4IntermediateGeneralCulture

Royal Mail Asks Dog Owners to Display Warning Signs

More than 2,000 postal workers in the UK are attacked by dogs every year. Royal Mail now wants dog owners to put a simple sign on their doors. This small step could help keep mail carriers safe during deliveries.

1 min readLevel 4March 31, 2026

By Flalingo Editorial Team

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

display

/dɪˈspleɪ/

verb

To put something in a place where people can see it easily

“The shop decided to display the new products in the window.”

attack

/əˈtæk/

noun

An act of trying to hurt someone or something

“The dog attack left the man with a serious injury on his hand.”

increase

/ˈɪnkriːs/

noun

A rise in the number or amount of something

“There has been an increase in the price of food this year.”

secure

/sɪˈkjʊər/

verb

To make something safe or to hold something in a safe place

“Please secure your bag before you leave the room.”

prevent

/prɪˈvent/

verb

To stop something bad from happening

“Wearing a helmet can prevent head injuries in an accident.”

distract

/dɪˈstrækt/

verb

To take someone's attention away from what they are doing

“Loud music can distract students who are trying to study.”

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Article

Click on any underlined word to see its definition. Highlighted words are from the vocabulary section.

Royal Mail has asked dog owners to display a warning sign. The sign should be placed on doors or windows. It tells postal workers that a dog lives inside. This gives the worker time to wait safely. Royal Mail offers a free sign that people can print.

The numbers are worrying. Over 2,000 postal workers are attacked by dogs each year. Recent data shows a 2% increase in attacks last year. That means about 42 attacks happen every single week. Some workers have suffered serious, life-changing injuries.

Most attacks happen at front doors. Dogs escape from houses when owners open the door. Sometimes dogs bite fingers through the letterbox. If a dog attacks a postal worker, deliveries will stop. Royal Mail must also report the incident to police.

Royal Mail has shared advice for dog owners. They should keep dogs in another room before opening doors. Garden gates should stay closed during delivery times. Owners can distract their dogs with food or toys. These simple steps might prevent painful attacks.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
What is Royal Mail asking dog owners to do?
2
How many dog attacks on postal workers happen each week?
3
What happens after a dog attacks a postal worker?
4
Where do most dog attacks on postal workers happen?
5
What did recent data show about dog attacks?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
What does Royal Mail want dog owners to put on their doors?
2
How many postal workers are attacked by dogs each year in the UK?
3
How do most dog attacks on postal workers happen?
4
What happens if a dog attacks a Royal Mail worker?
5
What advice does Royal Mail give to people who have dogs?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
Do you think a warning sign is a good solution for this problem? Why or why not?
2
Have you ever had a scary experience with a dog? What happened?
3
What do you think is the best way to keep delivery workers safe?
4
Do you think dog owners should be responsible if their dog hurts someone?
5
In your country, do people usually keep dogs inside or outside the house?