Didnt know it was on untill it just started now. Its about dangerous dogs. So far it seems balanced. One of the bits they say about 'eed not breed' and they have a guy with a staffy that he says he has to keep it in a cage as it doesnt like people and they are going to send him off for intensive training, also very sad a pitbull type being taken to be put down as it was a stray so has no owners to go to court to get it on the exemption list as people who have it (didnt catch if it was a rescue or council pound) say its compleatly friendly. Also mentioned dogs being used as statis simbols and wepons.

saw the parents of John Pauul Massey saying they want a law that all dogs should be muzzled around children. A bit impractical to enforce. And I thought he was killed by a pit bull  at his grandmothers house. If the law regarding banned breeds had been obeyed then he would still be alive. They can bring in what ever laws they want but until someone starts enforcing them nothing will change

I think their ideas are worse than that, I think they want ALL dogs muzzled ALL the time...

Felt very sorry for the couple who's son was killed by the Uncles Dog and I can understand how they fear all dogs now, but calling for all dogs to be muzzled is not the way forward. There's was a tragic accident that was down to human error as are most of the dog incidents. We need more education of owners & dog training and cracking down on exsisting legislation, and an end to back yard breeding of status dogs.
Microchipping every dog will not work as only the good owners will comply, like the guy in the film said your average thug is not going to get the dog chipped, unless he is made to, if you take the dog off him he will just get another, there are notices in local shops and Post Offices advertising staff/cross pups for sale all the time. These pups go for £100 plus so people will buy them. Anyone turning up with the money can just take a pup no questions asked, this is the real root of the problem.
 

Haven't watched it but sky plused it. The programme on dog breeding behaviour and genetics was very good on PBS

hello dog lovers im the postman on the itv programm wondered what you thought and would you like me to answer any questions paul coleman sheffield ????

i though it a real shame the owner of the staffy they sent for training refused to have it filmed after training.

I too was a postie for ten years and was bitten, chased and intimidated by dogs of all kinds several times a week. Despite the owner saying "Oh Fido wouldn't hurt you, he's as gentle as a lamb."
My injuries were no where near as bad as those shown on the programme by the postman. It was my legs and hands that bore the brunt. Plasters & antiseptic were the norm to carry in my pocket.
What ever regulations are put in place to stop/prevent dog attacks the irresponsible owner will find a loophole, the determined always do!

> hello dog lovers im the postman on the itv programm wondered what you thought and would you like me to answer any questions paul coleman sheffield ????

Hi Paul, I was appalled to see your injuries. Do you have any ideas yourself how things could be changed for the better?

My own dog was very friendly towards my local postmen, but since I moved away to care for my elderly mother, he hates the ones here [it is not helped by the fact the local posties always park their van outside our house or in view of it and do their rounds from there - he goes into a frenzy - can I ask them not to?] and as a result I have put up an outside postbox, as the mail was being shredded and I didn't want to see bits of finger in it as well! [I should add he is very well trained with Kennel Club Good Citizen awards and is extremely welcoming of visitors, I am a responsible dog owner and proud of it!].

I'm afraid it seems to be the nature of most dogs to be antagonistic towards postmen, but I do agree owners can take more care and be more responsible. By the way, I have friends who are postmen in the town I used to live in so I am not unsympathetic by any means.

> hello dog lovers im the postman on the itv programm wondered what you thought and would you like me to answer any questions paul coleman sheffield ????

Paul I was horrified at your injuries, I think the owners of the dogs that did this should be prosecuted. There are a lot of bad owners out there who do not make sure there dog is under control, and allow them to escape from gardens or roam freely with dire consequences.
No matter if you live in Private, Council or rented property the owner has a duty to make sure that fencing is in good condition and that Post and other deliveries or visitors can do their job safely. I think the point that was made about more dog wardens was a very valid one. They could take action against owners who do not have adequate security measures in place or leave dogs outside barking all day causing a nuisance to other residents.
I think you are very brave to continue doing your job after such a bad experience, I hope it has not put you off all dogs in the future. There are many well trained lovely dogs, with responsible owners but just too many bad ones.

Hi Paul and thanks for coming to the forum.

Can I ask, do Royal Mail/CWU understand/acknowledge the behavioural reasoning behind much dog v postman aggression? I realise this doesn't change what's happened to you nor does it in anyway excuse it, I am just interested to know.

As I understood it, front gardens, ie, access to someones front door are not strictly considered a private place as its reasonable to expect 'strangers' to require access through them - I wonder if tightening up this legislation and policing it better might make a difference.

Asides from the issue of responsibility towards others, I would NEVER leave my dogs in a front garden/place where delivery people had access through it to get to the door - it is a recipe for disaster as bored dogs (and dogs left shut outside very often ARE bored witless) focus on people moving past gardens, and begin to bark at them, which can lead to frustration or fear depending on the dog/its experiences/how people react to being barked at etc.. Build up that fear or frustration and then have a stranger enter the garden and immediately you have a situation where someone is at serious risk of being jumped on at the very least and bitten at worst.