Dogs or Kids?

Sometimes I wonder if just having pets would have been the way to go. They don't talk back, they are always happy when you come home (no matter how long you have been gone), they are happy with any type of food and they don't even wear clothes! Oi vey, why is it the smallest people on this earth can get the biggest reaction out of you? My pet peeve is not listening to me the first time I ask them to do something. I have no patience for repeating myself, especially when I know they heard me the first time. It can be the simplest request such as "please stop doing that" and they look at you and do it one more time. What is that? Is it just to get a rise out of me or some sort of challenge? I have had enough and recently instigated a new rule in our house - The One Time Rule. This means we say something once and if the request is not immediately responded to, it is to his room he goes. If this happens three times, yes only three times, in one week, then no play dates the next week. I know children are smarter than most of us think they are and listening the first time is not too much to ask of them. I will have to keep you updated on how the new rule is going. If it doesn't work out I can always just spend more time with the dogs - at least they listen better.