Neighbours of ours,have 2 Jap.Akitas.One of them bit the postie yesterday on the shoulder, and bruised the man badly.My neighbours have been up all night worrying about whether or not they will have to have the bitch put to sleep.The 2 Akitas are 2 year old approx,male and neutered female.The Female was the one that attacked..

hi we had the same thing happen a few yrs ago with our previous dog.... he bit postie on the leg, he happened to be our neighbour aswell . he was fine about it said it was one of those things they have to watch out for. maybe being our neighbour helped as he knew our dog real well and he'd never done it before. if it was an isolated case i think they should be ok and the dog not have to be pts, perhaps an apology and a little gift with the assurance that the dogs will not be loose in the garden when he is due to deliver would help. either that or put a post box at the end of the drive, ive seen a few of those. :-)

I would want to know how this could have happened.  Did the postie let himnself into an are not open to the general public (back garden)?

I understand that the post office have the right to refuse to deliver to houses where dogs are loose. I suspect your neighbours may get away without having the dog pts, but will need to collect their mail in future. I agree with brainless in asking how the dogs were in a position to bite in the first place.

Apparently,the PO take a very strong line on this,and may prosecute.I think the neighbours are very shook up as they did not read up enough  when buying the 2 dogs, as after all these dogs were bred for guarding.So now the owners confidence in handling the dogs is badly dented.
I have advised them to phone the Post office tomorrow and find out the situation-- but firstly to enquire on the Poor man that was bitten and secondly on their future delivery service.
They are talking about selling the dogs on but I told them not to be rash and make a mistake. What they want to know is do Akitas get more aggressive as they mature?
I have no experience with this breed at all so I cannot answer them.

It sounds to me that they haven't been socialised with the people who knock on your door, my mums dog does the same thing she's a rottwieler and on Friday she chased the postman down the road the only reason she got out is because as she jumped on it the door bounced back and opened so she ran after the postie no one was harmed though, i dont think they are aggressive it's their guarding instincts if when they were young they were introduced a few times to the milkman, postman etc  they probably would have been okay with people knocking.

Warm regards Susan

Hi susantwenty,
The trouble with socialising dogs with people that knock the door is!
How do they know who to let in and who not to?
These days it could be people up to no good! a lot of people can carry
false I D, It could be aggravated burgery.
I personally don't think that is a good idea.
Regards
Denese

It is a better idea than having an out of control dog..........!

Dogs generally bark at the postman/milkman and other delivery guys because they are obeying the laws of learning ie that of cause and effect.

Dog barks = postie etc goes away.

They do not realise that the postie is going to leave ANYWAY and believe that they have caused their departure.  Hence each time the delivery man comes and they bark and the man goes away their behaviour is being reinforced; therefore the barking etc gets stronger and better each time.................

It is perfectly feasible to have an extremely well socialised dog that is no problem to anyone until and unless you say so.

However, few people achieve that level of training with their dogs so it is safer for them, their dogs and above all other people if the dogs are never allowed to get into the position where they jeopardise the safety of themselves or others..........

Hi tohme,
The trouble is Akita very rarley barks!!!!
I think in the 4 and half years my daughter has had her's I
Have heard him, might be once.
There are many negative things said about Akita's, But!
I have never worried about my daughter, grandson and little one, walking
in the dark being alone in there house, since having the Akita.
We do live in a city.
Regards
Denese

Ill swap him for my GSD then, cos he is a gobby little g*t! :D :D

There are a lot of negative things said about a lot of breeds, best to ignore em........ ;)

What they want to know is do Akitas get more aggressive as they mature?

With the Male Akita, hormones which involve agression - dominance etc become MUCH more apparent after the age of 2 1/2 to 3

I wouldn't panic too much. I'd want to know WHY the postie was bitten. Also HOW.

The Akita is a very very protective, pack dog, any intrusion into their pack that they see as danger will be greeted with violence I'm afraid - it's what the breed is.

Perhaps if they put in sufficient preventive measures they would not now be worrying about the fate of their dog.

No postman nor, for that any other matter, anyone on bona fide business should be at risk of being bitten from out of control dogs.

If the owners cannot put in sufficient control measures then perhaps it would be better for them, their dogs and other people if they had deliveries made outside their home ie in a box etc outside their garden gate.

Hi anastasia,

Akitas are very protective of there homes, and will protect there owners
until death. My daughters Akita is fine and very friendly in the park or street.
But!! even I, who he knows, would not enter the house unless my daughter ect;
was there. They are very good home protecters. So!! I would think that the postman
probable over steped his mark. People have to respect that people protect there homes ect;
and should not take liberties. Is it the first time this has happened? Tell her to put
a sign in her window warning not to enter the property ect;and mak sure the dogs are behind gates
or doors. wrought Iron gates are ideal the dogs can see out but not get out.
Regards
Denese