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Australia Post announced in June 2025 that it would roll out a water-based citronella spray for posties as a last-resort measure if a dog attack is imminent. The company said its safety trial found the spray 80% effective, but it has not published details in the cited material that establish how it was tested or how well it works in everyday delivery conditions. The main prevention step for owners remains securing dogs behind a locked door or gate when a postie arrives.
Why are posties carrying citronella spray?
Australia Post framed the spray as an emergency safety measure—not a routine way to handle dogs, train them, or manage deliveries. General manager of safety Russell Munro described it as “a last resort measure,” saying workers continued to end up in hospital. The company announced the rollout in June 2025 for postal delivery workers across Australia. PerthNow’s report of the announcement and Australia Post’s LinkedIn post describe it as a water-based citronella deterrent for an imminent attack.
The distinction matters: a deterrent intended for an immediate threat is not a substitute for preventing access to a delivery worker in the first place. Pet Professional Guild Australia says that if an attack is underway and cannot be prevented or de-escalated, emergency use of an aversive is “defensive action, not behaviour modification.” The group also cautions against treating the spray as a long-term management or training strategy. Read the group’s statement on Australia Post’s citronella policy.
How many dog-related incidents were reported?
Australia Post reported more than 1,150 dog-related incidents involving postal workers in the six months to May 2025. ABC News described the reporting period as ending on 15 May 2025 and said the count included incidents where workers were threatened as well as attacks. It is a company-reported count of dog-related incidents, not a national tally of dog bites, hospital admissions, or all dog attacks. ABC News reported the figures and their period.
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ABC News reported the following state totals from Australia Post data for the same six-month period:
| State | Dog-related incidents | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland | 388 | Six months to May 2025 |
| New South Wales | 329 | Six months to May 2025 |
| Western Australia | 184 | Six months to May 2025 |
These are period-specific figures, not current annual totals. They should not be compared directly with bite or hospital statistics that count different events or populations.
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Does the citronella spray work?
Australia Post said its safety trial found the spray 80% effective. That is the employer’s reported trial result, not an independently established real-world success rate. The cited sources do not give the trial’s sample size, method, or independent evaluation, and they do not establish effectiveness after rollout. Australia Post’s post and PerthNow’s coverage attribute the figure to the company.
So the number offers limited evidence about how the spray may perform as an emergency deterrent, but it cannot tell owners how likely it is to prevent an attack in a particular home or encounter. It is not a reason to leave a dog accessible to a postie or to use citronella spray as a training aid.
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- Stop Repeat Accidents: Help your pet learn to stay away from spots they have marked before. Our Not Here! no marking spray gently reminds your pup to avoid visiting the same spot. No yelling needed, just spray to keep your floors clean and fresh. Results may not be immediate as pets learn at their own pace. Training progress requires regular application and enforcement.
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What should dog owners do when the postie arrives?
Australia Post’s advice is to secure the dog behind a locked door or gate when a postie arrives. Munro called this the best way to avoid dog attacks. A barrier should keep the dog physically separated from the delivery route; a dog gate for a home may be one option where it is appropriate for the dog and layout, but Australia Post’s advice does not endorse a particular product or establish that every gate is suitable.
- Before answering the door or collecting a parcel, place the dog securely behind a locked door or gate.
- Keep the barrier closed while the delivery worker is at the property, including when opening an external door or gate.
- If the dog has difficulty staying separated or behaves aggressively around visitors, seek qualified humane behaviour support rather than relying on an emergency deterrent.
The professional group’s position reinforces the difference between emergency interruption and prevention: managing the dog’s access and addressing behaviour over time are separate from any action taken during an active attack.
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