crazy lab

Question
My black lab is 7 months old. He is well trained in the
house as he doesn't foul and behaves well. When walking off
the lead he is well behaved and always comes back when we
call him. We sometimes put him on a lead when we see small
children as they can sometimes be scared of dogs. However he
has just started going mental while on his walks. One minute
he is fine sniffing and running around then next he runs
straight at us jumping and trying to bite. We pin him down
to try and calm him and his heart is beating very very fast.
He tries to chew our hands/arm which seems like it is for
comfort as he doesn't chew hard.We try to put the lead in
his mouth so he can chew that instead of our hands. We have
tried telling him firmly but the only way he calms down is
by talking to him calmly while he is pinned to the floor.
This lasts for about 30 seconds to a minute and then he is
perfectly fine as if it has never happened. I would like
your advice as it is starting to worry me as this is
happening every time we go for a walk. Do you think he is
trying to become boss? we are going to have him neuted when
he is 8 months.
Thanks  

Answer
Neutering is no cure all, but often helps many behavior problems.  Have you obedience trained him?  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. 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 with a treat.

Consistently is very important in correcting jumping and other problems. Quickly correcting him each and every time he jumps on somebody is very important. He must never get the affection he wants. A number of things have been used including some negative things in the past.  As part of the the trend away from negative methods, just step backwards leaving his front feet to fall to the floor. After a few tries, the dog may just stand there looking confused.

Pinning him down is more of the negative methods of the past, but there are some slightly different exercises that help define your places in the pack.  He is too big now for some of these.  ''Elevation for small puppies: Sit on the floor and gently put your hands around your pup's middle, below his front legs, and lift him up. He is facing you. Hold him for 15 seconds. Repeat until he no longer struggles. If he is past 10-12 weeks, lift his front feet off the ground, but don't pick him up.

Cradling for small puppies: Hold your puppy gently on his back, as you would cradle a small baby. If he struggles, hold him firmly until he quiets for 10-15 seconds. With larger pups, you can do this as your sit on the floor, with your pup between your legs.

Quiet lying down: Place your pup on the floor on his side, with all 4 legs pointing away from you. Use your hands on his neck/shoulder area and middle, to hold him in this position. When he is quiet, praise him. Lengthen the time that you keep him quietly in this position. When he accepts this position well, handle his paws and muzzle, while keeping him quiet.''

The quotes mean this isn't my original work. It is copied from my Puppy Raising Manual. I have long used these or minor variations of them, and they are very effective. You may want to give him a belly rub while he is on his back too. Helps bonding. There is a big difference between him rolling over and demanding a belly rub, and you choosing a time to roll him over and rub his belly. The latter cements your place as pack leader.