Golden puppy dominates my youngest Son

Question
Hello,

I have a 5-month-old Golden (Casey) who has been a great addition to our family.  She is intelligent and eager to please, and has been just about everything that we have wanted in a dog.  Her one problem is that she is very dominant over my 11-year-old son to the point that she has become more aggressive than I'm comfortable with.  Whenever my son gets near Casey, she tries to jump up on him and mount him and when she is pushed off and told NO, she bites his ankles or snaps at other body parts.  My son will attempt to ignore her and leave, but she latches onto him and will not let go unless I get involved.

I am a firm believer in "pack rules" and my wife, my 13-year-old son, and I have very little issue with Casey trying to dominate us, but my youngest cannot get this right.

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

Mike


Answer
You are right about pack rules.  If it isn't too late, find a 4-H program.  In my area, clubs form soon after the first of the year.  Even many urban areas have 4-H.  For info look in your phone book under government listings for extension or cooperative extension offices.  Ask specifically about a dog or canine club.  The dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class.  A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/
For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm  That site has some additional pages on dogs and children.  Casey must learn to obey the 11 year old.