Dog Facts Page 6 The average dog's mouth exerts 150 to 200 pounds of pressure per square inch. Some dogs can apply up to 450 pounds. Puppies can't control their bladders overnight until they are at least four months old. Until then, cover the floor around the puppy's bed with newspapers. Dogs are omnivorous. They need more than just meat to flourish. People with more than one dog shouldn't try to trat them all as equals. Because pack position is important to a dog, this only encourages jealousy games. All dog owners should buy a long-handled pooper-scooper. It makes keeping the yard clean a breeze. Dogs chew up your underwear because it smells like you. You don't have to put up with your dog destroying flower beds or digging up the yard; simply fence off a separate section just for him. Always say your dog's names before you give a command. One in every three US families owns one or more dogs. Choke chains can be dangerous. A one-year-old dog is physically as mature as a 15 year-old human. Tough or not, most dogs can lick the entire family. Dogs' internal clocks are really magnificent. They know when it's time for you to arrive home, feed them, or go to bed if you are normally on a schedule. Brush your dog 3 times a week in the spring, and you'll have a summer free from shedding. Don't attempt to teach your dog anything else until he will sit and stay on command for at least one minute. When teaching a puppy to come, begin by getting down to his level so he will not be encouraged to jump up on you. If someone in your household is allergic to dogs, bathe your dog every week. He will shed less dry skin. You can also add a teaspoon of cooking oil to your dog's dinner. The only problem with loving a dog is that they live for only a short time. If your dog reacts anti-socially toward visitors, put her in another room until she calms down. When you let her out, ignore her. This forces your dog to go to the visitors for social activity. When a dog bays at the moon, it is following a basic urge to call the pack together. Rituals are a basic part of canine behavior. Greeting, feeding, hunting and sleeping all include social performances. The burying of bones is part of a dog's instinctive feeding ritual; shaking things viciously is part of the hunting ritual. © 2001 - present. Australian Media Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Please read our Legal Statement and Privacy Policy.