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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:
chequersandchess · 17/10/2008 11:39

We've got a dog gate to stop ours running out of the front door. You can get them in Argos if that helps at all.

onager · 17/10/2008 11:46

BetteNoire, the analogy works if someone's dog jumps up you and starts licking you. I was simply making the point that dog owners regard that as a friendly thing to do and must find it hard to remember that some of us find it repulsive.

kormAaaarrrggghhhchameleon · 17/10/2008 11:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

clam · 17/10/2008 12:01

Actually, that reminds me. I saw someone delivering leaflets the other day who had a dog with her. The dog sat itself patiently at the end of each driveway whilst the woman went to the door, then it got up and obediently followed her to the next house. No problem! Charming, in fact. And I'm not a particular dog fan.

cory · 17/10/2008 12:07

allergy hardly relevant since the dog stays outside; this is one of the many things that makes a postman's job different.

PuppyMonkey · 17/10/2008 12:09

So do you think the postman's employers know about the dog then?

purpleduck · 17/10/2008 12:27

ok, I LOVE dogs - I have 2 as well

I think postie should be able to take his dog along when he is just dropping post through a letter box
but when he has to drop a parcel/ knock at the door, he should leave the dog in the van, or tie it up.

I have 2 of the cutest, soppiest dogs in the world, but the reactions some people have when they see my dogs is pretty off the chart...
some people are truly terrified, and it does seem like a phobics worse nightmare to open your door, excited about the Mr Blobby lunchbox you bought off ebay arriving, and instead there is your worst nightmare!! In your own home!!!

That said, maybe he does do that, and he reckons you are safe as you have dogs.

(BTW, my dogs would be the same as yours. I think it would be like a giant chocolate cake arriving periodically at my door - I'd be pretty excited to answer the door too)

Spidermama · 17/10/2008 12:30

YABU.

lilymolly · 17/10/2008 12:33

YABU and a litte over the top if I dare say it.
Chill out and worry about something more important

flowerybeanbag · 17/10/2008 12:34

I find it easier to be able to open the door whenever anyone calls without having to worry about what my dog is doing/whether the person is ok with dogs/whether he might see something exciting outside and run out there. As soon as we got a dog we got a stairgate and put it across the hallway so that he could never access the front door area.

rebelmum1 · 17/10/2008 12:37

It's strange especially as I have just had to have a post box fitted as my dog was identified as a 'hazard to post persons'. I wouldn't complain unless anything actually happened to complain about.

pamelat · 17/10/2008 12:49

If someone had a real issue/fear of dogs, I would leave them to have a word with him.
Let him and his dog enjoy the morning stroll

nooka · 17/10/2008 13:19

It's worth bearing in mind that the group most likely to be attacked or bitten by dogs are... postmen. With that in mind I think you have to cut him some slack. He may well leave the dog at the threshold of those properties with front gates and "private" gardens (not sure how you can have a private front garden really). Getting parcels isn't a regular feature of everyone's lives is it? I only get them every few months or so (but then am usually at work, so for me deliveries are a mighty nuisance)

hatrick · 17/10/2008 13:31

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WalkerBurnie · 17/10/2008 13:34

YANBU. Why should the postie be allowed to bring his pet to work. I can't take my pet to work, I'm sure it is not allowed

bethoo · 17/10/2008 13:52

i can take my dog to work and would be pissed off if someone complained just because they cant take theirs to work!!
i am not postie, i work in an office!

DrNortherner · 17/10/2008 14:46

There is a law against taking dogs to work?

I don't think so.

Minniethemoocher · 17/10/2008 14:53

YABU - you don't mind dogs and have 2 yourself, if anyone is dog phobic, then let them complain if they so choose. I really can't see that it is doing any harm to anyone.

Original poster
SarkyandGeorge · 17/10/2008 18:37

Finding it hilarious that certain posters on here, not naming names kormAaaarrrggghhhchameleon are practically screaming at me telling me to chill out when if they'd read any of my other posts they'd see i'm pretty zen about the whole thing now. Just having an ansty moment...

Pot... kettle... black

OP posts:
kormAaaarrrggghhhchameleon · 17/10/2008 20:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Heifer · 17/10/2008 21:16

Well I will go against the tide and say

YANBU

He is a postman, not a dog walker...

I would not be happy with someones dog coming up my drive every day. I no longer have dogs but when I did it would have caused problem however well behaved they all were. One was a very nervous dog and would have been scared or upset smelling another dog on his terratory.

I would still hate it now, tis my drive, my personal space and I don't want a dog on it! so there....

Now however, if he was to tie up the dog at the bottom of my drive, then no problem with me... (see I'm not completely unreasonable)

Re his bosses, I am sure that they don't know, but then again there is a hell of a lot they don't know (or turn a blind eye to)...

Another Postie hate of mine is seeing them smoking.. but that is for another thread...

FreakyLadyFrightALot · 17/10/2008 21:20

hm...poor postman is probably just doing it for protection...because, there seeems to be something with postman that can get dogs goiing for them...
AT THIS TIME THERE DOESN'T EVEN SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM, SO WHY DO YOU EVEN WORRY, AT THIS TIME?

hatrick · 17/10/2008 23:10

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kormAaaarrrggghhhchameleon · 17/10/2008 23:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Catper33 · 18/10/2008 11:03

although I have been retired for a couple of years I think its safe to assume that none of my ex delivery manager colleagues would allow any animal in any Royal Mail vehicle or at work in any circumstance. It would definitely contravene H & S rules at the very least. I wonder if said postman went home to get his dog? Which is also a no no. I wonder how much mail was delayed because he was looking after his pet......delaying the mail is a sackable(and criminal) offence - although I would imagine that the person in question would only be "hounded" (he he he) for this offence if he was a particularly difficult individual who couldn't be brought to account for anything else - or indeed if his boss was not a dog lover!!!
Aside from that most posties were and are always wary of dogs and will never believe the owners who swear he/she won't bite.
Mr catper33