Guilty about adopting rescue puppy with biting problems

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I recently adopted a GSD puppy who has some really bad issues with bite inhibition and separation anxiety. I can deal with the latter because my last dog had that problem, but the biting is a big problem. I have always had dogs of that breed but none of them until now was that difficult to control. Even my last dog - who was also a stray who was super energetic and nippy - was never this difficult.

He's a sweet dog and I love him to pieces, but he has caused me to bruise pretty badly and has even broken the skin. He isn't being aggressive, of course. He's just playing and he doesn't know that it hurts to bite. However his behaviour easily escalates to the point where he can cause serious damage and he doesn't know when to stop. It's easier to control him now because he's still a puppy but he's gong to get very big soon and I don't know what I can do if I can't stop him. I find it difficult as it is to stop him. He also barks at other dogs and I'm worried that if he doesn't socialise properly with other dogs that he'll end up becoming aggressive. It can be difficult to distract him and redirect his attention and t is way more difficult to ignore him and walk away.

We are working closely with the behaviourist from the shelter we got him from. I have called the centre and they agree that he is a complex case (they even called him a "project dog", so I reckon that's code for us being his last hope). They are a no kill shelter but I'm so scared that I won't be able to handle him properly and that he may be considered a dangerous dog.

I try to do everything the behaviourist says but my family keep criticising me for being inconsistent, even though I'm working really hard with him. They are also trying very hard and they are beginning to lose patience. I just don't want to relinquish ownership of him because, honestly, I really like him and I feel I owe it to him to train him properly.

I don't know if I could live with myself knowing that I failed to help this dog. I know that if worse comes to worst then the kindest thing I could do is to relinquish ownership but it's going to break my heart if I have to. He deserves a good home and I'm scared that it's not mine.

You can use several methods to stop this.One is to show you are the alpha and won't tolerate this.When the puppy bites too hard quickly roll him over on his back,hold his throat firmly, look sternly at him and in a loud assertive voice say no.Or take a rolled up magazine and hit the floor next to the pup,not the pup.Or a squirt bottle with soapy water,spray his mouth when he does this.My corgi bit too hard when she was a pup and left bruises.I was able to break her.She still occasionally gets excited and does this,but this breed is known for that, some like Australian cattle dogs are more nippy.
If there are older dogs the puppy can play with they will quickly teach him that hard nips are not ok.
A friend's pup bit him too hard and he bit the puppy back on the ear.Pup never did that again.

One thing is don't be afraid of 'hurting the puppies feelings.' because to get the messege across you have to be a little rough. Like with the above posters suggestion of rolling him over, hold him firmly and say no...you'd have to remain serious and you can't do it too gently or he'll just take it as more playing if that makes sense.

I also have seen people firmly slap the dog on the nose, but not when they're really young of if it's a really small dog...but like this dog that my dad sort of adopted(the dog wandered up to him and hasn't left since). He's a German Shepard and was already around full size when he found my dad. must have been either a stray or abandoned and would sometimes bite too hard get a little too rough jumping up and what not so my dads had to do that. But yeah we're talking close to full size German Shepard with thick fur that isn't going to feel a firm shove and is too large and strong to effectively roll on his back and hold him there, not a tiny puppy.

I do know a lot of times if a dogs chasing a cat or barking at it and the cat doesn't like it they'll usually scratch the dog right on the nose...and it usually seems to work.