Coco just bit me :*(

[montereybride]

I went to pick her up off the couch to snuggle her and she snapped at my hand. She didn't break the skin but she growled when she did it.

I yelped really loud and she immediately licked my hand and climbed on my lap. I'm not sure if I startled her when I picked her up or what.

She's gotten a little pissy and done a half growl/whine with me when I've moved or scooted her on a blanket but she hasn't done that in a few weeks.

I'm wondering if she's sore/has growing pains and I put pressure on an ouchy spot?

She had really bad fleas right above her tail but that's been taken care of.

[Deleted]

How old is she?

[montereybride]

Aug 3, 2013 23:16:43 GMT -5 @t2j said:

How old is she?

She's between five and six months

[TrickyBob]

My dog is the sweetest dog ever, even when she is being mouthy while playing. But I know I was startled when she was sleeping by my legs one night and I went to move her and she growled at me, deep snarl growl and tried to bite me. She does it every once in a blue moon but I've come to realize that she is dead to the world when that happens. She is just out SO hard that it must be some kind of second nature thing. I have no idea.

But once you wake her up, she's totally fine and doesn't growl or bite.

So if this isn't common for Coco and you tried it while she was sleeping, I'm going to go with she does the same thing mine does.

[Deleted]

Aug 3, 2013 23:18:51 GMT -5 montereybride said:

Aug 3, 2013 23:16:43 GMT -5 @t2j said:

How old is she?

She's between five and six months

Oh, my mom's dog started doing this when she was older. I thought age might have had something to do with it.

My guess would be that you startled her. 

[montereybride]

Aug 3, 2013 23:18:34 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Where did you touch her to pick her up? Is it possible she strained a muscle or has a bruise in that area?

I scooped her and had one hand under her hip and the other under her shoulder. She went after the hand that was under her hip.

She might be bruised. She plays HARD.

She tears around the yard, plays fetch, tug-o-war

[RoxMonster]

I would guess she was just in a deep sleep and it startled her.

When Roxie is totally out and hears a noise, she will sometimes jump up howling and frantically run around the room until she realizes there is no threat. Then she calms down. I've never tried moving her when she has been in a deep sleep, so it's possible she would do the same thing.

[Deleted]

Both my guys would snap if surprised while sleeping when we first got them. Let sleeping dogs lie is a saying for a reason.

We always tried to make sure our dogs were 'booted up' before we touch them. Saying their names a few times until they make eye contact with us then petting/moving/whatever. After a while they got used to it and now don't mind. One of our friends kids flopped right on top of my sleeping foster recently and he didn't flinch.

[snickers]

My guess would also be that she was startled. My dog has never done this, but I can understand why a dog would do it if they were surprised while sleeping because if I get into a deep sleep and someone wakes me up I am the same way, lol.
Maybe next time you want to approach her make noise to try and wake her first so she isn't so surprised when you touch her that she bites.

[cbwm1]

If she was sleeping, that's probably why. We've had a few close calls when Will starts messing with Sheldon while he's sleeping. I think the general rule is to leave a sleeping dog alone.

The first time it happened, he went to snap at Will and luckily, Will moved his hand in time. Now, Sheldon just does a low growl at Will if Will is messing with him and he wants to be left alone.

[Jalapeñomel]

This is totally normal behavior for a puppy. I'm sure you startled her.

[Deleted]

Aug 3, 2013 23:21:16 GMT -5 montereybride said:

Aug 3, 2013 23:18:34 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Where did you touch her to pick her up? Is it possible she strained a muscle or has a bruise in that area?

I scooped her and had one hand under her hip and the other under her shoulder. She went after the hand that was under her hip.

She might be bruised. She plays HARD.

She tears around the yard, plays fetch, tug-o-war

My dog has always been really sensitive about her one hip. She doesn't allow the vet to move it as freely as the other one, will snap at dogs at the park if the jump on or bump it while playing. She's fine otherwise, 10 years old, it's just when actually touched there it seems to bother her. 

[Jalapeñomel]

Oh and if you play tug of war with her, make sure that you ALWAYS win.