8 month old golden is not behaving

Question
QUESTION: Riley is a golden retriever 8 months old has been a perfect dog since 6 months old he started to become more wild and bitting harder to the point of really hurting,jumping up on us and nipping at our legs or hands,anytime we sit on the floor to just watch T V he starts biting,like rough play bitting.he has a few times even growled just a little snarl when we try to tell him no when he bitting to hard and i grab his collar and take him to his crate for a time out.walking him is a nightmare he pulls so hard my arms get sore hes never been alone much and he has never been hit for discipline  i have read some books and tried what they suggest,like turning your back on him when he jumps,when he bits offer a toy instead,ect.. nothing works I'm so frustrated,he's a beautiful dog,I just don't understand this change in behavior,someone said adolescence,common I had 5 kids even the worst of times weren't this bad,I need help FAST.     Linda

ANSWER: Neuter him if not already.  Obedience train 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. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/ For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

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. TheYoung 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.  The older the dog and the longer you have let it go, the longer it will take.  You must immediately withdraw your attention every time he bites.  

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.se problems are the worst with, but not limited to, large, aggressive chewers such as Labs.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Maybe there is no difference but my pup in not a lab hes a golden retreiver,yes hes was nuetered 2months ago,Ive tried the alfha dog ,pack leader,doesent work but I will try training,I dont understand why you wrote the same paragraphs twice was there some thing i missed.  thanks

Answer
Yes, he is a Golden, just like the Golden puppy I have now that is little different from all the Labs I know so well.  

It takes a while for the neutering to have its full effect.  You should be seeing some improvement now.  

It will take a while for the training to change heim too.  There are no quick, easy solutions.