Just been out walking Olivia, a (usually) nice mutt called Heidi had a go and got my Oli on the mouth.. she's got a small "puncture-wound" on the inside of her muzzle and a smaller one on one of her whiskers. I've cleaned it with warm water and put Savalon on it. I doesn't seem to be a problem and apart from a little whelp at the time, we've been back home 15 minutes and Olivia seems fine. Had a drink, gave her a treat and she's ok.

Should I be worried?

Also, on that note, she's probably the friendliest dog you'll ever meet. And the most lickiest! She wants to say hello and lick everybody, and sometimes (because she's young and doesnt meet that many dogs) she thinks they all want to play and have as much energy as her. But in the past few days I've noticed her growl at a couple.. the first was an Alsatian-cross whose owner is nice, but is a mean little thing who's always trying to get off his lead and barking at Oli.. so she started growling back. And then today, with Heidi, the dog that bit her, when they first started playing I don't think Heidi was in the mood, and barked, then Oli growled and started lunging forward. She's had an upset tummy of late, could she just not be feeling her best and a bit grumpy?

x

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could she be due in season?? if yes she might have a little pmt that makes u grumpy!

Cant say I like shar pei's lol they are highly independent dogs and you have to be in full control of them at all times - Ive done a fair bit of reading on them. As with any, you cant be seen to be condoning her growling at all so try and nip it in the bud as soon as. It will be best for her in the future and for other dogs

gesic - She's not coming into season, having had and finished her first one about a month ago now. And she was far from grumpy during, bit quiet and wondering why daddy had her in nappies!

james - indeed, and I grew up with one (my aunty's) that was a rescue Pei and could be a mean old bugger at times. Hated water and would patrol the pool anytime you went for a swim and have go at you when you got out because you just so happened to be soaked in it! (He was tied up and abused and water was a part of the problem.) Anyway, I'm not a fan of her growling and she knows it. She's only 7 and half months, still a baby, and she's never been anything than the sweetest most friendly dog you'll ever meet, farrrr from the typically aloof/standoff-ish shar pei you hear about, so hoping it's just a bad week for her.

I want to take her to puppy classes. Any recommendations near central Leeds?

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sorry but have to disagree, to me the growl is an indication that something is wrong and an early warning to the handler to take control of the situation.
i would far rather a dog growled than just launched straight into attack mode.
Also u do have to let dogs have a bit of freedom and find their own way in a sense...as long as ur on hand to re educate when they get it wrong, its how they learn

Do you mean something is wrong to her, not WITH her? As in, she might be feeling something that I might not have picked up on?

If so, I'd like to agree. Today, the dog she growled at had barked at her, and whilst I was talking to its owner the dog bit her. And the other day, the dog was pulling its owner and launching, paws in the air, barking and growling at my Olivia. So it's just a natural reaction, then?

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With the wound, I personally wouldn't put cream on it as it will seal in any infection that might be present. If I were you, I would bathe it in salt water, and just let it heal itself. With it being on her mush, it will stay pretty clean anyway so long as food doesn't get into the wound as her saliva will clean it.

I don't know with regards to the growling, but it sounds like she is just telling you that she isn't comfortable with the situation.

no dont mean something wrong with her just something wrong with the situation..ur cue to step in n take charge.
If a dog barked at me I would certainly feel obliged to react
Glad her tummies better n am sure she's just finding her feet n testing the waters so to speak she is after all a teenager in dog terms.

Aw I hope the wound heals soon. I would bathe it with a pinch of salt added to look warm water - that makes heals it nicely. Make sure it doesn't infected either xxx

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I have to disagree about the growling too. A growl is just a dog's way of giving a warning. And it sounds like in both cases, the growl was warranted. Now the lunging part is a bit more worrisome.
I don't know if yall have hydrogen peroxide over on your side of the pond, but that's what I use to clean wounds (human & animal) with good success.


Cathy

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