Golden biting

Question
You had discussed a golden retriever biting viciously a while back. On the leash and at you. I just gout an 8 month golden who is beautiful but progressively getting more aggressive. He's biting so badly while walking him I can't hold him anymore. We've enrolled in puppy training but I'm not sure it's going to help. I too have young kids and today he jumped a little boy and was on top of him. I had to physically wrestle him off. I know he's playing but I'm afraid he may hurt someone by mistake. I'm exasperated. I don't know what happened before we purchased him but he sure wasn't socialized. What did you do. I'm desperate or else I'm giving him back.

Answer
Poorly socialized puppies are difficult to correct later.  Young Labs, which I know best, and other puppies tend to very bad about biting. You see a litter of them, and all the ones that are awake are biting another one or themselves. I am not even sure they realize that when they are alone, if they quit biting, they would quit being bitten. At 3 to 4 months they are getting their adult teeth, and it seems they spend every waking moment biting or chewing. One thing you can do at that stage is to knot and wet a piece of cloth. Then freeze it. The cooling will soothe the gums. Only let the puppy have it when you are there to watch it. I maintain a Lab's favorite chew toy is another Lab. Otherwise they settle for any person they can. They keep hoping to find one that won't yelp, jerk their hand away, and leave.

You just have to keep on correcting them, hundreds of times, not dozens. Provide sturdy, safe toys such as Kongs and Nylabones. Avoid things they can chew pieces off and choke on them. Keep them away from electrical cords. Crates are essential for most young Labs and other dogs.

The pet stores are full of toys that many dogs will quickly chew up into pieces they could choke on or cause intestinal blockages. If you are not there to watch, stick to sturdy stuff such as Nylabones and Kongs. Keep a close eye on chew toys and quickly discard anything that is coming apart in pieces. Rawhide is especially bad because it swells after being swallowed. I don't trust any of the consumable chews. The dogs just gnaw them down to a dangerous size too quickly. These problems are the worst with, but not limited to, large, aggressive chewers such as Labs.

If the above fails to eventually solve the problem, you might try a professional trainer or behaviorist.