So you have thought about getting a puppy and all that comes with that decision. You’ve researched the perfect pup for you and you have picked out and fallen in love with the newest four-legged member of your family.
But before you bring your puppy home, you need to puppy-proof your home. This does not need to be a big ordeal but is very necessary and needs your full attention.
Pass through each room of your home, checking for loose wires or electrical cords that might be tempting to chew – move them out of sight or securely tape them down.
Make sure that the food in your kitchen is put away on high shelves or sealed in containers.
Make sure your garbage can has a firm lid and is out of reach.
Put a latch on low cabinets containing cleaning products and harmful chemicals in both the kitchen and bathroom and anywhere else you might house them.
Remove all human grooming products – soaps, shampoos, shaving lotions, loofahs, sponges etc, from the floor and lower shelves in your bathroom (and possibly a teenager’s room!). These could be a tempting chew for your puppy.
Make sure your toilet lid is down at all times.
Houseplants are a huge enticement – dog/puppies are naturally attracted to anything from nature, so the scent of soil and leaves will be very inviting to them. Remove plants from floors, lower shelves and low tables. Many common houseplants are toxic and even deadly to puppies/dogs, including:
Aloe Vera Lilies
Asparagus Fern Mistletoe
Bean Plants Philondendron
Cactus Poinsettia
Caladium Potted Chrysanthemum
Dumbcane Umbrella Plant
Hydrangea Various Ivies
Indian Rubber Plant Weeping Fig
Don’t forget your backyard in this process. Clear your yard of debris that can be harmful to your little one, put away sharp objects and tools, secure any materials or items that can fall on or injure your tiny four-legged friend.
Like houseplants, several common yard plants and trees are poisonous to your pup, including:
Castor Bean Lily of the Valley
Hibiscus Morning Glory
Larkspur Wisteria
Tulips Foxglove
Trumpet Vine Hyacinth
Nightshade Kalanchoe
For a more complete list of dangerous plants for your puppy please follow this link: Toxic and Non Toxic Plants.
Once you have puppy-proofed each room in your home, go back and give each a once over again to make sure you didn’t miss anything. If you have another family member or a friend who is willing to take a quick look, that is even better – two sets of eyes are better than one!
Now you are ready to bring your little pack member home and enjoy him/her without worrying about what he/she will get into!
Puppy Proofing Checklist
- Keep floors free of loose or small items that could become choking hazards: loose change, pens or pencils, paper clips, jewelry, etc.
- Move electrical cords out of the way, tape them down, or cover them with heavy rugs. Purchase plastic outlet covers for all open outlets.
- Make sure breakable items – lamps, collectibles, curios, etc – are safely removed from the puppies vantage point.
- Set up baby gates to block off forbidden areas.
- Install child-proof locks on all low cabinet doors, move all cleaning supplies or toxic chemicals to high shelves.
- Remove potentially poisonous houseplants and outdoor landscaping.
Northern Bone Dog Walking
Big or Small – We Walk Them All!
