HILTON'S Dog Bites TODAY Producer

(From The New York Post)

PARIS HILTON's dog took a chunk out of a TODAY SHOW producer's hand Tuesday morning just before mom KATHY HILTON was about to promote her new show, I WANT TO BE A HILTON.

Mama Hilton decided to bring tiny Chihuahua TINKERBELL to the TODAY show's ROCKEFELLER STUDIO because "Paris didn't come -- she's in Los Angeles," our source explained.

"Kathy knows everyone just wants to hear about or be with Paris, so since Paris couldn't be there, she thought Tink was almost as good."

But before she was interviewed by KATIE COURIC, Kathy was sitting in the green room when an unidentified segment producer came in and said, "Oh! Tinkerbell!" The producer put her hand in Tink's LOUIS VUITTON carrying case and "the dog bit her hand!" our insider shrieked.

"Tinkerbell wasn't kidding -- she really bit in good. The producer had to shake the dog off -- it was a nasty bite. Meanwhile, the entire time this is happening -- on Kathy's lap, mind you -- Kathy is just sitting there doing nothing, murmuring, 'Oh. Soooooorry.'"

Kathy then went on air with Tinkerbell, who thankfully did not bite Couric.

Meanwhile, Kathy's show got panned by critics, including THE POST's LINDA STASI, who gave it "absolutely no stars" and slammed it as "aristocrap."

A rep for NBC declined comment.

Tinkerbell is probably just missing her mistress, who will be out of the country for a month starting Friday.

Paris is going on vacation to Greece with her fiance, PARIS LATSIS, to get to know his family better. Latsis' billionaire grandfather is said to be dying and Hilton "should get to know him before he goes -- he holds all the money," we're told.

While the Parises are away, they will be "working on coming up with a project to do together, like a movie," or an endorsement. Since her campaign for CARL's JR. hamburgers got so much attention, "everybody wants Paris to endorse their product."

SKECHERS SNEAKERS are said to be offering millions for Paris to don their shoes. A Hilton rep declined comment.

Meanwhile, the new issue of MEN'S HEALTH has an ad for THE PARIS HILTON FOR MEN FRAGRANCE showing the heirhead pouting sulkily in a lace bustier and pearls. Alas, the flowers and talcum-powder scent is far too feminine for men who aren't named Paris.