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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Puppy bit through skin?

15 replies

Neve09 · 18/10/2023 07:35

My 9 week old puppy is great until my 4yo sits down on the floor, puppy sees 4yo as another puppy I think. I’m tirelessly trying to resolve. This morning puppy bit 4yo arm and broke the skin, two tiny (tiny) marks, almost impossible to see unless you look for them. I’ve been told by a family member that the NHS advice to speak to a Dr for any skin breaking bites, is this correct?!

Unsure if relevant but 4yo has all vaccinations and puppy has had first lot.

OP posts:

margotrose · 18/10/2023 07:37

That's the official advice, yes,

My puppy broke skin loads of times and I never bothered - though I might be a bit more cautious with a 4yo.

Original poster

Neve09 · 18/10/2023 07:46

Phew on a second look it actually hasn’t drawn any blood, just looks like two small ‘dents’, so hopefully we’re in the clear.

OP posts:

margotrose · 18/10/2023 07:47

That's good news!

Setyoufree · 18/10/2023 07:49

As PP, often broke through skin but never went to a Dr (though I'm not a child).

Not sure I'd be allowing my 4 year old to sit on the floor with the puppy for now though unless they're willing to be bitten/licked a lot. Or at least pick your moments for when puppy is less stimulated?

Original poster

Neve09 · 18/10/2023 08:03

Yes I agree, we’re trying to work out boundaries both ways currently but we’re only 5 days in so far. They were ‘playing’ and it was all quite sweet until it wasn’t, sofa for 4yo for now on.

OP posts:

Newpeep · 18/10/2023 10:19

The boundaries need to be physical. It will get worse before it gets better.

I looked like a torture victim when my pup was that age. Lots of broken skin. I’m not a child though.

Puppies are horrible. They do grow out of the biting by 5/6 months but then it often reappears as mouthing through adolescence which can be until 18 months - 2 years. So you need to get sone physical barriers in place and get pup happy to be in them on their own.

Original poster

Neve09 · 18/10/2023 10:40

Thanks, yes the few times he’s bit us he’s been put in his crate for a bit of time out, same this morning. He’s not particularly bitey but we do separate him from us when it had happened and stop all communication for maybe 20-30 seconds. I do feel he is learning on the whole.

4yo arm looks more like a deep graze, no blood. It did look like a graze that would bleed but nothing has appeared. It was through a layer of clothing so that may have been our saving grace.

OP posts:

FastFood · 18/10/2023 10:40

Puppies have very sharp teeth, so they easily break skin and draw blood.
Nothing to worry about behaviour wise, it's to be expected with puppies, but obviously that could be scary for a child.

My hands looked like mince for a couple of months. God I don't miss that phase!

Newpeep · 18/10/2023 11:30

Neve09 · 18/10/2023 10:40

4yo arm looks more like a deep graze, no blood. It did look like a graze that would bleed but nothing has appeared. It was through a layer of clothing so that may have been our saving grace.

That’s not how to teach a pup how to bite appropriately. That’s punishment. You need to give them toys to bite instead of you (long ones) and they do gradually learn to bring you the toys to play with instead of biting you.

Dont stop pup biting. They need to. Adult dogs need to. Channel it onto something appropriate.

Can I suggest you look at a book like Easy Peasy puppy squeasy by Steve Mann or the Dog training advice and support group on Facebook for more appropriate help?

Newpeep · 18/10/2023 11:31

FastFood · 18/10/2023 10:40

Puppies have very sharp teeth, so they easily break skin and draw blood.
Nothing to worry about behaviour wise, it's to be expected with puppies, but obviously that could be scary for a child.

My hands looked like mince for a couple of months. God I don't miss that phase!

I was at work dishing out myself some lunch and the person beside me said ‘oh look, you’ve got puppy hands’ one day when ours was at her worst at about 5 months 😂

TomeTome · 18/10/2023 11:36

Mine was hailing around like a crazy thing when I was lying on the grass, decided to leap over me, caught my ear and it bled like a tap. Puppies are silly and there teeth are very sharp, but there’s biting and then snapping/rage/fear and those are different

Original poster

Neve09 · 18/10/2023 11:58

They go in their crate where they’re more than happy to go, with their bed with plenty of toys in there. We don’t do this every time he mouths, I feel there is a difference between mouthing and biting. This morning was categorically a bite - albeit a playful one (as I said I think he believes 4yo is a dog/puppy).

Mouthing gets the distraction of a toy. The rare bite gets 20-30 seconds of time out.

We have a subscription to a well reviewed dog trainer and will be joining puppy classes once he’s had second vaccinations.

OP posts:

Anonanonanon1 · 18/10/2023 13:03

Time out for dog training is a terrible idea.
Redirect onto a toy. Strongly recommend the fb group dog training advice and support which has lots of free to access files and is run by professionals. It's the group that also has a book available.

margotrose · 18/10/2023 16:55

Thanks, yes the few times he’s bit us he’s been put in his crate for a bit of time out, same this morning.

Please don't use his crate for time out. You risk the dog associating it with punishment/negative feelings which defeats the entire purpose of using a crate in the first place.

We used time out but we put ours behind a baby gate instead. It has the same effect but just avoids that negative association with his "safe place".

Newpeep · 19/10/2023 06:20

Time out doesn’t teach them what you want them to do instead. Have a dog like mine (terrier) and it will make them more frustrated. I’d only use it as a last resort and then I’d pair it with something to help them calm down (licking, sniffing, chewing).

Have toys everywhere. Shove in when bitey. Biting and mouthing is the same thing. Exploring. Dogs have a need to bite. So teach them what to. If your dog turns into one that can struggle with overstimulation into adulthood then them choosing to turn to a toy will be worth it’s weight in gold!

No idea about the underline. iPads done a wappy 😂

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