Tag Archives: biting

Curbing Bad Behavior: Biting

Once bitten, twice shy. Or in my daughter’s case, indefinitely shy. And in my case, infinitely outraged. Last year, my child was on the receiving end of a serious bite.  Not by a spider, a dog, nor a snake, but by a boy diagnosed with a developmental disorder. My daughter’s bloody injury required emergency medical treatment.  Fortunately, her tetanus shot was up-to-date, so she wasn’t forced to endure a booster. Despite the passage of time, the details of that traumatic day are still seared in my memory.  As I learned from the attending physician, human bites can be far more dangerous than … Continue reading →

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: Not-So-Accidental Injuries

Accidental injuries, I’m relatively all right with. Wrong place, wrong time, nobody’s fault. Those not-so-accidental injuries? Those, I feel bad about. My right side seems to have taken the brunt of the lessons in cat behavior. My first scratch and bite combo came from a cat named Chuck who wasn’t very happy when I put him down on the scale. The scratch went from knuckles to elbow, and it looks like the part on the back of my hand will be a lingering scar. This was most definitely an intentional wounding. But it was also a case of me not … Continue reading →

Teaching a Child Respect

Unfortunately, the one lesson that many children could afford to learn is about respect. Some children grow up throwing temper tantrums, hitting, biting, talking back, and kicking, which are certainly not acceptable behaviors. When a two-parent family suddenly becomes a one-parent family, a normal quiet child may begin to show signs of disrespect of a child already struggling with respect may become much worse. Although you need to put a stop to this, you also want to be careful that you understand your child’s feelings and needs during this difficult time. I have personally watched kids that seem immune to … Continue reading →

Bird Behavior: Biting

One of the most common problems bird owners have with their feathered friends is biting. There are several reasons why an exotic bird may bite; knowing why may help you avoid getting bitten. Birds may bite out of instinct. Certain instincts have not and/or cannot be bred out of a bird. Birds may bite out of fear or distrust of humans. A bird may bite someone he does not recognize or does not trust. Allowing an unfamiliar person to approach and try to pick up your bird may lead to a bite. A trip to the vet’s office (another strange … Continue reading →

How To Stop A Cat From Scratching People

A cat scratch or bite can turn into a serious injury, so the best thing you can do as a responsible cat owner is prevent a scratch from happening! Cats aren’t known for being easy to train, but it isn’t impossible. The first thing you should try to do is figure out why your cat is scratching people (or other cats). If she is doing it out of fear or pain, that’s a very different story! If she is being forced to do something she doesn’t want to do or something that hurts, you can expect a scratch — that’s … Continue reading →

Toddler Playdates & Picking Up Bad Social Habits

I remember when my daughter was just 20 months old and my nephew was visiting. He was just a little over 4, himself. But he was going through a phase of arguing about everything and when he didn’t get his way, he’d scream. Not twenty seconds after the first demonstration of this little talent – my daughter fell into step. We spent the next two months coping with a toddler who would scream when she didn’t get her way and it was far from a pleasant task. The simple thing is – when toddlers get together with other children, they … Continue reading →

Biting: The Why’s and How to Deal With It

Biting can be a big problem. Just ask the child who is wearing a set of red teeth marks on their arm. Biting can be common in children from ages one to three years. It needs to be discouraged from the very beginning. Biters bight for different reasons. Knowing the reason that your child is biting will best help you deal with the biting behavior. Experimental Biting – A young child who is curious what will happen if they bite often does experimental biting. The adult should send clear signals that the biting is inappropriate and tell the child, “No.” … Continue reading →

Training: Mouthy Puppies

I made a tactical error with my furry niece Casey. I let her chew on my fingers when she was teething. It was cute when she was a little wiggly baby who would fall asleep on my chest after we played. Now that she’s a fifty-plus pounder, it’s not quite so cute when she gnaws on my hands. If you’d rather not be a personal chew toy for a dog of any age, try these tips. When your teeth are coming in, it hurts… regardless of whether you’re a puppy or a baby. Something to chew on is a good … Continue reading →