[antondy]

Hi!

I have a 2 month old puppy who is very playful. As I was trying to keep her from biting my shoe. My finger got nicked by her tooth. It was a very small cut which bled a bit after several seconds. Should I be concerned? :confused:

[stevetcg]

Put some anti-biotic ointment on it - you'll be fine. :)

[starbuck8]

Are you worried because your puppy hasn't had her shots yet? If not, I would get on that asap. Too many puppies die because they haven't had their vaccinations. All puppies should have their shots "before" they come into your home.

As for the cut, it should be fine, but if it starts to bother you, see your Dr.

[linnealand]

Hello there! What kind of a puppy do you have?

May I ask, how old are you?

Is this your dog or your family's dog?

I'm just wondering this because I would suspect that anyone taking a puppy home would probably be prepared for a minor scratch or nip as the puppy grows up, learns and teethes.

Do you, or does the responsible party in your family, have some experience with or knowledge about puppies?

The following is a link to some good information that can help you to know the best ways of handling puppy nipping: Puppy Nipping and Chewing: How to Stop the Biting That Hurts
Here are some of the most important things to remember:

"Puppies will teethe, just like human infants," says Cindy Sherman, PhD, teacher of puppy training classes in Ithaca, New York. "Chewing and nipping is investigative behavior. It is how they learn about their world...and it is completely normal." But it is important, stresses Sherman, to direct the puppy to chewing appropriate items.

...

Reinforce positive play

To teach the puppy appropriate play behavior, "hard biting should elicit a painful shriek from a human companion, sending the message that this behavior is unacceptable. Stop interacting with the puppy. Get up and walk away, ignoring the puppy for a few minutes. You have removed the rewards (you and playing), and you are teaching bite inhibition." This is best done between two and four months of age. "Gradually decrease the pressure of the bite you permit and add a cue before yelping to teach a signal to the dog." Sherman also suggests that a puppy can learn to have a "time out" if you ignore him or place him in a crate.

"The only biting you should ignore is soft biting on bare hands. If this occurs, keep your hands very quiet and still and then redirect the puppy to other appropriate objects."

Other biting, such as the lure of a pants leg or shoelace, can be handled by distractions such as throwing a toy or a simple clap. "Don't engage the dog verbally. IT reinforces the negative behavior." says Sherman. "Reinforce only the positive behavior."

It is important to remember that as much fun as a new puppy may be, children and puppies should NEVER be left together unsupervised. Work with children to teach them how to teach the dog to play correctly. Hide-and-seek is a terrific beginning. It introduces the concepts of the "come" command. Teach children not to roughhouse or wrestle. Like a human baby, puppies get overtired and over stimulated. They need time to rest and calm down. Sherman quotes the well-known British behaviorist John Rogerson, who says, "Control the game, control the dog."

...

You should also know that puppies need to learn bite inhibition from their new owners. This means that the puppy understands the level of pressure it needs to avoid to keep from hurting you.

This site gives a good explanation of what bite inhibition is, how to teach your puppy the right way, and why it's so important. Dog Tip: Bite Inhibition -- an Essential Part of Socialization

If this is your first time with a puppy, I highly recommend getting some great books on puppy training and care. You and your puppy will be so much better off because of it.

[antondy]

Put some anti-biotic ointment on it - you'll be fine. :)

I did just that when I saw your message. Thanks! Both of us are fine! :D

[antondy]

Are you worried because your puppy hasn't had her shots yet? If not, I would get on that asap. Too many puppies die because they haven't had their vaccinations. All puppies should have their shots "before" they come into your home.

As for the cut, it should be fine, but if it starts to bother you, see your Dr.

That's correct! She hasn't completed all the required shots yet but she's right on schedule. The cut is gone and we're both fine! Thank you!

[antondy]

hello there! what kind of a puppy do you have?

may i ask, how old are you? is this your dog or your family's dog?.. ....if this is your first time with a puppy, i highly recommend getting some great books on puppy training and care. you and your puppy will be so much better off because of it.

This is very enlightening! Thank you very much! Would absolutely do all these! :D