Posties are to be armed with citronella spray to help fend off vicious dogs, after an alarming leap in the number of attacks.

The water-based citronella spray has been introduced as a defence measure to protect posties, after repeated appeals for dog owners to secure them during deliveries failed to quell attacks.

Australia Post said more than 1150 dog-related incidents had been reported since last November.

The spray temporarily distracts the dogs and allows posties to move to safety.

“Dog-related hazards” – about 35,000 of them – are also flagged in the devices carried by posties.

Queensland led the nation in recent post-related dog incidents, with 388, slightly more than the 329 that took place in NSW, according to Australia Post data.

Western Australia rounded out the top three with 184 incidents.

WA postie Bronwyn Adamson dealt with many dogs with traumatic pasts in her former occupation as a vet nurse. But she has become more nervous around dogs after being attacked while delivering a parcel.

“A dog escaped from behind a gate and bit me on my breast, leaving a puncture wound and severe bruising, which developed into a golf ball-sized haematoma,” she said.

The citronella spray would provide peace of mind and protection from another attack, Adamson said.

Australia Post safety manager Russell Munro said the rate of dog-related incidents was alarming but the spray would help to de-escalate incidents.

“When our people continue to end up in hospital, we have a responsibility to act,” Munro said.

“This is a last-resort measure.”

All posties are expected to be equipped with the spray by the end of July. Parcel delivery drivers will follow.

The increased frequency of parcel deliveries has led to almost 40 per cent of incidents happening on the property of people receiving a parcel. About half come when someone opens a door to accept their delivery.

Almost 60 per cent of incidents happen on the street, where roaming dogs are a particular concern.

Australia Post asks dog owners to secure their pets while posties make deliveries or consider using a nearby parcel locker.

-AAP