Hiya Simon
Sounds just like Scooby as a pup
All you have described, I would say, is normal behavour.
Scooby was a very dominant pup, the trainer pointed that out straight away - she picked him up and he was really struggling and "mouthing" her hand, although he never growled.
He did start the "growling" however, when he was about 7 or 8 months, like you, it really shocked me initially. He growls whenever he's playing, or if he's being grumpy and doesn't want disturbing. The breeder said cockers shouldn't do this, however, so like you I was a little worried but can now recognise what the growls mean - I think it's just his way of communicating, although I am always on my guard with children around
Scooby always growls if you try and lift him off the sofa so we tend to tempt him off with a treat.
With regards the "hanging on the bottom of your trousers", Scooby did this all the time and it drove us mad. Just keep removing him and saying a firm "no".
Scooby was toilet trained by about 16 weeks but every so often would just wee in the lounge, I was a little soft with him I think and when he did this I just lifted him outside without any vocal reprimanding. However, after speaking to a friend of my sisters, who has bred and shown dogs for years, she advised me to say a firm "no" and tap him on the nose. I know you shouldn't do this, and I haven't done it since, but I was that fed up that I did it and he never did a wee inside again.
Sounds like you've got a dominant pup on your hands so just be very firm and consistent with him and, like the others have said, ignore the growling - have fun
Edited to say: just read this back and it sounds like I'm advising you to tap your dog on the nose - I'm not, I'm just sharing my experience with you (I still feel guilty about it now
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