bringing one to their house every day!

Another thing i'm worried about is my dogs. They're great and would never hurt anyone but they have a habit of trying to 'play' with everyone and everything. I've even seen them dancing around like loonies with their tails wagging ready to play when a huge growling thing was trying to get at them through the fence ! I'm worried that if they spot him they'll be out the door like a shot with me trying to hold a 4 month old baby and calm down two big bounding fools out on the street.

So... AIBU to request this of him although we havn't had a problem with it as such? Am I just worrying too much?

OP posts:
fabsmum · 17/10/2008 10:02

YABU

And mean spirited.

BetteNoire · 17/10/2008 10:04

I don't really see how your dogs can be "out of the door like a shot" if the door is closed. There will be no need to have the door open for the postman to deliver the ordinary mail.
And if someone knocks at the door - anyone, not just the postman delivering a parcel - and you know your dogs are likely to bound out to meet that person, surely you put the dogs safely out of the way and shut the door first?

I think it would be really churlish to complain about the postman walking his dog on his round.
I'm sure the sight of them would cheer many people.

onager · 17/10/2008 10:04

One thing I thought of was that maybe it's just for now because the person who normally takes care of it in the daytime is away/sick whatever. So I should hold off a bit and see.

Monkey, it IS a bit different since you can't avoid the postman.

looneytune · 17/10/2008 10:05

Well I love dogs but only have a cat myself. It depends on what 'hat' I'm wearing when I answer this question. I personally don't mind although it would scare the wotsits out of my old cat who is usually hanging around out the front of my house. He'd have to go through the gate to get to my front garden which I can't see how can be a public area? BUT....my 'childminder' hat says I would not be at all happy about this. Reason being is that I have a pet policy and some parents have made it clear on the permission forms that other animals are NOT to be bought onto my property when I am caring for their child. Now I know the dog wouldn't be INSIDE my house but when I answer the door, the children come with me and I know one mindee for sure who would cry in panic and tremble out of fright as she's done this when seeing animals from a distance. So from that pov I'd not be happy as I KNOW the parent wouldn't be iyswim.

onager · 17/10/2008 10:07

I'm sure the sight of them would cheer many people.>>

I do understand why dog owners think this, but try to see it from a non doggy point of view. Suppose I brought my pet tarantula or snake. "it's ok it's not poisonous it just wants to climb up your arm to be friendly"

gingerninja · 17/10/2008 10:07

I think you might have to lock your dogs in another room when he calls if that's the main problem. I'm not sure it's really a major big deal TBH, I think we question these types of things because we're just not used to seeing it rather than it being a problem as such. I think society as a whole need to relax about a little rule bending, we're so stuck up (I include myself in this too BTW). This man and his dog are probably getting a great deal of pleasure out of it and if it's not harming anyone then it shouldn't be a problem.

Original poster
SarkyandGeorge · 17/10/2008 10:09

Oh god, i'd never want to get him fired! I think it just surprised me since everything is about 'health and safety' these days and has to go through so much red-tape and middle management that it didn't even occur to me that it would be allowed.

When he comes today I think I will warn him that he may want to keep the dog in his van if he has to drop anything off at a house a few roads over (they own huge growling thing from the OP and would have him for dinner).

Thinking about it now it is actually quite sweet. I think my head is too pragmatic! Gotta chill out a bit!

OP posts:
dexter73 · 17/10/2008 10:19

I do think perhaps that you should shut your dogs away when answering the door to anyone as you said that 'they'll be out the door like a shot with me trying to hold a 4 month old baby and calm down two big bounding fools out on the street' as it would prevent that scenario from happening. Also what happens if the person at your door is terrified of dogs?
I have a dog myself so I know what they can be like, but would love to see a postie with his dog on our round!

BetteNoire · 17/10/2008 10:25

onager, re ">>I'm sure the sight of them would cheer many people.>>

I do understand why dog owners think this, but try to see it from a non doggy point of view. Suppose I brought my pet tarantula or snake. "it's ok it's not poisonous it just wants to climb up your arm to be friendly""

The dog is on a lead, outside the house, whilst the postman delivers letters.
I don't see how that equates to putting a tarantula on the arm of a person with arachnophobia.

The OP isn't 'non doggy' (apologies, S&G ), so to complain would be churlish.

If someone is scared of the dog, then it is up to them to raise the issue.

FioFio · 17/10/2008 10:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

FloriaTosca · 17/10/2008 10:30

Personally I think AbbeyA has it right. The dog has excersise and company, postie has company, people who like dogs but cant have one get a "community" pet..it is under control, doing no harm...presumably the bulk of your post comes through the letter box so you dont need to have a sight of it unless you get a parcel, in which case, why not ask the postie face to face (rather than make an official complaint agsinst the poor man who hasnt got the most comfy job in the world)to leave his dog at the gate/ lamp post as you can't control yours.

Original poster
SarkyandGeorge · 17/10/2008 10:31

dexter, I do see your point. They get very excited when it comes to other dogs but they're not as exuberant when it comes to people. I've never had a problem with them when just people come to the door.

In regards to the postie. I'm not going to say anything because as i've been reading these replies i've realised that some people have been making assumptions about my dogs (although dp and I are the only ones who really know them) and it would upset me if people were to judge them and object to them because they could be dangerous (although they very much aren't).

That's why I love these forums, you can get a really varied view on a situation. It helps when i'm stuck in the house in my 'mummy-bubble'

OP posts:
PsychoAxeMurdererMum · 17/10/2008 10:31

YABU..........surely it is no different to other people taking their dogs for a walk past your house???

I think it quite nice actually

Original poster
SarkyandGeorge · 17/10/2008 10:33

Oh I meant to put in the OP that I was never going to make an official complaint, rather a request directly to postie

OP posts:
missmama · 17/10/2008 10:34

If he worked in a shop he would not be able to bring his animal to work with him.
Why is it different because he is interacting with the public while he works?

FloriaTosca · 17/10/2008 10:36

sorry xposted while changing ds. glad you now think it is sweet.

ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween · 17/10/2008 10:37

Just ask him to tie his dog up outside your gate because of your dogs.

mind you, I don't quite understand why his dog is getting in and out of a van. Or in a van at all. I could understand him taking the dog if he's walking his post round.

Original poster
SarkyandGeorge · 17/10/2008 10:42

He's working a few areas so he has drive between each one I think. He'll walk the villages and then drive onto the next one

OP posts:
clam · 17/10/2008 10:42

I like it when the postman comes round, and the milkman. It reminds me of a bygone age, somehow. And if ours brought a (well-behaved) dog with them, I agree that it's charming. Am fed up with the health and safety brigade (no one here, of course ) who would love to ban such practices, on account that someone might complain.

PsychoAxeMurdererMum · 17/10/2008 10:43

maybe he likes to think he is like pastman pat, only with 'jess the dog' instead of 'jess the cat'......

LunarSea · 17/10/2008 11:29

I wouldn't have a problem as long as the dog was on a lead and well behaved.

PuppyMonkey · 17/10/2008 11:33

I'm not allowed to bring a dog to work. Why should he?

WilyWombat · 17/10/2008 11:34

I think as long as the dog is well behaved its quite charming and how great the dog is getting so much exercise.

DrNortherner · 17/10/2008 11:37

I think it's nothing to do with you when he chooses to atke his dog out.

DrNortherner · 17/10/2008 11:39

If he worked in a shop he couldn't tak his dog cause a shop sells food and stuff....a postman is enjoying the open air and walking miles every morning, plus I bet they keep each other company.

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