You guys are making me miss my old buddy. He was a red Dobermann. As a kid, he saved me so many times...
My father never hit me, but he used to threaten and gesture pretty often. We only had Scrappy for a few weeks when I acted up and caused my father's reaction. As a puppy (about 10 weeks old or so?), he ran from another room, sat down between us and growled at my father. I was about 8 or so. From then on, my father had to drag him into the bathroom before his charade.
I'm a little biased, but he was the most diciplined and effectionate dog I've ever been around.
There are too many idiots out there who think being mean to a dog makes them tough and protective. They're far smarter than that. Make him a family member, and he'll act like one.