Royal Mail is urging homeowners to follow a simple ten minute rule to help keep both postal workers and dogs safe during deliveries
With Easter just days away and more households expecting regular deliveries, it remains a busy period for Royal Mail and postal workers. From online shopping orders to everyday essentials, many homes rely on frequent deliveries throughout the week.
For pet-owning households, it’s important to take simple safety precautions before a postie arrives to ensure both the worker and your dog stay safe. As the Royal Mail website highlights: “Even the most lovable dog can be a danger to postal workers”.
It continues: “Dogs are territorial by nature and if they feel they need to protect their family, they can become unpredictable.” Due to this, the delivery service is urging dog owners to follow simple steps to keep their pets secure and away from harm during deliveries.
Now, Royal Mail has set out a number of practical steps households can take to make deliveries safer and more efficient. First and foremost, dog owners are advised to secure their pet before anyone comes to the door.
“Ensure your dog is out of the way before the postman or postwoman arrives,” it states. “Place your pet in the back garden or a faraway room,” Royal Mail advised. “Never open the door when your dog is behind you.”
The guidance also warns that incidents can happen when answering the door for deliveries, stating: “Dog attacks can happen when you’ve opened the door to sign for an item. Please keep your dog in another room before answering the door and make sure children don’t open the door, as dogs can push by them and attack.”
Owners are encouraged to keep their dog distracted with toys or treats while deliveries are being made, and to wait a short period before letting them return to the hallway.
“Wait 10 minutes after your mail has arrived to let your pet back into your hallway,” Royal Mail states. “Keep everything as calm and low-key as possible.”
The website also offers a downloadable sign that can be displayed in a window, letting postal workers know there is a dog inside and asking them to wait while the animal is secured before the door is opened. This ensures that both the postie and your dog is safe, and your delivery will still be delivered.
For households where keeping a dog away from the door isn’t always possible, Royal Mail suggests installing additional safety measures.
“If your dog likes to attack your mail, consider installing a wire letter receptacle. It will protect your post, and your postman’s or postwoman’s fingers,” the guidance explains.
“If it’s not practical for you to keep your dog away from a postman or postwoman delivering your mail, please consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of your property.”
