Possibly my favorite mail-route dog. Drake is getting up there in years, but I can rely on him to be at his gate, barking loudly to announce his presence and demands for pets.
He’s also my go-to for training new postmen on how to interact with large, loud dogs. He’s intimidating enough to new folks that they’ll be surprised, but friendly enough to let them approach the house and practice the “levels of conflict” without risk of escalating threat.
Sidenote: I’ll eventually write up a “Postal Living” essay on how we deal with aggressive dogs or other animals. But for now, enjoy the photo.
(Also, always make sure you have the animal owners’ permission before you take the photo. My customers have known me for years and years, so they usually do say yes, but never assume you have their permission. Ask first.)
-JB Swift
Swift's Corner 