my puppy bites

Question
Hello,

  I have a 10 week old male German shepherd.I got him through a breeder when he was six weeks and the first two weeks with us he was very good and obedient. He learns tricks and commands very quickly and I spend a lot of time with him, but he started biting at 8 weeks, first playfully but now has become more defensive when I try to control him with the leash. He also likes to bite hands and feet of my children when he plays, but he gets more aggressive and even growls when he's being held in their arms or on the leash He also is ignoring me when I call him sometimes now. I called the breeder and she told me to be more aggressive with him and not let him bite by nipping his lips quickly and saying NO very firmly. I tried this and other techniques like holding his mouth shut or tapping him in the nose and he's now more defensive and scared of me but continues to bite and to growl. I want to keep him but I'm really concerned that he will continue with this when he grows up a little more and harm someone. What should I do at this point to stop this behaviour? I don't want him to be afraid of me.

Thank you for your time and help.

Answer
Hi, Gloria,

If it makes you feel any better, his behavior, while not acceptable, is typical.  Holding the dog's mouth closed does nothing but, as you have seen, only make them more insistent upon biting.

You are wise in wanting to get a grip on this while he is still young and small; as he enters adolescence, he'll most likely become more obnoxious and as he gets older, he'll get bigger.  Learning to control him now will be much easier for you.

I'm including some information that I think will be helpful to you.

http://www.marinhumanesociety.org/Behavior/Handouts/PEP.pdf
http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/nilif.pdf
http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/educated-dog.pdf

http://www.billfoundation.org/html/modifying_behavior.html
http://www.marinhumanesociety.org/behavior/Handouts/TreatsConsequences.pdf

http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/kidsdogs.pdf
http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/dogbite_guide.pdf

http://www.hsmo.org/m_obedience/puppyissues.swf
http://www.hsmo.org/m_obedience/behavior/puptrain.html
http://www.hsmo.org/m_obedience/behavior/pupnip.html
http://www.hsmo.org/m_obedience/behavior/pupstage.html
http://www.hsmo.org/m_obedience/behavior/pupchew.html
http://www.marinhumanesociety.org/Behavior/Handouts/PuppyStuff.pdf
http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/Puppy-chewing.pdf