Puppy that likes to nip ( esp at ankles of kids!)

[OzJo]

Dear all,
had the new puppy about a week, 9 week old, staffy boxer cross. She's gorgeous but prone to trying to nip at the kids feet, & I'm dead paranoid about dog bites! I know that all puppies explore with their mouths..if she tries to get up on the kids she gets a stern " down" & seems to be getting the message...I suppose the only way is to watch her like a hawk around the kids ( tricky to also do anything else..I was cleaning up some pee when she nipped my son, didn't break the skin but gave me a fright)..
Any magical tips?

I'm answering myself here...I reckon a puppy pen...got just the spot in the kitchen, could adapt one of the old stairgates..then i could put her in when doing the kids tea/cleaning up after whatever has left the most recent mess...Sound like a good idea?

Stairgates are fantastic for dogs & children - they can see each other and interact but stay safe.

Puppy pens are often not sturdy enough.

To stop my pup nipping I used to catch him firmly but gently by the scruff and give a firm 'no!' - he gave up after a week.

Similar to Bella. Catch puppy by the muzzle and give her a wee shake, saying NO forcefully.

Our pup did this for a couple of days, but soon stopped.

Thanks guys, have got a mate coming over lunchtime to try and adapt a stairgate to a bit of the kitchen, save having to put her outside whenever it's too busy to be keeping a close eye on her. Am doing the firm NO and giving her a tap on the bum/nose when she nips, will keep this up and hope for the best!

Once she has been given the firm "No" find her an appropriate behaviour - something like a toy to play with that you are happy for her to do. It is one thing to say no, but she will not learn unless she is then given correct behaviours to perform and praised for doing so. Dogs naturally like to please us and it will help to divert her current normal mouthing behaviour of a pup to an acceptable longer term answer.