Tips on Puppy Proofing Your Home
It might seem silly to say, but puppies are similar to babies in a lot of ways. And one of the main things the two have in common is that you have to prepare for their arrival! Whether you prepare by buying fancy artisan food bowls and cozy sweaters or just the essentials, everyone should puppy-proof their home before their pooch’s arrival. Here are some helpful tips to start you off on the right foot to puppy-proofing your home for your adorable new housemate.
What Would a Dog Do?
Dogs are curious in nature, puppies even more so. In order to know where to first start with proofing, you have to put yourself in your dog’s shoes… or paws. Think, “what would I do if I was a puppy?” Puppies are mischievous furballs because they want to explore the world that is new to them!
Pups are big on chewing and exploring the world through their senses, which includes tasting a majority of the time. Frequently clear the areas your puppy is around to be sure they aren’t chewing on anything they aren’t supposed to have, like a remote, or ingesting something harmful! Instead, make sure you fill their space with a few toys and praise them when they decide to chew on them.
Top Shelf
Utilizing the classic top shelf method is great for puppy-proofing. Out of sight, out of mind. Keeping your more valuable items where your dog can’t reach is a sure way to guarantee they don’t get messed with. You don’t want to come home to find your expensive new shoes chewed up because you thought your puppy moved past their teething phase. Dogs especially love to chew on leather shoes so be sure to put your dress shoes or sneakers up where your pup can’t reach to avoid a destructive disaster!
Hiding Chewables
Puppies are constant chewers, especially while teething, so be sure to hide any cords that they may be able to get to. Hiding cords behind your furniture or with cord covers ensures you won’t face the annoyance of a broken charger or a dangerous accident if your puppy chews all the way through.
Securing Furniture
If your dog is active, clumsy, or likes to act like an acrobat around the house, you’ll need to make sure any loose furniture is secured to the wall. To avoid any furniture tumbling down or over onto your pooch, secure them to the wall or block off your dog from being able to access this furniture (e.g. puppy gate your dog in a room when supervision isn’t constant). Furniture like bookcases, shelves, and even frames or mirrors can be prone to falling over so take precautions before an accident occurs!
Keep Away From Human Food
Most puppies are quite nosy, so if you leave a cabinet or a trash can lid open, they will more than likely find their way to your food. Many food humans love to eat are toxic to dogs so you don’t want your pup to potentially dig in for a feast when you’re not looking. Look into getting cabinet latches for low to the floor cabinetry and a hook to place on your trash can’s lid. You can also avoid this by locking your trash in a room your pup doesn’t have access to.
House Plants & Gardening
If you’re both a dog and plant lover, the two can be sometimes difficult to have at the same time. There are a good number of house plants that can be dangerous and even toxic to dogs if ingested. You also need to avoid certain flowers in your house or landscaping that your puppy could come in contact with!
The Ultimate Puppy-Proofer
You can only do so much preparing for your puppy. While prepping is great and a solid way to avoid accidents, unfortunately, you can’t always be there to watch exactly what your puppy is doing. This is why crates and gates are the go-to for puppy-owners. Just be sure to create a comfortable space for your puppy in their crate or designated room to avoid causing them stress!
However you choose to be puppy-proof, make sure you have all your bases covered when it comes to your new furbaby. Your pup is small and new to the world which means they want to explore everything, just be sure they don’t come across anything that could put them in harm’s way. If you suspect your pooch accidentally inhaled or ingested something they shouldn’t have, visit the vet ASAP.