Hello all,
Let me start off by saying that I love all dogs and really don't fear any dogs. I have two of my own and my pitbull mix is the sweetest girl I've ever had. Unfortunately I know I'll run into an agressive canine sooner than later and would like to have some information before that happens.
I just started driving and my new route for peak is a very rural route. I live in a mountainous region and as such a lot of my residentials are walk-offs because the driveway is either too steep to get a package car into or there's no room to turn around. Because this is such a rural route fenced yards are basically unheard of and most of the dogs that are outside are on invisible fences if anything. Most driveways are long enough or wooded enough that I cannot see the house from the road, meaning 99% of the time the dog sees/hears me before I notice it. It also means that I'm usually a few hundred feet from the refuge of my package car and I like the dogs chances of running me down before I make it back to it.
How do you guys handle invisible fences/no fence?
When I can't see the house I always sound the horn when I stop the truck, try to kick my feet as I walk, and shout UPS as I start up the driveway but not sure if that really does anything. Do you guys ever just leave the package outside the invisible fence?
At what point do you go into defensive mode?
I had a Doberman slip it's collar and run across the street at me today. Diad cocked back and ready to swing when the owner screamed "No don't she's friendly she just wants a treat". I know not to trust the "it's friendly" claim but thankfully the dog stopped and started wagging her tail before it got to lunge distance. If she'd come about 3ft closer she was going to catch a Diad to the chin. The owner admitted that she's been hit with the Diad or package a few times in the past from doing the same thing but never bitten anyone.
What are the rules in terms of defending yourself from an animal?
I know safety is first and the last thing I want to do is strike an animal but if it needs to be done in defense I don't want to wind up getting in trouble for it. I'm sure UPS has a protocol or method for this.
Here's one last one that I'm sure is a bit odd, what's the regulations on bears?
I've only been on the route a few days but I've seen bear tracks in several driveways and one customer told me him and his neighbors have seen bears on their property frequently in the last few weeks. I've hunted my entire life and know I need to be more concerned with the dogs than the bears but was just curious what the best way is to handle them. Every bear I've ever seen has been running away from me but asking as a just in case scenario.
I'm going to be asking some of the senior guys in my building these same questions but any advice you can give this rookie will be much appreciated.
Let me start off by saying that I love all dogs and really don't fear any dogs. I have two of my own and my pitbull mix is the sweetest girl I've ever had. Unfortunately I know I'll run into an agressive canine sooner than later and would like to have some information before that happens.
I just started driving and my new route for peak is a very rural route. I live in a mountainous region and as such a lot of my residentials are walk-offs because the driveway is either too steep to get a package car into or there's no room to turn around. Because this is such a rural route fenced yards are basically unheard of and most of the dogs that are outside are on invisible fences if anything. Most driveways are long enough or wooded enough that I cannot see the house from the road, meaning 99% of the time the dog sees/hears me before I notice it. It also means that I'm usually a few hundred feet from the refuge of my package car and I like the dogs chances of running me down before I make it back to it.
How do you guys handle invisible fences/no fence?
When I can't see the house I always sound the horn when I stop the truck, try to kick my feet as I walk, and shout UPS as I start up the driveway but not sure if that really does anything. Do you guys ever just leave the package outside the invisible fence?
At what point do you go into defensive mode?
I had a Doberman slip it's collar and run across the street at me today. Diad cocked back and ready to swing when the owner screamed "No don't she's friendly she just wants a treat". I know not to trust the "it's friendly" claim but thankfully the dog stopped and started wagging her tail before it got to lunge distance. If she'd come about 3ft closer she was going to catch a Diad to the chin. The owner admitted that she's been hit with the Diad or package a few times in the past from doing the same thing but never bitten anyone.
What are the rules in terms of defending yourself from an animal?
I know safety is first and the last thing I want to do is strike an animal but if it needs to be done in defense I don't want to wind up getting in trouble for it. I'm sure UPS has a protocol or method for this.
Here's one last one that I'm sure is a bit odd, what's the regulations on bears?
I've only been on the route a few days but I've seen bear tracks in several driveways and one customer told me him and his neighbors have seen bears on their property frequently in the last few weeks. I've hunted my entire life and know I need to be more concerned with the dogs than the bears but was just curious what the best way is to handle them. Every bear I've ever seen has been running away from me but asking as a just in case scenario.
I'm going to be asking some of the senior guys in my building these same questions but any advice you can give this rookie will be much appreciated.