Puppy Proofing your Home

You should do a general inspection of areas in your home that the puppy will have access to.

Once you have decided to bring a puppy into your life, there are jobs that must be done around the home to ensure his safety upon arrival. (This information is also valid if you have adopted or rescued an adult dog with an unknown background.)

House Plants
Many houseplants can be poisonous or toxic to dogs. Even if they are not poisonous, they are still an irresistible attraction for curious canines. The best method of preventing your new pet from playing in the plants is to remove them from common areas all together or move them to a safe height so the puppy cannot reach them.

Trash Cans
Kitchen garbage cans are highly attractive to most puppies. They contain a smorgasbord of invigorating smells and tempting tidbits. Make your life easier by keeping the kitchen garbage in a non-accessible container under the sink or in a large bin with a puppy-proof lid. In bathrooms, keep wastebaskets in the cupboard under the sink or, for the time being, put them up on the back of the toilet tank.

If you prevent the puppy from experiencing or discovering the garbage in the first place, it becomes a non-issue. Prevention is worth its weight in gold in order to stop many aggravating moments surrounding the garbage can!

Foreign Objects
Puppies, like children, like to put things in their mouths. The risk of a puppy swallowing small non-food items, like paper clips, elastics, or dirty socks, to name a few things, is very likely. New owners should train themselves (and the rest of the family) to start a new habit of always picking up potential damaging objects. Unless swallowed items pass through puppy’s digestive tract, it will mean an expensive trip to the veterinarian for emergency surgery. It is much easier, and less expensive to takepreventative measures.

Four on the Floor
Another exercise that the whole family can do together is to walk around the entire house on their hands and knees. Locate and identify potential problems from a puppy’s point-of-view. Watch for electrical cords from lamps, computers, and appliances, as well as curtain and window blind cords. These are dangerous chew toys for your puppy. Removing these items, or designating only certain rooms in the home that have been completely puppy-proofed, is vital to your pup’s health and well-being.

House Rules
Puppy proofing your home and being aware of potential dangers will give you a chance to relax and enjoy your new puppy when you bring him home. You will have added success if you establish a set of house rules for all family members to follow. (Write them out and post them on your refrigerator door if necessary.) Remember, a well-trained dog is a pleasure to be with. What you do with your puppy in the first few weeks will set a pattern of behavior for the next 10-to-15 years.

Examples of Dog/Owner House Rules:
1) The dog will not be allowed up on the furniture.

2) To discourage mealtime begging, the dog will not be fed from the table.

3) The dog will not be allowed to jump up on people who come to the door.

4) The dog will not be encouraged to bark excessively.

5) The dog will sleep in a crate.

These are just some examples of common house rules. Have a family meeting and decide what canine bad habits you can live with and what you cannot.

Article submitted by: © Terri Perrin (Biography & Additional Information [1])

Article courtesy of Pet360 [2]