I agree, though whenever i mention something to this affect to my wife,... well, I don't get a positive response.

I am so glad that shock and pinch collars aren't legal for kids ... or my parents probably would have used one on me, especially after I became a teenager. I have seen parents use retractable leads on very young kids' belts. Considering the legs on those kids I couldn't say a thing.

Kids eventually challenge the alpha dogs ... better have love and respect ingrained by then.

Dave -- Raising kids and training dogs is very much the same. Kids and dogs are always testing boundaries. Too many parents and dog owners are afraid to say "no." I don't hit my kids or my dogs but I am never shy about saying "no" and enforcing it.

One thing I would add to Milans list would be consistency. It is vital in raising children and dogs. When they know where the line is both are more apt to stay on the right side of it! Quality Post and some great ideas

I agree. But while training a hunting dog requires some special expertise obtained from an expert or a book or a blog, I think that most of the books about raising kids just muddy the waters. Councellors are worse. If your parents sucked at the job, I'm sure there's someone else in the family that can provide an example. Anyway, you could always look at your parents as a good example of what not to do (i.e. philandering golfer). Same holds true with training dogs. I always look at how other guys handle their dogs in the field. Not only to avoid making the same mistakes, but to absorb their accomplishments as well.

Very interesting article :)

The main thing that I have learned from my students, my daughter and my dogs is exactly what Dave said about if you aren't willing to enforce it, don't say it. Otherwise you lose all credibility and they will never listen to you. A lot of people can enforce it, they just aren't willing to. That is as big a mistake as not correcting behavior.