Acting crazy...

[ktandgable]

First let me tell you that Gable, our 5mth. old rott is in training, takes walks all the time and is always in the back yard, which is fenced in. He is a big, healthy boy and his strength is really starting to show. In the morning we try to play catch with him so he can exert some of his energy before being left alone all day. He loves to play catch but lately he will play for a few throws then he will start jumping around us, nipping and really being rough. I (we) try to correct him, but there is no stopping him....he acts crazy, completely out of control. When this happens and he does not listen we just try to walk away from him...with him biting our back ends. He doesnt do this inside...only outside, when we play catch. Has anyone had this problem before, or does anyone have any suggestions on how to curb this behavior. We go to traning class tonight and I think I am going to ask her, but I just wanted to see what you guys/girls thought.

[sophie's-mom]

I can't really give you any advice BUT, I just wanted to say that when the weather get cooler here my dogs go nutty! They act like they are on sweets with a sugar high that can't be stopped! Running and jumping and playing like little brats.

just thought I would throw that at ya......maybe it's the weather??

[ktandgable]

I hope that's all that it is. I dont want him to be an aggressive dog. I know that he is only playing but I feel like I dont have control and that is a bad feeling. He is still a pup and sometimes when we play he gets overly excited, maybe that's all that it is...I don't know. Thank you.

[sophie's-mom]

Being as he is only 5 months, I would be inclined to say that is what it is. But you never know.

If you don't mind, who is your dog out of?

By the way, at 5 months, aggressive is highly improbable.

[Judi W]

Doesn't have anything to do with being aggressive, just with being rude. When walking away, time for you to spin around, take hold of him and let him know you really don't like this. Also, you need to be putting in a "sit" command when he brings the ball to you which teaches him to put some control in during the fetch so it doesn't turn into a bite fest in the first place. Have him sit before you throw the ball, and sit when bringing it back. He will learn that even a game of ball has some rules just as all games do.

[ktandgable]

I hope so, he has such a good temperment most of the time...just some times he gets that burst of energy.

Who is my dog out of?
Do you mean, where did I get him from or who his parents are?

[jbach]

First of all, he's still a pup and has a lot of energy. You're doing the right thing by trying to burn off some energy before he's alone for the day.
The other part is, as leader, you are in charge of the game. You get to decide the rules and nipping shouldn't be part of it. You can end the game at this point. If he refuses to listen to "NO", put the leash on him so you can give a correction when the nipping occurs. Glad to see your guy is in training classes. This will help immensely with reinforcing who is boss and who should be listening to whom.
Also, SophiesMom hit the nail on the head with the cooler temp thing. My dog's energy goes through the roof when it cools off. Keep training and enjoy your pup. If you're diligent, your efforts will pay off 10 fold. Good luck!

[Dave Brown]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Doesn't have anything to do with being aggressive, just with being rude. When walking away, time for you to spin around, take hold of him and let him know you really don't like this. Also, you need to be putting in a "sit" command when he brings the ball to you which teaches him to put some control in during the fetch so it doesn't turn into a bite fest in the first place. Have him sit before you throw the ball, and sit when bringing it back. He will learn that even a game of ball has some rules just as all games do.

This is how I taught fetch to Tabitha, she must sit when she drops the ball and stay seated until I throw it again, works like a charm.

[ktandgable]

Judi...that's a good point about making him sit. Maybe doing this will keep him more focussed too. It seems when he does this, he will actually stop fetching and then act this way, its not while he is bringing it back to me...he just leaves the toy down the yard and comes at me or my fiance, acting crazy!

[rottiluver]

I'm not sure of the reasoning, but Diesel tends to try and grab your feet while outside playing catch, and like you described has that suddent burst of energy. To help stop this behaviour I tell him "NO" and if he don't listen I grab him by the collar to get his head up and tell him to "Sit & Stay" then trying walking again. Repeat until he stops acting like a nut. As it's unexceptable and if he thinks its a game, it's not going to end.

[ktandgable]

Thanks everyone...I will try making him sit upon release, because he certainly does that well on command, maybe it will make him feel more controlled, which will help curb this behavior.

And the cooler weather makes sense too....during the hot summer seem to be pretty slugish from the heat.

THANKS!

[Luvs]

You mentioned that he is always outside, does this mean that he is kept out in the back yard all the time or does that mean that he just gets to spend alot of time out there? Rottweilers prefer to be inside with their family and he may just be getting over excited to see you. He is still a young pup even tho he is probably getting pretty big What do you do when he starts the nipping and rough play? I agree with Jbach about putting a leash on him and stopping all play if he isn't listening when you tell him "No" Another option is to leave a long line on him or a very short tab that you can grab hold of when he starts his rough stuff.

Mine also get a little crazy when the weather gets cooler, like it has recently. They just want to play, play, play right now.

Btw, glad to hear that you already have your boy in obedience classes! Good job!!

[Denise L.]

I have a staff member who Cyrus especially loves and whenever this guy would play with Cyrus he would turn into a real butthead for a little while after (Cyrus, not the guy). Cyrus is 2 1/2 years old.

Our trainer told me the behavior wasn't abnormal but it drove me nuts so I pretty much did what Judi said. I would put him in a sit, get close and very firmly tell him to knock it off.

Cyrus still flips his lid over John but now when playtime is over he is manageable!

[Judy Chrusch]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Doesn't have anything to do with being aggressive, just with being rude. When walking away, time for you to spin around, take hold of him and let him know you really don't like this. Also, you need to be putting in a "sit" command when he brings the ball to you which teaches him to put some control in during the fetch so it doesn't turn into a bite fest in the first place. Have him sit before you throw the ball, and sit when bringing it back. He will learn that even a game of ball has some rules just as all games do.

Rude is exactly that bc my boy was like that at that age and when he'd run past you he'd grab anything he could, your leg, arm, anything and his bite was HARD, and trying to catch him was almost impossible but that ONE time, he did it once too many times, I grabbed him and we both ended up going to the ground but he had the most shocked look on his face and while I was getting up I still had a hold of him so he was still down and all he did was look at me as if to say, "man you're a bit$$ , the look on his face was priceless and Oh, along with grabbing him I was giving him hell and he knew I meant it. About a month after that he thought he'd try it again and as he was gearing up I said, "don't even think about it" and he decided to go off and find his ball. Rerouting sometimes works but if he's being rude at this young age and you don't correct it you will have a monster on your hands when he's over 100 pounds .

Oh yes when it gets cooler look out, lol, Czar gets the zoomies at times where he flies all over the place and it's so funny to watch. So with your situation, be consistent and fair and use commands that he will understand. There were times when Czar would try to run past you and grab you again and we would stop it before he did it or say "enough" or whatever you chose to use but you can't let it go bc it will get worse.

My boy was VERY rude and at times tested us but he always seemed to remember that one time I took him down, well we both went down, lol, by accident but it worked. Today at 4 yrs. old he has much respect for us and also respects the commands that he knows very well, he was a late bloomer with some things unless it was just plain being a pain .

Judy

[ktandgable]

Oh no, I do not leave him outside all of the time...we have a back door, doggie door, so he goes outside freely. He loves to just lay in the grass. I tried keep a leash on him but I found him tripping over it when we played catch, but maybe I will just keep his collar on and tie a shoe lace on the collar so that its something that I can grab onto. I think making it a controlled environment, such as making him sit, might help.
When he does this behavior I do give him a firm NO, but it seems that he is SO distracted at being a nut, that he does not respond to me, that's why I walk away from him, so he knows that play time is over, and then after a few minutes he will just lay down. I dont mind a little, I am going to grab the bottoms of your pants or your sleeve once in awhile, but when is doing the behavior, he really is out of control...Yikes!

As for training...he graduated from his first obedience class...he was top in the class and did amazing....I was so proud of him. Tonight we starting an off-leash program, which I am REALLY excited about. I think this might help with having more control of him off the leash...I will let you all know how it goes.