Bailey is now over four months and is still up to his old tricks.
  I try and take him for a walk in a lovely park near us, where loads of other dog walkers go everyday if i can. I know he shouldn't be overexercised so it's really just for him to gey some air and i chance for him to play.
  I know he's still young and he just wants to play, but if he's ever off the lead and spots a dog in the distance he will literally run miles to get to them. Once he gets to them he'll almost always try to hump them :( No amount of calling or shouting will get him back, and if the other owner walks away he'll follow them home if he could.
  I keep getting told it's because he's 'getting to that age' etc but he's done it since he was tiny!!
  I hasten to add he no longer humps us as we made it very clear it's unacceptable.

  We're doing all the right things in taking really tasty treats with us, and we'll make sure he hasn't just eaten (he is very food motivated). We always praise him in a really happy voice (which believe me is extremely difficult to do when he's run away to hump the last 6 dogs you've seen). 
If there are no other dogs around he's excellent, will always come when called.
  Another point is, if there is a smaller, younger or quieter dog, he will pin them to the ground, stand over them in a very dominant fashion and bare his teeth. I never leave it to see what will happen as i rush in to remove him :(
  It's extremely frustrating and i am definately losing my patience. He's a golden retriever, but has a very independent mind, and is very stubborn.
  If anyone could please offer advice, as i need to sort this out before it gets worse.

Are you still using the long line with him?  He does need to socialise and meet other dogs but not run miles into the distance to do this.  He's still very young as you say but he needs to practice getting it right with regards to the recall so I probably wouldn't call him if he isn't going to come, just stand on the line.  Play with him with his favourite toy but end the game when he still wants more.  This is usually a good way of eventually getting your dog to choose to stay with you rather than running off to see something interesting.

"I hasten to add he no longer humps us as we made it very clear it's unacceptable."

How did you teach him that humping you was unacceptable?

His early interactions with other dogs at the vets puppy party was not a brilliant one if I remember.  Did you manage to find a puppyschool or APDT class near you?
Sally

Hi Sally
Bailey hates to be ignored, so we found that if he attempted to mount us we'd give a stern 'no' and walk away and ignore him. He picked up it was unacceptable really quickly.
  We have found a really reputable training class and he'll be starting that in a week. Though i have to admit i'm not particularly looking forward to it as i know what he'll be like.

  You're right in saying he had a bad experience at a puppy party. So far his reactions to small dogs have not been as bad as it was, but like i say he still does pin them down and does the whole 'i am boss' ritual with his growling.
  He is particularly bad with other puppies i have noticed, esp little ones.

  I will make sure i don't call him when i know he'll ignore me. Though sometimes what the little devil does is stop look at me as if to decide which to go to, me or the dog.
The other dog always wins ;)

Hi Jasmine, i can relate to your problem :rolleyes: - I would recommend clicker training, especially with a bright breed like yours, who are usually willing to please - it really does give you an advantage by improving your timing and helping to break down 'language barriers' by rewarding a behaviour quickly and cleanly.  Firstly, put yourself in pup's place, he is still very young and is probably really excited about the outside world and all those dog's to play with - I'm afraid you just can't compete with that right now, your just not interesting enough :D..Until you have a good, solid recall I would take pup out on a long line and move him to an area where there are no distractions (it would be to much to ask of him at this stage) - let him wander off (to the end of the line) and at times call him in a really exciting manner, get on the floor if need be, or walk in the opposite direction - when he comes to you (let him make the choice dont reel him in yet) give lots of praise and some lurvly treats, special ones like chicken or liver, something really strong, then let him go out again.  If he walks back to you without being called, reward him (I would also take his collar at this point too, so he doesn't associate this with capture later on!)  My 7 month old has good and bad day's but by using a clicker I can reward her just for looking when she is called, or I can use it while she is running back to me or when she is back to me (depends what I need!)  My dog is also worse with small breeds (chasing, bullying), so I now take her on our walk when I know a certain bossy westie will be out :D, it really puts my girl in her place and helps with my recalls around another dog as she is reluctant to hang around with westie and would rather come to me!!! :D
Sarah

I agree with Sarah, clicker training is an excellent idea.  The reason I asked about how you stopped him humping you was because in my experience when you tell a dog (or child) not to do something it usually makes them want to do it more but they'll run away from you to do it.  I bet he would have stopped just as quickly with just the 'walk away and ignore'.  In my puppy classes we have a policy not to teach negatives.  Obviously it's up to the puppy owners at the end of the day but the ones who stay positive are always far more successful than the ones who want to tell the dog 'No'.
Good luck at training and don't worry about how he'll behave, they'll have had far worse than Bailey.  Remember to stay positive, reward him if you like what he is doing and if he does something you don't want him to then look at ways of preventing it from happening next time. 
Sally

Can I  ask how are you using the 'really tasty treats'?  You may inadvertently be re-inforcing his behaviour.