How do I Puppy Proof My Home?

For the most part, puppies have one thing in common: Getting involved with everything and everyone in your house. You can’t be with them 24-hours a day. You never know what they can get into when you turn your back on them.

That’s one of the main purposes of puppy-proofing your home. Keep reading to find out what you can do to keep your home safe for you and your puppy.

Pets have a different digestive system compared to us. A lot of common foods can be very dangerous to your growing puppy. Some of the common foods are avocado, onions, garlic, grapes, and chocolates.

When you are cooking and snacking, you need to watch out for dangerous ingredients that can fall on the floor. Secure the pantry or drawers where these ingredients can be found. To find out more information about toxic foods for dogs, check out this link fro the official ASPCA blog:

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets.

A forest of tangled electrical wire might seem like a tempting chew toy for teething puppies. One way you can protect your puppy is by purchasing a cable wrap, covering the cord with a PVC pipe, and blocking access to loose cords. A puppy that chews on electrical cord is at risk for shock and electrocution. 

Even if your puppy doesn’t seem to making damage, make sure to break their bad habit. You don’t want to create a bad habit by not being careful

Small objects on the floor can pose a choking hazard to curious puppies.Things like small batteries, caps,bits of plastic or children's toys can pose a threat if they are swallowed by a young puppy. The risk is higher with larger breed dogs. They have larger mouths and increase the chance of swallowing larger things.

Keep the flood free from small objects when your new pup is out.

You never know when a cleaning product might fall or spill on the ground. There is a chance the strong odor will not deter your puppy from ingesting the cleaners. Keep them on a top shelf or in another secure location your puppy won’t knock them over.

Accidents happen. You can knock down the trash can, your puppy can run into it, or another range of accidents can cause a trashcan to spill all over the floor. Buy a sturdy lid or buy a secure can that is tall enough so your puppy can’t reach in.

Not every room is safe for your puppy. You might not have time to check every room in the house is safe for your pet. Shut doors to prevent your puppy from investigating things they don’t need to. You also need to check on unopened windows and missing screen protectors! 

Remind family members to close doors after they leave or come in. A simple reminder can be what saves your puppy from running off

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If you have a green thumb and enjoy giving your home a spark of green, research the plants you own online. These plants can cause dangerous side effects. Some plants may affect the function of organs, muscles, and the digestive system.

For more information about which plants are toxic to dogs, check out https://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/poisoning-toxicity/e_dg_poisonous_plants for a complete list.

Having extra protections on cabinets and drawers can prevent your puppy from eating something they shouldn’t, getting stuck behind drawers, or preventing them from chewing on pipes of cables. A puppy that is out of sight can be in trouble without you knowing it! Securing drawers or furniture to the wall can prevent them from falling on your naive pup.

Put down your toilet lid! A thirsty puppy might think you left them another water bowl that’s always full. However, there is a lot of bacteria in the toilet bowl that can get you or your puppy sick. Double check that you put away all dangerous medication, lotions, and open shampoos. 

Putting away fragile items, like glass vases or unsteady lamps can prevent them for being knocked over and fall on your puppy. If you’re not home, they can hurt their paws with broken glass or other sharp objects.

Puppy-proofing your home is important to keep you and your puppy safe and healthy. It can prevent unnecessary emergency vet bills or tragedies. There are a lot of things to keep track of in your home. Remember that your puppy is growing and you can accommodate with time. They won’t fit in small spaces for long! Play often with your puppy so they don’t need to entertain themselves and get into trouble. Buy plenty of toys to keep them occupied.