Well, I got Avril just a few days ago. All has been going well. She gets crabby every once in a while, but that's expected as we aren't bonded yet and she's in a new place. She doesn't always crab when I stick my hand in the pouch, actually I haven't heard her crab in days, but when she does, she has a vicious bite! She just drew blood from my hand a bit ago. Then, she'll calm down and let me pet and hold her. She'll be sweet and curl up on my stomach and sleep.

A lot of the times when she's awake, she won't even crab, but she still bites me. It isn't a grooming bite either. She'll just chomp my finger. It really hurts! I still love her though.

Just wondering what would make her bite me, even without crabbing. What can I do to stop her?

I'm curious because Rue has never bit me. Not even when I first got him from a rough place.

And, as she's sniffing me or looking at me, she sometimes makes this strange noise. It's not like the "tsssk tssk" that her and Rue call to eachother at night. It's more like

"sssssssh ssh sssh sssssh". It's really strange.

Do you use lotion or scented soap? Also have you handled any type of food before this happens?

The reason I ask is that I had a biter. She didn't crap, but she would bite me. It was only my fingers though. After talking to her previous owner we were able to narrow it down to the fact that it happened most often after I used either my lemon scented soap or had handled any type of fruit. She thought my fingers were dinner. I know make sure that my hands aren't scented and that has helped tremendously.

Remember not to snatch your hand back when she bites. I know this is hard to do, but it is essential that you just take the bite and remain calm. If you jerk away then she gets the desired effect which was to make you leave her alone.

Good luck!

She may be smelling something on your hands that she doesn't care for...

It may be a testing phase...she thinks she can out Alpha you. Don't let her. Tssskkkk her when she does it or give a quick blow in her face and see if she gets the hint.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by BrandyF</i>
<br />She thought my fingers were dinner. I know make sure that my hands aren't scented and that has helped tremendously.
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Yeah, Luna will chomp down on my finger if it smells like food. I don't think it's her trying to be mean; I think she just smells something yummy and goes for it.

Try giving a yogurt drop when she bites? Luna was a little nippy when I first got her, but then I starting handing her treats whenever she bit me (after not moving away and acting like the bite didn't bother me at all). So instead of letting her be all scared and want to bite me, I just gave her treats so that the little fatty would be happy and calm down.

Sorry she drew blood though. Luna has never done that. I'm sure she'll grow out of that with time though.

I'm trying to think. I actually haven't ate today or handled food. I did drive my dad's truck. Maybe my hands smell different from the steering wheel. She hasn't made that strange noise since the day I got her.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by sierranevadaK</i>
<br />I'm trying to think. I actually haven't ate today or handled food. I did drive my dad's truck. Maybe my hands smell different from the steering wheel. She hasn't made that strange noise since the day I got her.
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Anything is possible. I'm finding that there noses seem to be more sensitive than ours. Snappy bit the other day because someone held her and she didn't like the way their perfume smelt. I never would have thought about soap being an issue, but I use B&BW Kitchen Lemon in my kitchen because it is awesome for getting rid of onion and garlic smell. Unfortunately since it does smell like lemon Snappy wanted to eat it. It's crazy to me, but it made sense to her.

Watch her - you should be able to see some warning signs before she chomps down. Sometimes they slowly open their pouch, move their ears a certain way, etc. When you see this, move your hand before she has a chance to bite!

Teeth don't belong on people period - even if I bathe myself in fruit juice lol(ok that would be taking an unnecessary risk). But its better to watch them and interrupt beforehand than deal with it afterwards.

Thanks guys for all the help! She also has a strange sleep pattern. She wakes up at 2 am and stays awake through the afternoon. o__O

Rue is normal. Awake at sundown, asleep at sunrise.

Have you put them together yet? I wasn't sure if you were doing quarantine... (Not judging, just asking) I think everything sounds normal. She is sue to Sherri and just has to get use to you.

Nope, I haven't put them together yet! lol