A dog should see the world and realize it is a safe, fun place. The best age to start socialization is as soon as possible. There is a saying, "A young, green tree is easy to bend and shape; an old, established tree is nearly impossible to break." Confident dogs are happy dogs that are created through proper socialization. It is essential.

Here are 7 things you should do right away as soon as you get your new dog. If you follow these guidelines, it will save you a lot of headache and frustration later on.

1. Purchase a flat collar and 6 foot leash. The collar could just be tight enough where you can place 2 fingers between the collar and dog's neck.

Rule Number One: HAVE PATIENCE

Rule Number Two: HAVE MORE PATIENCE

I have heard many absurd ways to house train a dog from rubbing their noses in the mess to throwing something at them when they begin to "go to the bathroom". This will only cause your dog to be afraid of you and have conflict with you.

Crate training is the easiest way to housebreak a dog. Placing the dog in a crate is also often a necessity when traveling. However, there are some dogs that dislike being a crate at first since they are not accustomed to it. This may lead to excessive barking and complaining when in the crate, which can get quite disturbing. Here are several steps to getting your dog accustomed to a crate.

Dogs are natural pack animals. In the wild, they form groups, usually with one leader. This instinct to form groups is what is known as "pack drive. Some dogs have more pack drive than others. It is imperative that the handler recognizes how strong the pack drive is in their dog. A stable dog has a healthy balance between its pack drive and the confidence to function alone.