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February 14th
Getting a new pup should be an exciting period, especially if you’ve used our puppy finder to find the perfect companion from breeders with integrity.
But there’s one thing you need to remember—puppies can be unpredictable. These bundles of playfulness definitely don’t mean any harm, but they could get into trouble at home if you’re not careful. Your puppy is basically a toddler, and needs to be treated as such when you first bring them home.
So we need to proof your property so that it’s pet puppy ready. Thankfully, this shouldn’t be too difficult. In this article, we’re going to look at some key puppy-proofing tips so that you can start having fun with your new Doodle without worrying about the furniture.
While settling your new puppy in should be fun, you also need to be responsible. These tips aren’t just for the safety of your home, they’re for the safety of your new dog too. Make sure you’ve safeguarded the pup’s environment so that it can begin to learn and play in a stress-free and safe area.
Low-hanging cables and wires could be a problem, especially if you’ve got a super-inquisitive pup that wants to know what everything is.
You might think your cables are too high for a young dog, but they can jump up a surprising distance. Use cable ties, sleeves and other fastening devices to make sure all your cables are tucked away and secure. Even with a smart puppy, some will jump up at almost anything.
Remember, this isn’t just to protect your electronic equipment—it’s for your pup’s safety, too. Not only can these cables carry a substantial amount of power, but your dog could get tangled up in them reasonably easily.
Having plants around the house is always a nice touch, and that shouldn’t change just because you’ve got a jump new puppy.
But new pups love a nibble of these plants, so you need to make sure none of them are toxic. You’d be surprised how many pot-plants and indoor flora can actually do animals (and humans) harm when eaten,
If you do find out that one of your plants is toxic, you don’t necessarily have to throw it away. Make sure you’ve put it high enough that your dog definitely cannot reach, and be careful that any shed leaves don’t end up on the floor.
For non-toxic plants, you can be a bit more relaxed about things – but you still might want to keep them out of reach. Digging and pulling can still make your home messy, and knocking a pot off a shelf could still be dangerous (and even more messy).
You might let money fall out of your pockets all the time without thinking much of it. If you’re that rich, then congratulations.
But letting coins fall into your furniture and then forgetting about them could actually be a risk to your new pup. Just like young children, coins can be nasty when swallowed and could cause your Doodle pup to choke.
Do a careful clean of your house before your pup arrives to make sure there aren’t any coins laying around, and look after your change a bit more carefully from now on.
It’s the same principle for jewelry. Don’t simply lose an earring and forget about it like you used to, it could be a hazard to your pup.
You should already be keeping things like bleach and other cleaning supplies in a secure place, especially if you’ve got children.
You don’t want your pup getting nosy and having a taste. You could try some magnetic baby-proof locks to protect things in floor-level cupboards.
Treat your medication the same way, don’t leave any of it laying around and make sure it’s in a secure cupboard that’s hard to reach.
You might be surprised to know that anywhere with open water could present a drowning hazard to your pup. That means bathtubs, sinks and even toilets.
You can be a bit more relaxed about things once your dog is a bit bigger and older (and learnt to swim), but don’t leave your bathtub running unattended in the first few months. And make sure you put the toilet seat down.
While your pup getting access to your loose garbage might only present a small safety risk, it presents a big hygiene one. Pups will rummage through almost anything, especially something with so many different smells. Keep your garbage in a secure bin with a locked lid at all times.
There are tons of different foods that could be fatal to your puppy. These include chocolate, certain nuts, coffee, onions and loads more. You should obviously only feed your dog certified pet food, but you need to make sure it hasn’t got access to all your other good stuff.
The problem with dogs and food is that although a lot of this stuff is really bad for them it smells great and your hungry pup will normally want to eat it.
So, keep your cupboard doors secure and don’t leave food lying around unattended. When you bring shopping in from the supermarket, don’t leave it on the floor and package it up as soon as possible. Make sure you’ve got the right food to give your specific pup, too.
Some rooms have got so many puppy hazards in them that it’ll be safer and easier to simply make them completely off-limits rather than trying to go around and proof them.
Play areas with tons of toys or workshops with lots of tools and chemicals should be at the top of your off-limits list. Try securing them with baby gates or other measures to make sure your dogs don’t have access.
It goes without saying that your fireplace should be off-limits for a pup. Make sure you’ve got a strong gate in place that keeps them away from the fire.
Hopefully, these tips should get your home safe enough to start enjoying your new pup straight away.
You might also want to consider having a safe space that’s just for your dog while he or she gradually gets used to your home—and crates can be great for this.
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