How to Puppy Proof Your House

What are some things you can do to help “puppy proof” your house? Bringing home a new puppy is a lot like bringing home a newborn baby. A house needs to be tended to in certain ways beforehand.

For starters, get rid of any toxic plants in the home such as azalea or philodendron. You don’t want your dog accidentally chewing on plants that could harm them. Next, move all toxic substances, like household cleaning supplies, to a place where your puppy has no chance to access them whatsoever. Oftentimes, this means placing items on upper shelves, far from the floor. Speaking of the floor, keep in mind puppies like to chew things, so you don’t want them chewing on electrical cords. Do what you can to tie up loose cords and/or keep them out of sight from your pet. Similarly, tie up loose cords hanging down from window drapes and blinds.

Since you can’t monitor your puppy 24-7, one thing to consider when bringing them home is to make sure doors and windows are closed so the puppy doesn’t accidentally wander off, away from the home. To keep your puppy in certain areas (and out of others), place “baby gates” in the appropriate places. For instance, as your puppy gets housebroken, you might want them spending their time on vinyl flooring rather than carpeting to make poop clean-up easier.

Most people spend a lot of time in their kitchens, so their puppies do, too. Keep in mind that there are certain foods and items that cause problems for pets, such as chocolate, coffee, grapes/raisins, and tobacco products. Always be watchful of what your dog puts in its mouth– and get rid of things like chicken bones, plastic food wrap, and other things that could harm your pet.

Since the majority of dogs do their “business” outdoors, you might want to invest in proper fencing so they have a confined place to poop and cannot easily escape. Make sure this area doesn’t contain toxic plants or other toxic stuff you might store outdoors, such as lawn fertilizer, gasoline or insecticides. Basically, do what you can to ensure your puppy spends time in a safe space where he or she won’t touch or ingest anything harmful.

As a new puppy owner, you are responsible for that dog’s well-being and safety. Your puppy depends on you for so much!