It may seem like an age-old issue, but Aussie posties are fed up with being subjected to vicious dog attacks at a rate of nine a day nationwide.
With more people shopping online, dog-owners are being told by Australia Post to properly secure their animal if they are expecting a delivery.
Unsecured or escaped dogs are the leading cause of bites, puncture wounds, scratches and lacerations, with many postal workers knocked to the ground and in some cases hospitalised.
More online deliveries means more interactions at the front door, which can cause dogs to react particularly aggressively.
In the past six months, more than 1200 dog-related incidents have been reported by posties across Australia — a five per cent increase on the same period in 2025.
As a last line of defence, posties have been issued with non-toxic citronella spray which has sometimes proved a crucial tool.
All dog-related incidents are reported to local councils and deliveries may be suspended to a property or street which is deemed unsafe.
"What seems like a routine delivery can quickly escalate, and our posties can't predict how a dog may react, regardless of breed or temperament," said Australia Post's general manager for safety, Russell Munro.
"If you're expecting a delivery, make sure your dog is securely contained in another room, behind a locked gate or safely restrained."
