8 week old puppy growling/nipping/biting question

[dal]

Hi!  We are finally members as we just brought home our goldendoodle puppy on New Year's Day.  He is doing great but I have a situation I would like some input on.  He is very nippy with mostly me (not as much with my husband or kids).  But he also gets really over excited and then starts growling/biting me.  Sometimes this starts outside when I am taking him out to go potty - he bites and pulls on his leash and starts growling and then he will come at me and jump up my leg biting, growling.

When he has to poop, he gets like this in the house but not with me - he will start pacing frantically while growling and sometimes biting his chew toys.  I don't catch him fast enough to get him outside in those cases.  When I am able to catch him in time, I bring him out and he does the above biting growling but does not poop and then will go in the house a minute after I bring him in.

I am thinking this is normal puppy behavior and not aggressiveness but I need to stop it as I have three young kids in the house (plus, it's not very fun when he's coming at me like that lol).

So far, I replace my hands with a chew toy when he's nipping - sometimes that works.  I stand straight up and ignore him - sometimes that works.  I leave the play pen - sometimes works.  He gets a time out in his crate - this always works to settle him down.  I know he needs the rest when he gets like that but I feel like I am constantly putting him back in his crate and I don't want him to have any negative associations with the crate (he really likes it - sleeps all night in it and many times goes in happily for a rest during the day).

Any suggestions for me?  Thank you!  I will also ask the vet tomorrow.  I am considering having a trainer come here to help me but maybe you will all have useful suggestions for me that I can use instead.

Attaching a picture of our cutie!

Thanks again!

[Dawn and Molly]

Thanks so much!  I just needed to hear from someone else that they survived this part of the puppy phase and everything turned out great.  Thanks so much.  Molly is such a love.  We just have to be patient with the redirecting and training.  Cooper is adorable!

[dal]

You're welcome :)  Yes, patience is key the first year.  But it does go by fast!!