New Zealand Post says it assesses risks to posties on a daily basis.

Dog-related injuries have hit a nine year high in New Zealand - and posties in particular are feeling the bite.

Since 2012 there have been 150 incidents of New Zealand Post posties being bitten by dogs while on the job - an average of two attacks per month - figures released by the state owned enterprise under the Official Information Act show.

The injuries resulted in posties taking a total of 238 days off work.

SUPPLIED Dog trainer Dan Abdelnor says owners are responsible for understanding what makes their dog tick.

However, it's not just posties at risk.

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In the year to June 30, there were 14,026 dog-related injury claims made to ACC totalling $3,352,964.

JACKSON THOMAS/STUFF Serene Mallowes was attacked by a dog earlier this year. She was 20 weeks pregnant.

The number of claims has been rising each year for the last nine years.

A New Zealand Post spokesperson said the safety of its employees and risks associated with certain properties were assessed on a daily basis.

Posties were put through training on how to deal with aggressive canines, and measures were in place to ensure staff were aware of properties with dogs that may present a risk, the spokesperson said.

SUPPLIED There have been 14,026 dog attack claims made to ACC in the last year.

"We also work closely with animal control and property owners who have dogs that may present a risk, for alternative means of completing their mail delivery."

New Zealand Post encouraged all staff to report health and safety incidents, including those involving dogs, the spokesperson said.

Dan Abdelnor​, known to his clients as DoggyDan, has been a professional dog trainer for the last 10 years.

DAVE LINTOTT/STUFF Dog attacks have resulted in New Zealand Post employees taking 238 days off work since 2012.

His online training program has been used by over 25,000 people worldwide.

In that time, Abdelnor has worked with "thousands" of dogs of different sizes, nature and breed.

The main reason dogs attacked was because their owners did not understand how to properly manage their canine, he said.

"The number one thing is understanding your dog and understanding how to get them into a calm state. A lot of dogs get the spoilt child syndrome. They have a lot of energy and if not properly managed, they think they can get away with anything and that's when they tend to bite."

Attacks on posties often occurred when property owners were not home, he said.

"Dogs have a natural instinct to protect the property when left alone and when posties approach it's often a recipe for disaster."

Auckland was home to the majority of attacks on posties, New Zealand Post says.

In March, Auckland woman Serene Mallowes was attacked by a staffordshire bull terrier while out for a walk. She was 20 weeks pregnant at the time.

Despite the attack Mallowes said she didn't want to see the dog to be put down, but felt tighter regulations on aggressive dogs and more responsibility on owners was needed.

Hillsborough resident Graeme Williams agreed and said owners should be responsible for the way their dogs behave.

"If owners are out and the dog has free roam of the property then they can't be blamed if someone comes on the property and gets bitten," he said.

"A dog will defend the property and will see a stranger as a direct threat. Owners need to take more responsibility for how they raise their dogs."

Mailboxes must be accessible for a postie to deliver without entering the property, he said.

Onehunga resident Wendy Tangaipu said there was a misconception that staffordshire and pit bulls were problem breeds.

"It is on the owners, it's never the dogs fault," she said.

"I have owned two red nose pit bulls. They are really good dogs if you train them to love people."