Make sure that your pup is getting lots of praise and attention when he is playing well and gently. Pups sometimes learn to bite you to get attention, so make sure that they are getting rewarded with attention when they're being good, not when they're being bad. (They will bite practically ANYTHING, so make sure you have one of the more comprehensive Pet Insurance Plans!)

If the biting is really bad, you might also want to spray the back of your hands (or clothes he's going after) with Bitter Apple. If your puppy backs off from biting at it, PRAISE him:"What a good boy, that IS disgusting, isn't it!" Immediately redirect his toothy attention to a more appropriate item (like a toy).

(I only spray the backs of my hands because I don't want to get the nasty flavor on any treats that I may be handing out, bearing in mind that any time you are interacting with a puppy you are teaching him what actions have good consequences and which ones don't - so I always have a treat ready to reward the types of behaviors I want to encourage.)

I mentioned above to make sure that the puppy is getting enough exercise. I can't emphasize this enough - you'll be amazed by what a difference it makes. I recommend bringing your pup to a supervised "Puppy Socialization" event (see here), any park where people bring friendly dogs for socialization, or invite over friendly, healthy dogs belonging to your friends and neighbors for a play date.

Let your puppy run and play and wrestle with other dogs. It will tire him out, and other dogs will be SURE to tell him when his needle-sharp puppy teeth are being used inappropriately! (See our Dog Parks Page for some cautions about using official off-leash play areas.)

Also make sure your puppy is getting enough rest. Sometimes puppies end up over-stimulated, and can react like cranky toddlers.