Denver climbs into the national top 10 for mail carrier dog bites

Denver reported 34 dog bite incidents involving USPS mail carriers in 2024, moving the city to 10th nationally from 18th a year earlier. All Dogs Unleashed Denver is highlighting its aggression training program as families look for help with serious behavior problems.

Why it matters: - Denver’s rise in USPS dog bite incidents points to a growing public-safety and liability issue for dog owners. - Aggression can affect mail carriers, delivery drivers, guests and neighbors, and can lead to quarantine orders, insurance problems or surrender to animal control. - Professional training is one of the few ways to address aggressive behavior before it escalates.

What happened: - Denver recorded 34 reported dog bite incidents involving USPS mail carriers in 2024. - The city ranked 10th nationally, up from 18th place in 2023, when it had 21 incidents. - The year-over-year jump was 62 percent, putting Denver in the national top 10 for the first time in nearly a decade. - The USPS released the data as part of its annual awareness campaign. - Other cities on the list included Los Angeles with 77 incidents, Houston with 65, Chicago with 57 and Dallas with 43. - All Dogs Unleashed Denver is pointing to its aggression training services in response to the issue.

The details: - Denver Parks and Recreation estimates the city has about 160,000 dogs across roughly 99,000 households. - A 2024 Colorado Polling Institute survey found that 50 percent of Denver residents own a dog. - The same survey found that 20 percent of Denver residents have children under 18. - The U.S. Census Bureau puts Denver’s under-18 population at about 129,000. - That means dogs outnumber children in Denver by more than 30,000. - All Dogs Unleashed uses a dedicated aggression component within its Denver Board and Train program. - The protocol is designed for dogs that show aggression toward people, other animals or specific environmental triggers. - The program focuses on identifying triggers and using structured desensitization and counterconditioning. - Trained handlers manage the work during a two-week residential stay. - The company’s training representative said aggression is not one behavior, and different triggers require different responses. - The representative said the first step is understanding what drives the reaction, followed by daily repetition in a controlled environment. - The residential format allows repeated exposure under professional guidance, which the company says helps speed behavior change. - Trainers adjust the program for each dog based on the behavioral profile and the owner’s goals. - The training also targets reactivity and impulse control. - Dogs with a known bite history or more serious aggression concerns must be evaluated before acceptance into the Board and Train program. - The evaluation is used to determine whether a dog is appropriate for a facility setting and to protect staff and other animals. - In-home training is available for dogs that are not suited to facility placement. - Every program graduate receives guaranteed results and lifetime support at no additional charge. - The Denver facility is at 2301 Blake St, Denver, CO 80205. - Families can call (720) 310-7337 or visit the Denver website to start intake. - All Dogs Unleashed Denver also offers private lessons, boarding and daycare. - The company was founded by Brian Claeys and Travis Lux and operates more than 24 locations nationwide.

Between the lines: - Denver’s dog-to-child ratio and high ownership rate help explain why behavior problems can have broad neighborhood impact. - The USPS figures capture only one slice of a wider dog-bite problem, but they provide a visible measure of risk. - Industry injury and insurance data suggest the financial cost of aggressive dog behavior extends beyond a single incident. - The emphasis on evaluation before acceptance signals that facility-based training is not a fit for every dog.

What’s next: - Dog owners facing aggression issues can use the intake process to determine whether a dog qualifies for the residential program. - Dogs not accepted for facility placement can be directed to in-home training instead. - All Dogs Unleashed says lifetime support is available as dogs’ environments and routines change.

The bottom line: - Denver’s jump in mail carrier dog bites underscores a broader behavior problem, and All Dogs Unleashed Denver is positioning structured aggression training as a practical response.