My dog barks at the postman, how can I calm him down?

When your dog barks at the postman, wait until it pauses briefly, then reward the quiet behaviour with treats. Avoid shouting, as your dog may think you are barking alongside it. Block its view if needed.

Start by desensitising him to the doorbell by associating it with something positive (a nice treat).

Why not give your contact details to the postie so they can let you know when they’re arriving? That way, you'll be ready to keep the dog under control. If he knows basic commands (wait, stay...), it’ll definitely help.

Try to make the postman’s visit a positive experience (get his toys out, give him treats...).

You need to take this behaviour very seriously, because posties are the ones who pay the price.

Put yourself in the dog's shoes: a stranger arrives and then leaves without any interaction with his humans. He’s just doing his job as a dog.

It’s up to you to do your job as an owner by keeping an eye out for the postman, keeping your dog behind you, and taking those few seconds to give the postie a really friendly, warm greeting. Then, give a convincing little speech to the dog: "that was the postie, he's a lovely postman, we're ever so happy the postie comes to visit," etc.

In principle, every dog in the world will be friendly with their owner's mates.

Hi there,

This type of behaviour is quite common and can intensify over time if it’s unintentionally reinforced. Desensitisation and counter-conditioning work, carried out gradually, often yields good results. Don't hesitate to speak with your vet about it; they will be able to rule out any medical causes and, if necessary, refer you to a veterinary behaviourist or a trainer who uses welfare-friendly methods.

Kind regards,

Victoire