Why Does My Dog Hate the Mailman?

If your dog goes completely nuts every time the mailman comes to the door, there’s actually a pretty good reason for it. Dogs may bark at mail carriers because they’re protective of their home, excited by the arrival, nervous about a stranger approaching, or simply because they’ve learned one very important lesson: bark at the mailman and the mailman goes away.

Our Chihuahua, Chip, has taken this lesson extremely seriously.

The mail truck arrives. Chip hears it. The mailman approaches. Mail comes through the slot. Chip attacks the mail. The mailman leaves.

As far as Chip is concerned, he has successfully defended the house once again.

Tomorrow, they do it all over again.

 

🎬 Watch on Facebook: Watch Chip take on the mailman

Why Do Dogs Hate the Mailman?

First, your dog probably doesn’t actually hate the mailman.

Dogs bark at people approaching their homes for all kinds of reasons. Some are protecting their territory. Some are nervous about strangers. Others are excited or frustrated.

But the mailman creates a particularly perfect situation for this behavior.

1. The mailman approaches your house.
2. Your dog notices a stranger entering their territory.
3. Your dog starts barking.
4. The mailman delivers the mail.
5. The mailman walks away.

Your dog doesn’t know that leaving was always part of the mailman’s plan.

From your dog’s perspective, it can look a lot more like:

STRANGER APPROACHED. I BARKED. STRANGER RETREATED. HOUSE SAVED.

And because mail delivery happens again and again, your dog gets to practice the same behavior repeatedly.

Chip has been participating in this experiment for years.

Unfortunately, he believes the results are conclusive.

Why Is the Mailman Worse Than Other Visitors?

Think about how strange mail delivery might seem from a dog’s perspective.

A friend comes over, enters the house, sits down and eventually becomes part of the environment.

The mail carrier is different.

They approach the house, make noises outside, come directly toward the front door, leave something and immediately disappear.

Then they come back and do essentially the same thing another day.

That predictable pattern can turn the mail carrier into a very specific trigger.

Your dog might eventually react to the sound of the mail truck, footsteps on the porch, a gate opening, or the mail slot moving before they even see the person delivering the mail.

Chip knows the sounds.

He knows the routine.

He is ready.

Why Does My Dog Attack the Actual Mail?

This is where things get particularly interesting in our house.

Chip doesn’t only bark at the person delivering the mail.

He attacks the mail itself.

Our mail comes directly through a slot in the front door, which means envelopes suddenly appear inside Chip’s territory after someone has been moving around outside.

There’s noise. There’s movement. There’s a person on the other side of the door. And then an object suddenly shoots through the slot.

For an already excited dog, that can be a lot.

Chip grabs envelopes, shakes them, throws them around and occasionally runs away with them.

We started filming it.

Those videos eventually became our recurring Chihuahua vs. Mailman series and the inspiration behind Cat Loaf Club’s Mail Wars.

Some people receive their mail.

We receive evidence.

Does My Dog Think They’re Scaring the Mailman Away?

They might.

Dog behavior experts describe barking at delivery workers as a behavior that can become self-reinforcing.

Imagine this happening from your dog’s point of view:

The mailman approaches.

BARK BARK BARK BARK.

The mailman leaves.

The next day the mailman approaches again.

BARK BARK BARK BARK.

The mailman leaves again.

If barking is repeatedly followed by the thing your dog is barking at disappearing, your dog has very little reason to conclude that the barking isn’t working.

That can make the behavior stronger over time.

Chip has now accumulated an extraordinary number of perceived victories.

His record against the mailman is, according to Chip, undefeated.

Why Does My Chihuahua Hate the Mailman?

Not every Chihuahua will react to the mailman, of course. Dogs have individual personalities, histories and triggers.

But Chihuahuas are known for being vocal and alert, and some are very tuned in to what’s happening around their homes.

Chip is approximately the size of a throw pillow.

This has never stopped him from taking home security extremely seriously.

The size difference between Chip and an adult human mail carrier also does not appear to concern him.

In Chip’s mind, this is his house.

Someone keeps approaching it.

And apparently nobody else is handling the situation.

Unhinged Chihuahua Energy? We Got You.

Is Barking at the Mailman Aggression?

Not necessarily.

Barking and lunging can look dramatic, but those behaviors alone don’t tell you exactly what your dog is feeling.

A dog might bark because they’re territorial, frightened, excited, startled, frustrated or trying to alert you that someone is approaching.

That distinction matters.

A dog who is wagging and excited by a visitor may need something different from a dog who is genuinely frightened or showing signs of aggression.

Look at the entire situation and your dog’s body language rather than assuming that barking automatically means your dog wants to attack someone.

If your dog is attempting to bite people, redirecting aggression toward people or animals in the house, or becoming difficult to safely control, it’s a good idea to get help from a qualified professional.

Why Does My Dog Bark at UPS and FedEx Too?

For some dogs, the enemy is not actually the mailman.

It’s delivery.

UPS drivers, FedEx drivers, food delivery workers and package couriers can all follow a similar pattern: stranger approaches house, stranger comes toward door, dog reacts, stranger leaves.

Your dog may also learn the sounds associated with these arrivals.

A particular truck, footsteps, a gate, a knock or the doorbell can become part of the routine.

So if your dog hates the mailman, the UPS driver, the FedEx driver and the person delivering your dinner, congratulations.

You may have hired a full-time unpaid security guard.

Why Does My Dog Start Barking Before the Mailman Even Gets to the Door?

Dogs are very good at noticing patterns.

Your dog may recognize sounds that you barely notice: a familiar vehicle stopping outside, footsteps, the opening of a gate or activity near the front door.

Once those things consistently predict the arrival of the mail carrier, your dog can start reacting earlier and earlier in the sequence.

That’s why it can sometimes seem like your dog has developed supernatural mailman-detection abilities.

Chip has not.

Probably.

How Can I Stop My Dog From Barking at the Mailman?

If your dog’s mailman obsession is becoming a problem, one of the most useful strategies is to prevent them from practicing the same reaction every single day while teaching them something else to do instead.

Depending on your home and your dog, you can try:

• Blocking the view. If seeing the mail carrier through a window starts the reaction, curtains, window film or another visual barrier can help.
• Creating distance from the front door. Use a gate or another safe area so your dog isn’t waiting directly beside the delivery point.
• Teaching a place cue. Train your dog to go to a bed, mat or another designated spot when someone approaches the house.
• Rewarding calm behavior. Give your dog something worthwhile for staying calm or focusing on you instead of the person outside.
• Giving your dog another job. Some dogs can be taught to grab a toy or move to another room when a delivery arrives.
• Reducing access to the mail itself. If your dog actually grabs or destroys letters, consider using a mail catcher, basket or another way of keeping delivered mail out of reach.

Try not to turn the arrival into an even bigger event by yelling along with your dog. If your dog is reacting because they’re frightened or anxious, punishment can also make the underlying emotion worse.

If the reaction is severe, involves aggression, or you’re worried someone could get hurt, talk with a qualified dog trainer, veterinary behaviorist or your veterinarian.

Can I Get My Dog to Like the Mailman?

Maybe. But your dog doesn’t necessarily need to become best friends with the person delivering your electric bill.

A more realistic goal may simply be teaching your dog that someone approaching the house doesn’t require a five-alarm response.

That can mean creating positive associations with the sounds and sights of delivery while rewarding calmer behavior.

And remember that changing a habit your dog has practiced hundreds of times can take time.

Chip has practiced his routine extensively.

We may be too late.

Meet Chip: The Chihuahua Behind Cat Loaf Club’s Mail Wars

Chip’s feud with the mailman started as a ridiculous thing that happened every day at our house.

So we started filming it.

His reactions to the mail became viral videos, eventually generating millions of views and even earning Chip a feature on The Dodo.

Today, Chihuahua vs. Mailman is one of the recurring series behind Cat Loaf Club.

Chip is also the inspiration for our Mail Wars collection, which turns his completely unnecessary feud with the mail into original shirts, artwork and other products.

The funny thing is that outside of mail delivery, Chip is a sweet little dog.

He cuddles.

He sleeps on the couch.

He hangs out with his cat sisters.

But when the mail slot opens?

That’s between Chip and the federal government.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dogs and Mailmen

Why does my dog hate the mailman but like other people?

The mail carrier behaves differently from most visitors. They repeatedly approach your home, come close to the door and then leave shortly after your dog reacts. Over time, the entire delivery routine can become a specific trigger.

Why does my dog bark at the mail truck?

Your dog may have learned that the sound or sight of the mail truck predicts the mail carrier approaching the house. Once that association develops, the reaction can begin before the carrier ever reaches your door.

Why does my dog destroy the mail?

Mail coming through a slot combines sudden movement, sound and the presence of someone outside the door. For an already excited dog, grabbing or shaking the mail can become part of the reaction and, with repetition, part of the daily routine.

Do dogs actually recognize the mailman?

Dogs can learn to recognize familiar people as well as patterns of sights, sounds and routines associated with them. Your dog may react to the individual carrier, but they may also be reacting to the entire delivery routine.

Will my dog eventually stop barking at the mailman?

Not necessarily. If your dog practices the behavior every day, the habit can actually become stronger. Managing the trigger and consistently rewarding an alternative behavior can help change the routine.

The Mail Wars Continue

For most dogs, barking at the mailman is a behavior problem their humans would probably prefer to solve.

For Chip, it accidentally became a career.

Follow Cat Loaf Club to see the latest chapter of Chihuahua vs. Mailman, read more about how Chip’s mail obsession went viral, or shop the Mail Wars collection inspired by the tiny dog who remains convinced he is personally responsible for protecting our mail slot.

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