I have a beautiful 6 month old choc Lab. He is very intelligent and knows sit, come, stay, down, leave and heel when he wants to! Unfortunately I have a big problem with him that is starting to play havoc with my hand.... Whenever we are out and he sees children or adults or another dog he just goes frantic to try and get to them or jump up on them when they pass us. He is not a dominant dog so this is not the root of the problem. When friends come to the house we tell them to ignore him and not make any eye contact. If he jumps up or is over friendly he goes out into another room and is then let in again. This works and he settles down quite quickly. (A Jan Fennell technique that trully works!)
Please help somebody as my hand is getting bruised and he is only half grown!

I would try a gentle leader head collar. Labradors are very powerful, and having to use brute force takes away the pleasure. With the head collar you will have more control (and the pup will know it) and then you can train the pup to be less exuberant.

I know that at first using the collar may be a bind, with hime rubbing his face to get it off, or trying to walk on two legs, but with a little persistance, he will learn that it isn't going to come off, and he will then accept it.

I help at a training class, and have found we have lost many a pupil, once the owners have learnt to use the head collar, reason being they came because they had a pulling problem! Once they have the problem licked, they often don't come again :( seriously, some do continue with classes, as they and the dogs enjoy the evenihg out!

Yes GEntle Leaders are excellent, and another thing to try is to actuallyl give the dog something to do - so for example get the dog to Sit and to look at you, or perhpas get his attentin with a favourite titbit or exciting toy.

Start in an easy place, perhaps in a place the dog knowswith people he knows, then graduate to more difficult situatins such as excitingstrangers or new dogs. If you take it slowly,weeks rather than days, you might find he starts to pay attention to you and he will be under more control

He sounds lovely, enjoy!!!!! <vbg>