tough time with the kids

[tucker'smom]

Our Rottie mix is mostly Rottie with some shepherd, and 5 months old. He's had 2 training classes, but the commands only seem to work for the adults in the house, and even then, only my husband gets constant results, I only get results most of the time. Is it normal for them to, when being told "no", to stop the bad behavior, but bark at you and snap jaws side to side in the air, at nothing in particular? It almost seems like frustration. But with the kids, who are no babies - 7 and 10 - he's just awful. He only wants to play, but his idea of play is to nip and romp and run like a little crazy man, going for their mittens, boots, coat sleeves, etc. He'll launch himself across the room to get at the feet of their pajamas! And you can tell by the look on his face that he's having a ball. When my husband or I enter the room, he stops and slinks away. Same with him tormenting the cat - he stops just by seeing us coming, we don't even need to say "no", but left alone - watch out! Course, this is what the kids themselves do - stop misbehaving when mom or dad comes in the room. Is this what this is? Normal "kid" pushing the limits behavior? How can I get him to listen to the kids when they give him a "no" or "sit" command just like he listens to the adults? The kids love the dog to death, but the oldest has had a small bite in the midst of him playing too rough with her, even when she doesn't want to play. They never hit him or anything. It never seems to be in aggression, just in fun, but before long, he'll weigh more than they do and could hurt someone in fun. He's really a love, but just can't seem to play gentle. Any ideas?

[Carina43]

There's several threads on puppies being rough with kids, and how to train the kids :) and the dog - here's one that might help:

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/sho...highlight=kids

It's great he's done two classes already...you'll want to keep up with that as he gets into his teens, for sure. Get the children involved - you are correct, they're old enough. Have them play structured games with him...you all should probably be quite consistent and stern with him - he really needs to learn to control his mouthieness before it becomes a real problem, I think. I'd say NO rough play with the children at all, until he learns a little restraint.

That barking-snapping thing isn't at all something you want to tolerate. Hopefully one of the very experienced members will have more advice. Look up NILIF (Nothing In LIfe Is Free) ...he might need a dose of boot camp training!

[tazdevl6]

I am going to check out that site also, Chief is a royal P.I.T.A. (pain in the a$$) when the kids are down, we only get them every weekend or every other weekend, so he doesn't get time to get used to them and when they come over, it's like "oh boy oh boy playmates!!" Only he's such a big klutz, that he too is rough unintentionally, but he wants their constant attention, and is in their face, or at them nipping etc... so I'll be following this thread just as closely as the original poster hoping to get some good advice.
Thanks:)
Nikki