There is nothing that makes you feel more inadequate than not being able to stop your puppy from biting. You try your best: speak firmly, point your finger, and put your puppy on time out. But, nothing works and you are at your wits end. You can stop your puppy's biting once and for all and not have to deal with the embarrassment and disappointment any longer:

• When your puppy nips you, let out a loud yelp. This is how puppies in a litter let each other know they are being hurt. If you ever watched a litter of puppies play together, you will notice this.

• Create a makeshift noisemaker. An empty soda bottle filled with about 10 or 20 coins will work perfectly. Shake this bottle briskly when your puppy bites.

• Try to stay away from games like Tug-O-War that are based on biting.

• Keep your puppy busy
- Make sure there are plenty of toys around for your puppy to play with.
- Give your puppy plenty of exercise: fetch, walking, running, training, etc.
- Feed him/her regularly so that they are not hungry and looking for food.
- Create games for your puppy. A good example of this is stuffing peanut butter in a toy so that he/she can get it out.

• Offer a treat when he/she bites a toy and not a human hand.

• Do not give your puppy an old shoe. He/she does not know the difference between designer shoes or expensive sneakers!

• If the puppy is chewing on furniture, try moving the furniture to the other side of the room. If this does not work, stack empty soda cans near the furniture. The soda cans will fall and the puppy should not go near that piece of furniture again.