As we mentioned there were a ton of dogs at the show yesterday. Part of that was because Dina Zaphiris, host of Animal Planet's PetFinder, was doing some demos and giving tips for how to train and socialize your dog. A major tip? Start Early. The rest right here:

A lot of these apply to us too:

New People: It is very important to make sure your pup meets a lot of new people every day to avoid creating fear and aggression problems in the future. Carry around a bag of treats, and every new person you meet can give him a treat.

Keep it Positive: Training and socializing have one very important thing in common: positive reinforcement. Be happy and have fun. Use treats and speak to your dog in a nice tone of voice.

New Experiences: If you want a dog that likes to swim, you need to teach him early or he will fear the water.

Know your Breed: You owe it to your dog to understand what he's made of. This will help you create training, exercise and a lifestyle that's right for him.

Find out more at dinazaphiris.com. To rescue an animal or donate to a shelter, click here.

[image from puppyhelponline.com"]