Bringing you puppy home for the first time can be wonderful but overwhelming. There are so many things to think about and pay attention to. One essential step before bringing your pooch home with you is to make sure you have puppy proofed your home before inviting your new family member inside. Of course, there are definite things you need to teach your puppy once they are home, but before you get to that stage, your new pooch isn’t trained and can get into all kinds of trouble. Let’s take a look at the five ways you should be puppy proofing your home, so you can ensure a safe environment for your dog.
Gated stairs
Much like with toddlers, it’s a safe bet to close off stairs with a gate. Blocking any kind of staired entrance way will ensure that your puppy doesn’t insure itself. Gates are also a great option when you want to contain your pooch in a specific room. You can reuse the ones you already have or simply purchase new baby safety gates.
Puppy proof the outside
When puppy proofing your home don’t forget your outside areas. Pet proofing your balcony or your backyard is an essential step you should not forget to do. Puppies can get into all kinds of strife when left to their own devices, especially outside. Avoid using insecticides and fertilizers once you have a pup and make sure to have shady areas and plenty of water available to them when they are spending time outside.
Place plants out of reach
You may be a plant lover, but do you know which ones are safe for puppies? There are quite a few plants that are poisonous for your pooch. The peace lily, daffodils, and tulips are a few of the plants that are toxic for dogs. If you do have them at home and want to hold on to those plants, make sure that they are well out of reach of your beloved pooch by placing them on shelves.
Hide electrical cords
Puppies love to explore their surroundings; they can get into all kinds of trouble especially when they squeeze themselves into nooks and crannies. To make sure they don’t chew any electrical cords it’s a good idea is to use cord protectors or block off heavily cabled areas such as behind your TV with furniture that your pooch can’t move or squeeze through.
Keep food hidden away
Whether it’s dog food, human food, or food waste, puppies can sniff out any kind of edibles. So be sure to keep any kind of food stored away safely. Ensure that your trash area is also blocked off. Puppies can create a hell of a mess if they get the opportunity to have a good old dig around in the trash. They could also become ill depending on what type of food scraps they find. If it’s difficult to block off the waste area, there are dog proof trash cans available.
Now that your home is puppy proofed you can welcome your new family member into your home and life without having to worry too much about whether your home is safe enough for them. It goes without saying that you should still supervise your pup as much as possible especially in the beginning. Like with toddlers, the quieter they are the more havoc they are probably wreaking.