Originally Posted by Angelmerritt

When playing, try not to use your hands as toys. Some pups will try to play all the time and you will need to distract them from your hands. You don't want them to get use to having hands in their mouth. So try always playing with a toy so they can mouth it. I've heard of some people using hot mitts or old hand puppets to cover their hands for playtime until the pup has matured some.

I do have a technique, although I don't recall if it works for the very young. When they nip or mouth you, YIPE (loudly) like a young puppy would when you accidentally step on their paw. Curl up in a ball and hide your face and whimper until they show you affection and remorse. The YIPE is (1) a distraction from their unwanted behavior (2) the same thing their littermate would do to them if they were playing too rough (3) they begin to stress that they can no longer see your face and are trying to please you. Your body language and eye contact tells them if they are succeeding in pleasing you.

Over the next few months try to get your pup all wound up (which doesn't take much) to the point where they are excited and want to nip/mouth and YIPE exactly when their teeth are around your hand (not a second later - reaction must occur precisly when the behavior happens). When they play with a "soft mouth", praise them (exactly as it is happening). Always end training on a good note (when they play with a soft bite). These sessions should be very short at first (5 minutes) and can be done several times a day. You will likely do much more YIPING than play for a while. Expect a softer mouth over time. They will meet and likely exceed your expectations in a very short time.

This breed is a quick learner and so much fun with their spunky attitude. Enjoy!