Jack Russell mix puppy biting

Question
We just got a jack Russell mix puppy and he seems to be bitting and growling when he plays and we are not sure how to get him to stop.  He is only eight weeks old and it has been a while since we had a puppy. Someone told not to discipline him  till he is 14 weeks.

Answer
Hi Theresa,
Don't wait until 14 weeks! That's not good advice.
You have to immediately correct any behavior that you want changed.

When puppies play with eachother they growl and bite. It's not OK to do this with PEOPLE and they have to be taught.

There are a couple of things you can do. I'll list them all and you can try whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

First of all, make sure the puppy gets lots of exercise, take him for a short walk to burn off a little energy before you start actual "playing".  You are the boss and always will be. YOU decide who, what, when, where and how you play. Set the ground rules.  After he's burned off some walking energy, teach him how to play with toys. Throw a ball, or a rope bone and have him bring it back to you by calling him. I don't suggest ever playing tug-of-war because you are teaching him that it's OK to "argue" or fight with a human over possession of something.

If he starts to bite your hands or growl at you, STOP playing. You, as the "pack leader" set the rules. You have to act like the mother dog. Sorry, I know it sounds silly but when the puppy is playing and biting your hands; make a sound like a psst! and grasp him gently but firmly on his neck and nudge him away(imagine a mother wolf or dog correcting her pup with her mouth) they don't use words, but they nudge and correct with a firm squeeze and make a noise. Later on down the road, all you will have to do is make that particular noise and your dog will immediately obey you.
When he is playing good, make sure you are happy and having fun with him.  If you have kids, and the puppy starts to bite at their hands or toes, have them make a loud puppy cry (like they are puppies). I know it sounds really weird but it works. Puppies play together but when one gets hurt, it yelps in pain and stops playing. If one of the kids yelps and stops playing, I can almost guarantee you that the puppy will STOP and look at your child. Have your child walk away. Consistency is the key! Do this over and over every time the puppy bites.  He will (eventually) learn that when he bites, people stop playing and that's no fun.  
Your puppy is teething right now which doesn't help matters much. His drive to chew is immensely strong! He will look for and chew on anything he can find. If he finds a shoe or something he's not supposed to have, take it away and immediately replace it with something that he CAN chew. Natural rawhide rolls for puppies are great! Keep replacing the "wrong" item with a correct item and he will learn what is and what is not OK to chew. When you see him headed for a non-approved chew item, you can make that corrective noise and he should leave it alone.  Have lots of patience because it takes a while for them to learn but it WILL sink in!!!  Be consistent! Use the same techniques every day, all day and he will learn quickly.
If you get the National Geographic Channel on TV, try to watch THE DOG WHISPERER on Friday nights. Cesar Milan is an unbelievable trainer and you can learn a great deal from him..... it will also show you a little bit of the technique that I've tried to describe above.
Very best of luck with your new puppy!
Write anytime, take care
Carol