Dog overly protective of my 3 boys.

Question
We have a 7 year old shepard/rott mix.  Just about a year ago, we notice that he was starting to be protective of our 3 boys (12, 10, & 8 years old)  recently, Marley (the dog) is so overly protective of the boys, that we can't play with them, can't move towards them, can't even make a sudden move without him attacking us.  Marley has bite me 4 times and bite my husband once.  Is it too late to retrain him and if NOT, what kind of training can you provide for us to do at home.  
Thank you,
Theresa

Answer
Dear Theresa,
Thanks for the question. Unfortunately I can't give you any specific tips for curing this problem. I'll be very honest but blunt.

When dogs bite their owners, it's a signal that either the dog is abnormal, the dog is ill, the individual dog's social, emotional and physical needs are not being met, the family is communicating in ways that confuse or alarm the dog, the dog needs a more structured set of rules, or the family and dog are mis matched.

How long have you had the dog? If you have owned him for several years, then we might attribute the change to a relationship change between the boys and the dog caused by the way the boys play with the dog.

This type of problem needs an on-site professional who will address the whole environment, not just the guarding behavior. What I mean by the whole environment is - the human owner relationship, the methods you use to teach, communicate and motivate, specific instructions for obedience training, diet, exercise, the boys interactions with the dog, et cetera.  

I can give you a link to instructions for the first step. Here it is -
http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00470.htm

Visit http://www.apdt.com and search for a trainer in your area who has experience with this type of behavior.

I'm truly sorry I can't solve this problem on-line. In any event, read the article. The information will be helpful and is written by a well-respected vet behaviorist. The instructions in the article are the exact same instructions that any qualified canine behavior professional would provide- for a fee. It is the first step for solving these types of problems.

Happy Training!

Alan