Puppy chewing/biting lightly

Question
Hi.....

Please help me....what can I do????? I have a 9 week old maltese/yorkie who is a very good puppy except she keeps going after my daughters (9 & 10) ankles and shoe laces. If they take the sneakers off she goes after their ankles. What do you reccomend???
Also she is always at our feet, expecially theirs and you cannot walk. It is getting frustrating w/ the biting of my girls ankles.
I appreciate your help....

Thanks Gail

Answer
Puppies, including young Labs, which I know best, tend to very bad about
biting.  You see a litter of them, and all the ones that are awake are biting
another one or themselves.  I am not even sure they realize that when they are
alone, if they quit biting, they would quit being bitten.  At 3 to 4 months
they are getting their adult teeth, and it seems they spend every waking
moment biting or chewing.  One thing you can do at that stage is to knot and wet a piece of cloth.  Then freeze it.  The cooling will soothe the gums.  Only let the puppy have it when you are there to watch it.  I maintain a Lab's favorite chew toy is another Lab.  Otherwise they settle for any person they can.  They keep hoping to find one that won't yelp and jerk their hand away, or growl "Bad dog." and clamp their mouth shut.  Then offer a chew toy.  They keep trying despite hundreds of corrections.   Another good technique is to quit playing and go away.  Be sure to praise them when they are playing nice and not biting.

You just have to keep on correcting them, hundreds of times, not dozens.
Provide sturdy, safe toys such as Kongs and Nylabones.  Avoid things they can
chew pieces off and choke on them.  Keep them away from electrical cords.
Crates are essential for most young Labs and other dogs.