He makes me laugh,do I need training?

[mydogLARS]

:D I think I need the training...lol...This is my first time on this forum..and this is my FIRST Rott...I'm used to Cocker Spaniel's,but lost him.So my son bought the Rott when he was a puppy...I NEVER dreamed I would own a Rott!! They're branded.Mostly..Anyway told my son,if he was going to live here,he would have to be a good dog. So we gave him TONS of loving care and attention...I think I may have over done it. I love him soooo much, I have a hard time disciplining him...He listens more to my son,who has always been firm with him,than to me.He MAKES me take him for walks...really,he does. I play rough with him in the house,and I laugh at him when he acts up. I can't help it,he makes me laugh. He's sooo funny,he trys to tease me by taking my shoes, clothes or whatever. Then he runs away from me while Im trying to get them. And its like a game.
He's so intelligent,it amazes me. But now the problem is that he has kind of gone after two people and a car. When "he was taking me" for our walk he lunged at a passerby,and grabbed his coat for a minute. I thought he bit him,but didnt. He is very jealous if anyone gets near me...I hug and kiss this dog every day, I really love pets. Ok,if anyones reading this...my real question is this: Is it possible I'm giving him tooo much attention and love? My son thinks I am...He jumped up on me,knocked me down and I broke my foot. He gets so excited when I come home. How can I make him think Im the boss too? Sometimes he gets mad at me and barks and nips me. And I still laugh at him. He is now 1 yr old. Too late? Thanks to anyone's advise.

[cucciolone]

Dear mydogLARS-

You made me laugh, you certainly do have an excellent sense of humor! To have a big burly dog knock you down and make you break your foot, and you still think it's cute!!! You must be the most easy-going (or the most rugged and indestructible) person alive! :)

Is it possible I'm giving him tooo much attention and love?

No, I don't think that's possible!!! But what you might want to think about is this: love and discipline aren't mutually exclusive things at all!

I understand where you're coming from, I really do! I hug my boy Diesel all day long, I spend hours telling him how beautiful and wonderful he is--- BUT--- if he gets out of line, I WILL immediately make my displeasure very clearly known (using a sharp tone of voice and a stern look), even if and when I want to laugh at his misbehavior. (I correct first, and laugh later.)

And it's not because I don't love him or don't think he's adorable, it's not because I'm mean that I correct him-- it's because I do love him, and want to be able to continue to live happily with him for as long as I possibly can!

I'm sure that some of our resident experts will step up to bat here shortly ;), so the only other advice that I'll offer is this-- get thyselves to a good trainer-- you owe it to your own health!!! You can train your dog, still keep your sense of humor about you, and still while away your hours pouring affection onto your boy!

Best wishes,

Michela

[Soapie&Buddy'sMom]

yes, you do need training. ;)
there are a lot of things in your post that are red flags (he acts up - you laugh at him; he tries to "tease" you by taking your shoes/clothes/whatever and then runs away when you try to get them back; he lunges at a passerby and grabs his coat; etc. etc. etc.) you seem to think they're funny, but in truth, that sounds like an obnoxious rude dog to me.
It all comes down to a lack of training - yours - you need to learn how to teach your dog some manners!
You are definitely not giving him TOO much love and attention, but you're not giving him ENOUGH attention in the right direction.

One year old is not too late but get enrolled in some FORMAL obedience classes (don't try to do this on your own with books) as soon as possible. At very minimum, enroll in your local Petsmart or Petco classes, they have six - to eight week sessions that will give you the basics.

[Judi W]

If you are stuffing your dog with excessive attention and then want it to work for approval and a desire to be part of your group it is like offering a peanut butter sandwich to someone who has just eaten their fill of prime rib. Not a very tempting proposition.

You need to get this dog in a training class before he gets you into court with a lawsuit. If he gets hold of more than the coat, or if by grabbing someone's coat he causes them to fall and break something, that is where you'll end up.

Get a cat if you want to pet on something all day because a cat won't drag you down the street afterwards. Then you can use your attention to the dog as a reward for him paying attention to you and what you want. He will earn the attention and praise instead of getting it just because he is breating in and out. Sign up for a class. You will really enjoy it because it creates a bonding that far surpasses simply petting and admiration. It creates a mutual admiration that will make you smile.

[rottnvegas]

mydoglars wrote: When "he was taking me" for our walk he lunged at a passerby,and grabbed his coat for a minute. I thought he bit him,but didnt.

Rottnvegas: I pray this a hoax post. People like you are where Rottweilers get a bad name. What do you think that poor person your dog bit went and did? I'll tell you what he did, he told every single person how this wild viscous ROTTWEILER bit his coat, while his unresponsible owner thought it was cute. Please, if you really have this dog and this is really your attitude, do us all a favor and relinquish this poor dog back to the breeder. You are giving us all a bad name.

[dogs rule]

It truly is great that you love your dog so much, BUT you have to get contol over the dog and let him know that you -- and not he -- calls the shots. If you don't, your dog seems at great risk to bite/hurt someone. He is only going to get stronger and more willful unless you take strong action now. Loving your dog right now has to mean tough love.

Some searching on this forum should locate some excellent threads on reestablishing your dog as a dog and you as the pack leader. The gist of these is that food, affection, walks have to be earned by your dog. For example, make your dog sit before you pet him. If he jumps up, STOP petting and ignore him. Don't pet him because is thrusting his nose under your hand and demanding attention. Ignore him for awhile and then, on your terms, make him sit/lie while you tell him what a good boy he is. Also, make your dog work for dinner -- i.e. go thru basic obedience drills -- sit, lie, stay -- before your feed him. Make it clear that he must listen to you and please you before ANYTHING good will happen. Keeping your dog off the bed and furniture will also reenforce his lower status. At first, you dog will be dismayed and displeased -- he is used to being the boss. He may even growl and nip. You must be stronger and more stubborn that he.

Because this may be quite difficult, I strongly second those you have suggested a trainer. Also, going thru obedience classes will help your dog see you as someone who is in charge. Although he is cute and you are laughing (and I agree a sense of humor is indispensable with a Rott in the house), please take this seriously and do right by your dog. Just remember, if your dog hurts someone, he may have to be put down.

If you handle this right, you will ultimately have a wonderful, well-mannered companion.

Best of luck

[moondog]

This sounds like a make-believe post to me. How could anyone think that behavior was funny? When you find yourself with a dog that has hurt someone else and wind up in court, will you laugh at the judge too?

You'd be wise to heed the advice of all these responses and get to some training classes. This is not a 30 pound Cocker Spaniel you're raising and if you really do love him, you'll give him what he's lacking........training and discipline.

[cucciolone]

mydogLARS--

Your cheerfulness at having an unruly dog break your foot (!) did strike me as amusing, but what the others have commented is more than true: in allowing a dog of the size and power of a Rottweiler to behave exactly as he will, you really are creating a potentially dangerous situation for yourself, for your family, for any stranger that wanders by, and for your dog. (If on your next walk, instead of a sleeve he grabs an arm, which one amongst you is the most likely to be put down for visciousness?)

And as rottnvegas pointed out, to do the above with a dog of the already negative reputation of the Rottweiler, is to give the breed one more in a long list of black eyes.

Please rethink your handling of your dog; if you allow his misbehavior to escalate, it could end up badly for everyone involved.

Michela

(Sorry guys, I do have a tendency to laugh on the most unwarranted occasions. :()

[Elijah's Mom]

You definately need to get your Rottie to classes at a good training facility. Loving on your dog and hugging and kissing him all day is fine....we do that with Elijah. But...Elijah goes to school....agility now after doing his basic and advanced obedience. You can love your dog but at the same time he needs to be trained to behave properly......sounds like you have a time bomb on your hands. If your Rottie is acting this way at one year old...I cannot imagine how he will be at two. This is very serious business......your dog will some day seriously injure or kill someone. I believe that when you own a Rottweiler you owe it to yourself, your dog, your family, and society to train your Rottie to be the best that he can be. You are the master and need to be respected by your dog as the one who is in control. Please get your Rottie to a good training facility right away.....it will take alot of work every day on your part to change his behavior, but if you devote yourself to it and truly love your dog, you can do it.