Puppy Proof Your Home

Here comes mischief on four legs. Do you have a puppy coming into your home soon? If so you will want to check and puppy proof your home to keep your new pup out of items and places where they can get into trouble. Just like a child that has learned to walk everything is fair game unless it’s out of reach. If they are inside and not supervised I’d almost guarantee they will find something to chew that’s off limits. I would not leave them unattended.

You will need to show your puppy what they are allowed to chew on and what’s is considered off limits. Be sure to get some puppy toys so that when your puppy grabs something they shouldn’t have you can present the toy showing them what they are allowed to have. Praise them when they choose the toy.

To adequately puppy proof your home does not mean that you have to reorganize every room especially if you have a larger home. Rather, it may be much easier to block off a couple of rooms that the puppy is allowed in. Puppy gates work well to restrict the puppy’s access without having to close lots of doors.

Here are some standard items and situations that you will want to address before bringing a new puppy home.

First make sure you have some toys and or safe chewing items for your puppy. They will be looking to put something in their mouths and having the appropriate and safe item will make the learning process much easier.

To puppy proof your home inside scan the rooms that the puppy will be in and see if there is anything that you see that the puppy can reach and if so you may want to move it. Make sure they do not have access to the following:

Shoes

House plants (some are toxic)

Electric cords of any kind

Items on low coffee/end tables

Table cloths

Draperies/drapery cords

Stairs

Open windows

To puppy proof your home outside check to make sure it's secure, no holes in fences for escape artists to take advantage of and hazardous items secured.

If your puppy is going to be outdoors here are some items your puppy should not have access to:

Pools need to be fenced off

Yard tools/ hoses

Fertilizers, hebisides, pestiside, paints

Potted plants

Good outdoor furniture especially with pillows/upholstery

If you take the time to puppy proof your home before the puppy arrives it will make it easier for your pup to be happy and healthy in their new environment and may just save you a pair or two of shoes.

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