The dog whisperer

It’s our eighth annual Dog Awareness Week and all week we’re reminding customers of the role they have to play and providing content to help our colleagues stay safe.

Press play to hear Leon Towers, a dog behaviourist, who works in dog sanctuaries, rehoming centres and quarantine compounds all over the world rehabilitating fighting dogs – dogs that are bred to kill – in conversation with Shaun Davis, our director of compliance and sustainability.

We’ve also conducted an exclusive interview with Leon, which will be shared across two parts, and will take readers into the work Leon does and inside the minds of dogs for a unique perspective.

Leon became involved in our Dog Awareness Week initiative through a television project he was working on, which involved dealing with celebrities and their dogs. One of the dogs had attacked and injured a colleague and so Leon invited Shaun onto his show for viewers to understand the seriousness of these attacks and how they can be avoided. 

Leon decided on a career working with dogs following a four-year stint as a full-time foster carer where he looked after 12 children with severe behaviour and psychological damage. As a way of processing his thoughts and switching off from the challenging demands of the job, he started working as a canine hydro-therapist specialising in rehabilitating dogs with spinal injuries and teaching them to walk again.

‘During those five years, I was coming across so many aggressive dogs because they were in pain,’ he said. ‘This is what gave me an understanding of how to manage such dogs. The natural crossover was their behaviour and psychology. I have now helped more than 8,500 dogs and their owners in the last 10 years.

‘Dogs don’t mean to be mean when postal workers come calling, but guarding their territory is a natural instinct for many. But a few simple things to consider in advance can ensure everyone remains safe and our furry friends don’t act in an unwelcome way through no fault of their own.

‘Never approach a dog. You don’t know its behaviour, you don’t know its personality. We often get mixed messages – we see a dog with a wagging tail and think “Oh, he’s really friendly,” when actually, he could be just about to attack.

‘I hope that the message I’m sending is a very clear one. No one deserves to feel under any kind of threat in their workplace. These attacks could easily be avoided if dog owners take responsibility.

‘Customers with dogs need to make sure their dogs are not in an area like the entrance hall, entrance gate or front garden, which they feel is theirs to guard when someone knocks on the door. They also need to make sure their dogs are mentally stimulated regularly - and especially at times when the post is due to arrive.’

Keep an eye out on myroyalmail.com next week for part two of our interview with Leon, when we’ll hear about his time training wolves for Game of Thrones!