my mad lab

Question
labman,

My dog troy is 8 months old, mums a black lab, dads a golden retriver, he is black and looks more of the lab but is a very large strong lad. My problems with him are getting longer by the day though! firstly whenever i take him out on the lead he drags me, and i mean drags me, i try to haul him back and say heel, bad dog etc but he is to string. I have tried a full body harness and a halti, he was great on the halti but spent the whole walk taking it off which he can do in a matter of minues!
my other issue with him is that when every anyone bar me and my hubby and kids come into the house he goes MENTAL jumping on then, and generally acting like a skitzo barbarian! its getting me down as we need to shut him outside whenjh guests come.
Lastly is his casting. i brush him aily and let my floor needs hoovered 6-8 time s aday its unreal the hair coming off him, im hoping he is just casting as these 3 weeks have been hell and he was never bad before?
My last thing (honest!) is that i cant just pet him without him jumping up at me, licking me and going mental, same happens when he is getting brushed, he is just soooooo skiterish im really at a loss and hope you can help.

he is an entire male

thanks

Answer
his is going to take a lot of work.    You may even have to get a private trainer or behaviorist.  Start at the vets.  Get a full exam, and have him neutered.  It can make a dramatic difference.  

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. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/ For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

I have had good luck with collars similar to the Halti, but you might do better with a slip collar.  Technique is more important than the type of collar.  Go with the metal slip collar with the rings on each end.  Put it on like this for the usual dog on the left position. Pull the chain through the one ring forming a "P". Facing the dog, slip it over its head. The free end comes over the neck allowing the other end to release pressure when the leash is slack.

Easier dogs will give up their pulling with a few good snaps of the leash combined with a stern "Bad dog!". You can work up to forceful corrections with the leash doubled up in both hands and your whole body behind it. But you don't want to use any more force than you need. One gentle technique I like is to just stop when he pulls. He wants to go. If you move forward when the leash is slack, and stop when he pulls, he should quickly figure out the only way to get to go, is not to pull. This is about teaching him not to pull, not getting somewhere. The man that taught it to me said "If in a half hour you haven't made it out to the front walk, fine, you have taught him a lesson. Pulling the dog backwards is a good technique too.

For the hair, I have had good luck with a wire slicker brush.  At times, you can fill the brush with hair in a dozen strokes.  Here is a link to a picture of my Lab, a pile of hair, and the brush is in the right foreground.  

http://www.photolocker.net/images/Labman/knitanewaster.jpg

10 minutes of brushing every day can reduce the sweeping you have to do.