I'm seeing from your description is that you were angered on Bartleby's behalf. That he would be perceived as a bad dog. And your behavior in going back to get the name of her company - that was invasive, retributive and passive aggressive.

I can see why you would think this, but honestly, I wasn't offended on Bartleby's part at all. He was right by my side, completely calm and not even remotely 'out of line.' If he had been, I'd have been embarrassed, not offended.

What did bother me was creating a public scene over virtually nothing. If it were my company, I would want to know that my employee was making me look like that.

It's no different than diagnosing somebody over the internet after hearing about their behavior in one instance. It would be malpractice if a therapist did that.

Have you ever seen me do this David?

In the case of this postman, his fear is really overblown, since I've only seen a handful of loose dogs in this neighborhood in 20 years. The county is really aggressive about animal control.

Also, I have trouble feeling understanding about a person who pounds packages into mailboxes so tightly that I've had to put one foot on the mailbox post and pull with both hands.

Have you ever seen me do this David?

I didn't see you diagnosing her, but you ascribed motive to her behavior and I don't think you can.

Also, I have trouble feeling understanding about a person who pounds packages into mailboxes so tightly that I've had to put one foot on the mailbox post and pull with both hands.

Lordy!

Again, I really do have total compassion for people's fears. I help where ever I can...even when that means just crossing the street.

In the case of this woman this evening, if I had videotape, I'd share it.

Also, David, did you not see me cop to the passive aggression? Yeah. I did. Whether or not I should speak to the company is something else, but I should not have tried to hide that when I spoke to the woman.

There are enough bad dog owners out there anywhere that mailcarriers get a total pass on that. I wouldn't second guess their fear.

(We had a german shepherd growing up who would bark like mad at the mailman, and we always felt awful about it. Then one day my mom came home in the afternoon and saw him peering in the window making taunting gestures at the dog. Funny.)

I'm just wondering how that mailman walks around his hood? My landlady walks her dog with a stick, just in case.

Fortunately, my current mail carrier adores Bartleby. He'll even knock on the door to howdy to him on a nice day.

I know he's on a massive time clock, so I'm not sure how he can afford to stop, but I think he likes chatting about the weather and patting the pooch.

Oz barks, though he won't bite. Pico gives a yip or two and then stands up, does a dance and sits down wagging her tail when she meets someone new.

odd, If a dog is out, the mailmen around here do not deliver you mail. period.

He drives a mail truck and does everything possible to never leave it. Possibly he's afraid of dogs and lazy.