When you adopt a new puppy or even a grown dog, puppy-proofing your house is essential. Puppies can get into things, even if they’re being supervised. You’d be surprised by how fast a puppy can hide behind the couch and chew on electrical cords.
Because puppies are often small, they can often fit into places and see things that we wouldn’t necessarily consider. This is one reason why puppy-proofing is important. You may not know that there is a candy wrapper under your couch, but they absolutely will. Adult dogs can get into things as well when they are in a new home, even though they aren’t technically puppies. You should “puppy proof” your house for them as well.
There are many things to consider when making your home safe for a small puppy. We’ll ensure you don’t forget anything important in this article.
1. Secure Your Trash
The trash can is full of potentially dangerous items for your dog, but it is also the home of interesting smells and delicious food. It is often extremely interesting to puppies and dogs, so it is important to get it secured. You should invest in a larger trash can if you don’t already have one, as this will prevent your dog from knocking the can over. If possible, consider putting your trash can into a cabinet or similar, secure location.
Dogs can swallow poisonous items in the trash can, eat something inedible, or even suffocate due to the trash bag itself. Securing your trash is essential, especially for food-loving breeds such as Goldendoodles.
2. Cover Cords
Teething puppies often chew on just about anything they can find, including cords. This can cause accidental shocks, which can lead to burns in your dog’s mouth or worse. Luckily, there are cord covers available today that can block your pet’s access to these dangerous items. Move the cords you can and cover those that you can’t.
Furthermore, you should provide your dog with plenty of chew toys to ensure that they have an appropriate outlet for their need to chew.
3. Put Up Dangerous Food Items
Most people know that dogs can’t have chocolate. But did you know that grapes, raisins, sugarless gum, and other human foods are also poisonous to dogs? Tree nuts (excluding peanuts, which are not tree nuts) are another common poison for dogs. Be sure you brush up on what human foods are poisonous for dogs and carefully put these items somewhere out of reach.
Be sure others in your household know that these items are not safe as well, just in case they’re tempted to give in to your dog’s begging. While you’re at it, also consider poisonous houseplants, which are strangely common. Check that all your houseplants are okay for pets and move potentially dangerous ones out of your pet’s reach. Watch for falling leaves and such as well.
4. Put Away Medication
Be sure that all your medication is put up somewhere that your dog cannot get it. Secure cabinets that are above the ground are perfect for this purpose. Be sure to do the same with supplements and similar items, as these can be dangerous if your dog consumes them. Many canines like the smell of certain medications, but human-grade medicine can often cause overdosing in dogs.
It is also a good idea to store your dog’s medication somewhere separate from yours to lower the chance of getting them mixed up.
You should also move anything containing Xylitol. This ingredient is common in sugar-free gums, medications, hand cream, and similar products. It is extremely poisonous to dogs.
5. Provide Them with a Safe Space
You should provide your canine with a safe space that is absolutely puppy-proof. The best spots are usually crates or playpens. You will not be able to watch your dog constantly. These spaces will keep them safe and give them the opportunity to play when you can’t keep a close eye on them. You should not let your puppy roam the house until they get older and understand the house rules.
6. Secure Dangerous Chemicals
Many people have all sorts of chemicals in their homes that can be dangerous to dogs. For instance, cleaners, detergents, glues, and pest chemicals can all be seriously harmful to puppies. These should be put up somewhere safe to prevent your puppy from accidentally getting into them. Remember that puppies love to chew, so they may not actually be interested in what’s in the bottle. However, if they take a liking to the lid, they can easily chew it off and become exposed to whatever is inside. Safety caps cannot withstand puppy teeth, so don’t rely on them.
Put all of these items out of reach and somewhere safe to prevent your canine from accessing them.
7. Keep Height in Mind
Someday, your puppy will be able to scale the couch. However, that day may not be when they are very small. Tall furniture is fall-risk to puppies. It may seem very small to us, but puppies are very small. They don’t need to fall very far to become injured. It is best to keep your puppy on the ground until they are old enough to jump on and off the couch by themselves. The same goes for any large piece of furniture.
You may simply have to sit on the floor to pet and play with your puppy.
Don’t let children carry around the puppy either, as accidental drops can cause serious injuries. Children should remain seated while holding the puppy.
8. Consider Batteries
Batteries are not safe for dogs in the least, but they are plentiful in most homes. Consider what items in your house have batteries, including toys, remote controls, key fobs, and other devices. Put these up where dogs cannot chew on them. Many of these devices are not chew-proof, and the battery can easily be punctured by your pet’s teeth, which can cause serious problems.
Everything Else
You’ll likely find other things in your home that need to be put out of your puppy’s reach as well. The important thing is to supervise your puppy when they are out of their completely safe area. This will allow you to spot dangerous situations before they happen.
