Dog question

[norris9]

If a home owner has a gate and on that gate it says 'please shut the gate' would you assume that you have to keep that gate closed after you enter or would you assume that it means to close it when you leave - seeing as you are a delivery person who is going to be on the property for seconds and will be walking out the gate soon after entering it.

I see these gates now and again and always just assume it means they want it closed when you leave and have always felt that it's more of a presentation thing than anything else - customers like their property to look good or maybe it's some sort of security blanket for them, even though it's just a gate anyone can enter.

Anyway - I entered one of these gates and left it open during my brief time walking to their front door to post their letters. The homeowner appears as I walk out of his property and is grumpy as hell about the gate being open - saying 'we have a dog - close the gate!'... speaks to me as if I am some dumb a**hole that can't read....

1. Surely his sign should either read 'Please shut the gate - dog loose', or 'Please keep the gate closed at all times' instead of simply 'Please shut the gate'.

2. Surely if he's that worried about his dog escaping he would not have his dog loose in the front garden. Any delivery driver, cold caller, or whoever could leave his gate open after entering - why take the risk.

[TopperGas]

I had something similar last week, problem is the open gate is usually the only escape route if the dog decides to take a particular dislike to you, not sure I fancy being trapped between the dog and a closed gate?

[SMS1969]

I’ve had the same situation happen to me a few months ago, same sign on gate, the stupid twat has a puppy that shoots out of the house as soon as the door is opened. The same “ can’t you close the gate when you come in “ message, my reply was : a) how about keeping your dog inside in a room when you know someone is at the door,
b) I will close the gate when I leave, why would I close it to then have to open it again on the way out?
This job wouldn’t be so bad if you didn’t have to deal with people.

[R5001]

Close it when I leave and not before, its my exit. If they don't like it they can get a letterbox and bell on the gate.

[noggin1969]

Easy to fix, endorse mail 'dog loose' bring it back

[qwerty2]

Dog in the garden dont even go in

[enskied]

Never close a gate until you leave the property, that's your escape route.
If this bloke has no control over his dog wandering. That is his problem.

[Basildon Bond]

If the dog wants out that bad it can't be too much fun living there.

The only dogs you really have to worry about are the ones that are looking to protect their owner, their "family", or their patch of ground. Those may attack. A lot just bark to do this "protection" thing but some will take it all the way to biting.

If a dog is loose don't enter - even if the owner is there. However, if you ever find yourself blocked from leaving by a dog don't do anything that may be interpreted by the dog as threatening - like moving towards it. Be still and just pretend you're it's p*ssed off owner and point to the door/back of the house and point in the air (don't offer it a finger) with a firmly repeated "no", "in", "in". It'll most likely recognise those sounds as it'll will have heard them before.

It's not fool proof but it gives you a chance. I've done it to a couple of dogs ("down", "no", "stop it", "sit", "in, in, in" - firm voice like your annoyed but not angry) at it has works to make the dog stop and get confused while I exit the property.

[twoloops]

I see no point in dogs, a program of mass neutering & we could eradicate them within 15/20 years.

[Basildon Bond]

For some people I definitely see them as company for the person - especially if they live on their own.

However, I don't get families that get a dog but are then at work all day. Or even those that have a few kids + baby AND a dog and the place is a complete mess and you're picking your way up the garden path to the letterbox so you don't step in something. Surely it's more hassle, cost, and destruction of your home?

[kazardaimenu]

Would see that as close it when you leave. Don’t want to lock yourself in with a wild dog.

[SMS1969]

For some people I definitely see them as company for the person - especially if they live on their own.

However, I don't get families that get a dog but are then at work all day. Or even those that have a few kids + baby AND a dog and the place is a complete mess and you're picking your way up the garden path to the letterbox so you don't step in something. Surely it's more hassle, cost, and destruction of your home?

Some people enjoy chaos in their lives, I’ve never understood why but each to their own I guess.

[postslippete]

Funnily enough I've had verbals before with a scruffy guy who hasn't got a job but can afford to keep two XL bully dogs. There is a sign on his gate saying DOGS LOOSE and they often are. I just endorse the mail as the path is covered in dog sh*t and a potential slip/trip hazard.

[clashcityrocker]

I have a family with hens in the garden.
I always shut the gate behind me when entering the property.
It takes all of 1 second.

[R5001]

I have a family with hens in the garden.
I always shut the gate behind me when entering the property.
It takes all of 1 second.

Great for hens, pecks dont' hurt much. Not so good when you don't know if it's a beagle or German shepherd...