DOGGIE ZEN or “OW! That was my finger!”

Food is a great motivator — so much so that it can be painful at times for the trainer! Doggie Zen is a way to teach the puppy not to take the food so roughly.
Get down on the floor with your puppy. Hold a piece of food in one hand between your thumb and index finger. At first, close you hand so that it hides the food from sight, but let him know you have it. Depending on how food driven your puppy is, he may sit back and wait for you to offer it to him, or he may start biting and pawing and otherwise trying to mug you for the food. This is great! — an opportunity for learning!
Hold the food hidden in your hand. Don’t move your hand around; keep it still and in one place. If he roughly tries to take the food out of your hand, just hang onto it tighter without moving your hand away. Ignore any of the pawing or biting unless it gets out of hand, then flick the puppy across his nose with your last three fingers. At some point the pup will back away in confusion, as if to ask “what do I have to do to get the food?” As soon as he stops mugging you, open up your hand and let him have the food.
We’re ignoring the bad behaviour — biting, pawing, licking — and rewarding the good behaviour — waiting politely or backing away.