There’s nothing quite like bringing a new puppy into the home to bring excitement and joy. It can be more than a little overwhelming, though. One of the most important things you can do ahead of your new furbaby’s arrival is to prepare your home for this new addition.
Puppies are curious creatures. They love to explore their surroundings. It is up to you to make sure that those surroundings are safe places for your puppy to explore as well as to protect your home from those explorations. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you puppy-proof your home.
Puppies, much like human babies, explore the world with their mouths. For this reason, you want to remove potential hazards that could be harmful to your new pup or that you wish to avoid having puppy teeth marks. This includes items like cleaning products, medications, and other items that could easily be swallowed by your new puppy.
Electrical cords create chewy temptations for puppies. Dangerous enticements at that as they present the risk of electrocution for your canine companion. Consider securing cords to the walls or using cord covers to hide them from your new pet. Even leaving unplugged cords unattended can result in the loss of essential items for your home, such as electronics chargers, air conditioners, fans, televisions, etc. The best action is to secure all electrical cords and eliminate the risk.
This is a good habit to create for your family throughout your dog’s life. It may become more challenging as your puppy grows, but your garbage presents an endless supply of curiosities, temptations, and risks for your pet.
The treasure trove of smells, tastes, and textures your garbage represents is also potentially hazardous for your pet. Plus, it creates a giant mess you have to clean up afterward. Keep these cans out of the reach of your puppy or consider using cans with latching lids so they cannot easily get into them.
If you cannot supervise your puppy, even for an instant, it is best to keep your puppy in a secured and enclosed space. This becomes a safe zone for your puppy. You can easily block off a completely puppy-proofed area of your home with baby gates and closed doors.
This will allow your puppy to explore its universe in safety and give you important peace of mind that your puppy is less likely to harm itself within this designated area. It also means your puppy doesn’t have access to rooms or areas of your home that aren’t as safe or where you do not want your puppy to be.
Puppies chew. Next to their humans, chewing is their favorite thing in the universe. Furniture presents a temptation that is attractive and often accessible. Unfortunately, many humans find out the hard way just how attractive a target it happens to be. Not only do you need to let your puppy know that it is not okay to chew on furniture, but you need to give them plenty of enticing alternatives in the form of chewy toys. Additionally, consider using a bitter spray on your furniture to gently discourage your puppy from chewing these items that are costly to replace.
Puppies can give Houdini a run for his money when it comes to their escape abilities. It is an art form for them. With that in mind, make sure to secure your windows and doors.
Additionally, check that your screens are in excellent condition and consider childproofing the locks to your doors and windows for extra protection.
It is wise to review all the houseplants you have so you can be sure that none of them are poisonous to your pet. Even plants that aren’t poisonous to humans can be toxic to your pet.
Among the top plants to consider removing from your home are the following:
This is hardly an exhaustive list. Check them all to determine what, if any, threats they present for your new puppy.
When you bring a new puppy into the home, you want to take every possible precaution to prevent unnecessary accidents and injuries to your pet. You also want to safeguard your home, your possessions, and the humans within your home from possible harm as well.
Puppies are creatures fueled by an insatiable curiosity. You must remain vigilant in your efforts to create safe spaces for their curiosities to blossom. With a little effort and preparation on your part, you and your new puppy can enjoy a safe and happy home together.