The Child Whisperer

So, apparently certain parents are taking a cue from Cesar Millan, a.k.a. The Dog Whisperer, as to how to raise their children:

But some parents — particularly those weary of never-say-no techniques and child-rearing books suggesting that children should call the shots — say they find inspiration, and even practical advice, in Mr. Millan’s approach, which teaches pet owners how to become the alpha dogs by projecting his trademark “calm-assertive energy.”

DaddyCast, a series of podcasts published online by a father of two who identifies himself only as P.D., devoted an episode last year to discussing how he applied Dog Whisperer philosophies to raising children. In the episode, he recalled exchanging Twitter messages with a father who wrote: “Pampering and never punishing will make a child crazy and unlikable, never self-competent.”

I mean, I like the Dog Whisperer as much as the next guy, but … frankly, this is a bit disturbing.  I’m guessing this is the same group of parents who put their kids in those weird, leash-like harnesses when they take them to the store…