03/10/2026
Most people think their dog barks at the mailman because they’re protective.
But here’s what your dog actually experiences:
Mailman walks up → dog barks → mailman leaves.
From the dog’s point of view…
“My barking worked. I made the threat go away.”
Now your dog starts believing they’re responsible for controlling:
• the mailman
• people walking by the house
• other dogs on walks
• strangers near the family
That’s a lot of responsibility for a dog.
And that pressure often shows up as anxiety, barking, and leash reactivity.
In this video I break down why this happens and what dogs actually need in order to relax.
Curious…
Does your dog bark at the mailman, UPS driver, or people walking by the house?
