Children and Puppies Alike?

Children are like puppies? Or are puppies like children? We got a new puppy addition to our already crazy household. His name is Bishop; he's a German Shepard X Great Pyranees. 2 years ago, we had Toopy and Binoo join our family. They came home at 3 weeks of age, so cute and cuddly! Training went well, but it was long. I talked to a trainer who trained the Air Bud dogs, and she gave me some spectacular tips! We taught them tricks, leash walking, and manners. That was the hardest thing was the manners, and determining what WE thought to be important for OUR dogs. Now there is Bishop; the newest addition to the family, and he is in training. He is a different dog, different personality, different energy level, and listening skills, as well, I am 2 years older myself. Do I remember how we trained Toopy and Binoo? I was trying to make a mental checklist of the things I wanted to teach Bishop, and I could not remember some of the past things we did! I needed to go back through the books, and possibly even contact the trainer! How is this like my kids? Well, about every two years we are blessed with a new addition to our family. It dawned on me that other day as I was troubled over puppy training, just how similar puppies and children are. We don't do the same things with John for school that we did Natalie. I don't remember some of the disciplining techniques used for a two year old! But I have had 6! Shouldn't it be second nature?! Sometimes when we get focused and caught up in the new stages of life and learning about those, we forget about the past training. When this really occured to me that we need to get refreshers, I felt like a lightbulb went on! Of course! I need to go back through the books, go back through the journals! I need to look back at activities and crafts for John and Adam in Pre-K, I need to go back through the puppy training manual! I need to REMEMBER all those things that helped!! What a different attitude when I realized this!!