growling

Question
I walk my 85 lb male Black Lab and 60 lb female Husky/Shepard mix together.  When we meet other dogs on our walk, they both become extremely excited.  Many times the other owner will bring their dog over to mine, which I don't like because they lunge and jump.  They are well-socialized dogs and go to doggy day care often.  My problem is that sometimes my Black Lab lunges like he wants to play .. but sometimes he does it with a growl and sounds mean.  I notice he does it esp if the other dog is coming up with their hackles up .. these are usually dogs I'm not sure if they are nice or not.  I truly don't think that my Lab has an agressive bone in his body!  Everyone loves him and knows him as a big, happy, goofy boy ... could he be doing this in a reactive, protective way?  Could he be trying to be protect of my female dog and me?  I worry, because if he has any kind of agression problem, I want to nip it in the bud.  Thanks so much for your help!

Answer
When one dog approaches another with raised hackles this is a strong communication to the receiving dog: "I am afraid but coming at you anyway", "I am stronger/bigger/tougher", etc.  Observe the oncoming dog: learn how to read dog body language by reading Turid Rugaas' book, "On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals" which can be purchased with her video here:
http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB527

She also has a web site but don't rely strictly on that, you need more sophisticated judgment:
http://www.canis.no/rugaas/index.php

your dogs are clearly not under your control ("they lunge and jump"). Dogs need to be taught to 'sit' and 'wait' before greeting and this means you need to work with both dogs, individually, in a structured training venue with a credentilled trainer who uses ONLY positive reinforcement.  To see this method in action, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zQAgY-fk6A

Your dog doesn't have an aggression problem, he has a lack of training problem.  I can't fix it from this distance.  Walking two strong dogs together gives both dogs (and huskies are GENETICALLY DESIGNED to "pull") the clear signal that you're not in control; neither dog can offer behaviors it hasn't been taught, or has not learned on its own: your dogs appear not to have learned that they are to behave with certain "manners" you have taught them (taught, not coerced).  Look for a sophisticated training center and check credentials of the trainer, observe a class or two before committing yourself and your dogs, split each session in half (if allowed), one dog at a time, while crating the other so s/he can observe.  Dogs learn from observation.  Meanwhile, do not allow just any dog to approach your own dogs: observe carefully, ask owner questions, shake head vigorously NO if you perceive something in the other dog you don't like, but frankly with two large, strong dogs on leash you're basically unable to do any counter conditioning.  You need some professional help.