Puppies are naturally energetic, curious explorers who don’t have any filters yet about what they should and shouldn’t get into. It’s vitally important that you make sure your home is as safe as possible for them – and ensure they don’t chew you out of house and home.
You may have heard that if you teach your dog what to chew and what not to chew, and you provide your puppy with chew toys, you house won’t be destroyed. However, this works only if you have the time to provide consistent training. Take the time to puppy-proof the area of your house where your puppy will spend his or her time AND provide your puppy with lots of chew toys. Get started right with these tips for choosing the best toys…
Here are 13 tips to help you puppy-proof your home before your bundle of joy destroys it.
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Be proactive
Don’t make the mistake of waiting until your puppy begins his or her path of destruction. If you do, your puppy is likely to ruin a long list of items before you get the situation under control. Get ahead of the situation before you bring your sweet pup home, or as soon as possible after he or she becomes a part of your household.
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Get down to your puppy’s level
Start puppy-proofing your house by walking around and imaging what a puppy could eat, climb or pull down. Then, put away or secure those items. Don’t forget to get down and see your home from your puppy’s perspective. Anything you might take away from a toddler you should keep out of reach of your puppy too.
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Hide the trash
Hide your trash cans and diaper pails in closets or make sure the lids are secure. Your puppy will be attracted to anything he or she can chew on, and trash has interesting odors that are attractive to puppies.
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Protect electrical outlets and wires
Invest in covers for your outlets. Puppies will be curious about them and could seriously hurt themselves. Secure wires and strands of lights as well. Puppies will chew on wires so make sure your puppy can’t reach yours.
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Secure lamps and furniture
Lamps, bookshelves and decorations are invitations to be pulled down or knocked over. Move any open storage containers that might have small items your puppy could choke on – like craft supplies, coins, shoes or toys – to a closet or on a high shelf.
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Ensure window coverings are out of reach
Puppies are notorious for chewing on low-hanging curtains or curtain cords. But be careful because puppies can get tangled in the strings, which could lead to strangulation.
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Remove indoor plants
Make sure indoor plants are out of your puppy’s reach. Some plants are toxic, which can lead to serious side effects. Regardless whether the plant is toxic or not, you will want to prevent your puppy from chewing the plant or digging in the dirt.
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Secure medications and vitamins
Puppies can chew through child-proof lids and will eat whatever is inside. Make sure all prescriptions and vitamins and food supplements are out of your puppies reach.
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Remove temptations in the bathroom
Puppies love to explore bathroom areas. Make sure the bathroom trash is secure by using a trash can with a locking lid. Make sure the toilet bowl lid stays closed to prevent your puppy from drinking out of them, as this poses a health risk. Puppies love to play in toilet paper, so make sure your paper toilet rolls are out of reach if you don’t want a big mess and a lot of wasted toilet paper. Razor blades are especially dangerous for puppies, as are other toiletries that can be ingested.
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Be cautious about cleaning supplies
Cleaning supplies and household cleaners can be deadly for puppies. Secure all of your cleaning supplies in cabinets and put baby locks on the doors if needed.
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Put cat supplies out of reach
Most puppies can’t resist cat food and litter boxes, which can lead to parasite transmission or intestinal obstructions if they ingest cat litter.
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Lock up garage and yard supplies
Antifreeze can be fatal to dogs, so lock it up and make sure you promptly clean up any spills. Any type of liquid kept in the garage, such as fuel or household cleaners, is probably toxic to dogs. Bug sprays, rat poison and herbicides can be fatal if consumed. Don’t have them around unless absolutely necessary, and in that case, make sure they are locked away.
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Outdoor areas
While you should always supervise your puppy, it’s important to make sure there aren’t any weak spots in your fence and your pool is secured. Puppies can drown, even if they can swim. And you’d be surprised at how little a crawl space is needed for them to squeeze through. Click here for more life-threatening hazards lurking in your backyard…
Want more puppy-related info? Check out these posts:
- New Puppy Checklist: Supplies You Need When Bringing Home a Puppy
- (Cuteness Alert!) 10 Things You Forgot About Raising a Puppy
- Should You Feed Your Puppy Adult Dog Food?
- 6 Steps to Keep Your Puppy from Jumping Up
- 20 Uncomplicated Do’s and Don’ts for House Training Your New Puppy
- How to Choose the Best Daycare for Your Puppy
- Why It’s Crucial You Start Grooming Your Puppy Early and Regularly
- 10 Puppy Training Tips to Help You Stay Sane
- How to Choose the Best Veterinarian for Your Puppy
- Top Dog Names of 2018
- Immunizations and Your Dog – What You Need to Know
What did your dog get into when he or she was a puppy that could have been avoided by puppy-proofing? Please share with the rest of the Canine Campus community in the comments below…
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