Ouch! It doesn't matter that the Chi pup's mouth is small — she's got teeth. Before her milk teeth fall out and her adult teeth grow in, your Chihuahua's teeth are quite sharp. Adding to your problem is the very nature of a puppy. These guys are very oral creatures and like to explore their environments with their mouths.

Sometimes they can go too far. They bite a little too hard — enough to even draw blood. The best way to stop this hard play is to do what one of your Chi's littermates would have done. Yelp. Loudly. And then turn your back on the puppy and ignore her. There is absolutely nothing worse for a sociable Chi than not to be able to play with someone she loves.

If after yelping and ignoring your puppy she still is attempting to bite you, calmly lift her up and put her in time out, which is her crate. Many times a puppy will bite when she is particularly excited, so placing her in her crate will help to calm her down. If she knows a few commands, you can say, “Aah!” when she bites (distracting her temporarily) and then give her the “Sit” or “Down” command (to initiate new behavior) and reward her for this good behavior.

Another option is to give her something to hold in her mouth. For example, it's not uncommon for a puppy to go wildly happy when you come home. Often times these wild greetings include puppy bites to the ankles, toes, and outstretched hands. You don't want to discourage your puppy's enthusiasm; however, this is not the type of greeting you want to encourage. If the puppy has something in her mouth, she can still wriggle around and show you how much she loves you, but she can't bite. The easiest way to occupy your pup's mouth in a constructive manner is to keep a few small latex dog toys by the front door — or wherever else you might receive an overexuberant greeting. Make sure the toys are something that the Chi enjoys playing with and will want to have in her mouth. Before she can take a nip at you, offer her the toy and say the command, “Take It!” when she has the toy in her mouth. Praise her and give her lots of pats.