A dog will bite when it is excited or when it feels threatened, scared, or defensive. If the dog feels threatened, it may feel the need to protect itself or its owner. A dog may also feel compelled to protect its territory and family.If your dog is biting you when you are playing, he is displaying play bites. If he is biting you while you are resting or sleeping, he is displaying defensive bites. If he is biting while you are training him, he is displaying an excited bite. If your dog is mouthing or nipping at you when you approach him, he may be exhibiting positive engagement bites.A dog’s play bites and defensive bites will start to heal within a couple of days. This type of bite needs no vet appointment. Excited bites may bleed a little but will leave no teeth marks or scarring on the skin. This type of bite should be left untreated and will likely heal in a couple of days as well. Only when the play bite becomes painful do you need to apply antibiotic ointment over it to prevent infection.Excited bites generally heal faster than play bites due to the fact that more blood is drawn out of circulation which slows down the healing process. Play bites seldom cause any noticeable pain and can be left alone with no special treatment needed other than possibly applying antibiotic ointment if they become painful in the first 48 hours after being inflicted by your dog.Defensive bites usually require the assistance of a veterinarian who can clean them before they can heal on their own in 2-3 weeks with no scarring and minimal pain on the skin surface with light prevention of infection with antibiotic ointment and regular wiping with antiseptic pads applied after each meal for ongoing cleansing care.
Do dogs bite when overstimulated?
When over-stimulated, dogs may bite or scratch to free themselves from the unpleasant or painful situation. They may also seek to escape from a situation they think is dangerous.Over-stimulation can take the form of anything that causes your dog to be excited, mad, or scared: a move into a new house, an unfamiliar dog in the yard, a person approaching their food bowl, or even a new arrival at your home.Over-stimulation in dogs happens for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the person approaching their food bowl makes them nervous and they begin growling as a warning. Perhaps your dog is excited to see you after being away from you all day at work, and lunges when you approach.