My puppy barks and growls at me when I say "no"

Ah, I see! You probably should have used quotation marks to avoid any confusion ^^ (Actually, I've just realised that 'quoting' someone makes the text appear without anything to show it’s a quote; I’m not sure if that makes sense, but there’s definitely a display issue!)

And since you said you related to what the OP wrote, we assumed it was the same problem.

Maybe you should start your own thread and detail your specific concerns there :)

How could he have picked up bad habits at the breeder's? Your puppy is just behaving like any other puppy that hasn't had any training yet. It’s up to you to put in the work. Make sure that anything off-limits is kept out of his reach. Play with him and teach him what you expect of him. Get some help from a professional if you need it.

For a young puppy, everything is a game.

Growling is just part of the play; it’s all pretend, just like when they attack cushions or chase socks.

He’s nipping you for fun, too—he’s just play-fighting.

Even saying 'no' might still be interpreted as part of the game for now.

There’s no point grabbing him by the scruff of the neck.

The only way to make him understand that you aren't enjoying it is to stop joining in, so ignore him completely.

You didn't see the sock, and you didn't see the cushion (I know, that’s easier said than done! 😅).

At the same time, show him what he can play with and how.

Hi there, I've sent you a message.

Best regards

Hi Greyfondor, I’ve just adopted a dog and I can really relate to your story. I’d love to know how things have been going since then with your dog. I hope you see this message.
Many thanks

Whoops, spotted a typo... "what do they think..."

Hi Greyfondor,

You mentioned he’s 3 months old and you’ve had him for a month and a bit, which means he wasn’t even 2 months old when you got him. I’m no "expert" by any means, but could it be because he was separated from his mum too early? What do our other forum members think, especially those who have the experience that I don't? :-)

* PLAYING is absolutely vital for the healthy brain development of every young creature on earth,

if you don't have another dog at home, it’s your responsibility to spend plenty of time playing with your puppy

except that it shouldn’t be up to them to decide the where, when, and how

So, when they're demanding your attention like that, ignore them,

but as soon as they've settled down, it's your turn to invite them to play—whether it’s a bit of rough and tumble, a game of tug-of-war, looking for a hidden toy, etc.

it is a genuine NEED

* Whose is what?

I remember a puppy who responded really well whenever I said "that’s mine"—he’d drop it straight away, but it wasn’t actually the best method.

The best way is to put three tempting objects in front of him, one of them being his toy. YOU pick up the cushion and say "Marie’s!" (using your own name, of course). For the second object, pick it up and give it to another family member: "Paul’s!". For the third object—his toy—say "Riri’s!" followed by "Good boy!" (using your dog’s name, obviously).

The idea is for him to start understanding that just because he can grab something, it doesn't mean it belongs to him. In fact, he’s only allowed what has been specifically designated as his.

If you need to get an object back and he won’t let go, stand up tall and walk towards the puppy with small steps, shuffling your feet, until you’ve backed him up against a wall. Once he has no escape route, keep closing in centimetre by centimetre until he gives in (it’ll take a bit of time at first, but you have to win this psychological duel). Then, keep the object between your feet for a good few seconds. Anything between a dog’s paws is considered theirs, so keeping something between your feet is a way of claiming ownership that he will instinctively understand.