Hi first time posting here and I really need some help please.
I have a 1 yo neutered male Rotty.  He is extremely social and affectionate and aside from the usual Rotty stubbornness is an absolutely sweet puppy.
I have been diligent with training him and he is now reliable both on lead and off ie distance commands EXCEPT  ...
he has an insanely high ball drive and once he fixes on a ball ( for example on a beach with a group of kids) it is extremely difficult to re-focus him. We have been working on it and progress was being made.
Yesterday he went for a ball and when the teenage boy picked up the ball, my dog leaped after the ball and ripped the kids shirt half off. He didnt bite or even graze the skin but it was an absolutely terrifying reminder of the power of a Rottweiler.
I am taking steps to prevent this happening agaun but I have to admit that the responsibility of owning such a potentially dangerous dog is sucking all the joy out of owning such a gorgeous dog.
Please understand my pup has never growled,  nipped or bitten anyone or a dog etc but the fear of what he COULD  do means that I am constantly making sure he obeys rather than just relaxing and playing with him.
Is this usual or normal?  How do other people cope?

If he likes balls that much, why don't you just use balls as a reinforcer for the recall?  Then he would never ignore you, because the recall phrase would be associated with a ball throw...

My eldest BSD is a toy thief (not just balls) from other dogs. Only ones on the ground or air, not from the dog.  I've never known her run after peoples' ones even though we trained agility on the same field as football training. When she even glanced towards another dog's ball I would throw her ball in the opposite direction and walk that way until she lost focus on any toy but her own. I must admit though that if people leave toys on the floor at agility training she will steal them, usually after she has had her turn on the course, although now at nearly ten years old she gives them straight to me so I can return them to their owner. It doesn't help that everybody laughs at her. The other problem is on the exercise field at agility shows when people throw their dogs toy across the front of her. It shouldn't happen but people are careless when they throw sometimes. I have just to be vigilant and distract her away when there is a chance that this may happen

Thanks for the reply and yes,  we are now doing that as an intermittent reward.

My question is more:How do you relax and just enjoy your dog when you are both "off-duty" without constantly being aware of their potential to hurt someone, even by accident?

Hello and welcome to the forum, with all large/powerful breeds you can never fully relax even with the most well trained of dogs. My dog (G.S.D.) is very well trained but I can appreciate what your saying, Rottweilers are a beautiful breed as well but they have so much power and weight behind them. Just train him the best you can but don't take any chances letting him off the lead where there are uncertainties (like at a beach etc etc) always be on the safe side (keep him on the lead if in any doubt) that's my advice to you.

I had s ball obsessed gsd and always took 2 balls with us if he was going off lead. That way I had an extra so make sure he didn't try and go for someone else's.
As for relaxing tbh if your dog is going to be off lead I have found you have to be on high alert st all times. I agree it can make it very stressful unless u use areas that are secure and no one else will be there
I have to do that with the dog I have now as she isn't comfortable  around other dogs so we use secure private fields for her to run free. By arrangement of course

The only way you can truly relax is to use a secure field/garden otherwise you are definitely "on duty".  Check out dogwalkingfields and put your postcode in.

The op is in New Zealand which may make secure files harder to find

Thanks ff. Didn't notice that.

I would while training him for recall and a ball as a reward onto keep him on a harness and a long long line so you have that control

Thank you for your honesty. You have confirmed my gut instinct and I will be following your advice.

Thank you for replying and very useful advice!