Puppy Proofing Your Home

Puppies are inquisitive and will eat, sniff out, and chew on whatever arouses their curiosity. As a responsible pet parent, it’s your job to walk through your home looking at it through the eyes of a puppy, so that you can remove potential dangers to keep your puppy safe.

POISONOUS PLANTS

Nibbling on a spider plants leaves can lead to vomiting, and even eating one mistletoe berry can be fatal. I have listed plants to watch out for, and your veterinarian can provide information specific to the area in which you live.

TOXIC SUBSTANCES

Keep garage and tool shed doors closed and locked to prevent your puppy from getting in, and place all dangerous items, such as paint thinner, barbecue lighter fluid, insecticides, and antifreeze on high shelves as a added precaution.

Antifreeze is especially dangerous because it smells good and tastes sweet to puppies, so they will be tempted to lick up the drips from a cars radiator or drink from toilet bowls and outdoor water fountains that have been winterized with the substance. Kidney failure may result, even from just one tablespoon of antifreeze.

Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning are not always easy to spot but include unsteadiness, drooling, vomiting and excessive thirst. Veterinarian treatment can be lifesaving if administered within the first 8-12 hours. To lower the risk of antifreeze poisoning choose a brand that contains a bittering agent , meant to make antifreeze less appealing to animals. Look for antifreeze with propylene glycol as an ingredient (instead of the very poisonous ethylene glycol used in many brands.) They are still toxic, but to a lesser degree.

GARBAGE CAN

To most puppies, the trash can is a treasure cove, a trait their human families find increasingly frustrating as they clean up scattered garbage from the floor. Even worse than the mess, our pups can get quite ill if they eat something they shouldn’t such as chocolate, corn cobs, onions or chicken bones.

Training can help keep their noses clean, but for some dogs the garbage is always going to be a temptation. The canine sense of smell is one reason why. It’s 10,000-100,000 times as acute as our own, making trash, especially food scraps-irresistible to curious pups. Making the trash can inaccessible is your best bet.

Keep it behind a closed door, perhaps one that has a childproof latch so your pup can’t open it. Or use a bungee cord to secure the lid to the can. A heavy metal type can that uses a foot pedal to open the lid can also be a deterrent.

ELECTRICAL CORDS

Chewing on wires is a common behavior because puppies are naturally curious animals who explore with their mouths. Plus, when their teething it’s a practice that feels good. It’s also destructive and can be dangerous.

Hide cords behind furniture or under the carpet

Cover cords with plastic tubing

Provide lots of chew toy alternatives

Use a pet deterrent spray on the cords that will make them taste bad

DANGEROUS ITEMS

Sewing and craft supplies, from buttons to strings

Office Supplies paper clips, rubber bands, pencils and pens

Medication-cotton balls, razors

Plastic Bags, Rubber Gloves

Board game pieces and small kid toys

SAFE PRACTICES

Always keep the toilet lid closed so small puppies can’t fall in or drink the water

Washing machine and dryer doors should never be left open (a warm dryer can seem like a cozy place for a nap)

Screen doors should be latched and windows should be screened

Yard and pool fences should be high enough to prevent your pup from jumping over

Puppy proofing is all about keeping your puppy safe from dangers and also keeping your possessions safe from your pup. Move any breakables that can be knocked over (Vases, cups, knick knacks). Keep shoes in your closet with the door closed to prevent your closet from becoming a toy chest full of fun for your puppy. Make sure there are no dangling drape cords that a playful pup can pull down.

EYES IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD

While it’s easy to read a list of what to do and not to do when your puppy proofing, if it’s been awhile since you’ve had a puppy it will come as a surprise quite how enterprising your new pet can be when it comes to getting hold of things that he shouldn’t.

Scan all rooms before your pup moves in and answer these questions:

What’s on the floor? Anything other than permitted toys or puppy pads need to be moved up high. Shoes with their intriguingly “human” smell tend to be particularly attractive and even the first set of small but sharp puppy teeth can usually get through leather in minutes. Don’t just unplug cables, put them out of reach. This might be the time to invest in a rubber cable holder; you wind cables onto these and contain them in a heavy rubber cover which would be a challenge for even sharp puppy teeth to penetrate.

Whats on the level above the floor? Just because the coffee table is above puppy eye level, don’t assume it’s inaccessible. Inquisitive puppies can have impressive scrambling ability. Any remotes, tablets, phones, magazines, books and mail should be up high and out of reach of a jumping puppy. Remotes have particular appeal because people constantly handle them so they smell appetizingly human. And they don’t take long to crunch into little pieces.

Have you pushed the chairs in under the table? Otherwise chairs or stools left out can offer a handy stepladder to an inquisitive puppy, and once he’s on a highish table, he’s a danger to himself as well as your possessions. The same is true for stools or boxes next to worktops.

Are there any purses or school bags, or anything else lying around? Check not for things just on the floor but also for items laid on chairs or even hanging from hooks. Bags make great exploring games for puppies-they hold a whole range of things, from pill packs to spectacles to change purses. By all means make a safe game for him by hiding treats in a fabric bag, but don’t leave your own lying around for him to discover.

What about soft furnishings? If he’s still at the housebreaking, accident prone stage, it may be best to put an old blanket or throw on any valued sofas or armchairs.

Drapes-anything trailing or with an elaborate trim or fringe lends itself to chewing. Loop them above puppy height anytime your not around.

By this time , your probably thinking that having a puppy at all is alot of work. Don’t worry; the intrepid puppy explorer stage only lasts for a few months. Provided you put the time and training in, and reinforce them by including plenty of enjoyable things that your pet is allowed to do and play with, he’ll learn what is and isn’t acceptable by the time he’s around six months old.

TEACH TO SWAP

One of the best ways to get your puppy to do less of what you don’t want him to is to teach him to swap. While he’s still small, get into the habit of popping something for him in your pocket-perhaps a few of his favorite treats or a small, but puppy proof toy. That way, as soon as his attention is engaged by something you’d prefer him not to have , you can distract him by a fuss and something he wants instead. Try never to get into a tug of war with him over something he’s got that he shouldn’t-it’s far better for him to learn if he minds you, he gets something really great in exchange.

POISONOUS PLANTS

Most people are surprised that so many plants are dangerous to canines. If the plant is ingested, your puppy may suffer temporarily, for example, by vomiting to rid himself of the toxins. Sometimes, however, the effects can be much more serious, even life threatening. Luckily, many puppies will show no interest in any of these plants. For those that do, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Amaryllis Bulbs-Changes in energy level, diarrhea, excessive saliva, tremors and upset stomach

Azalea-Difficulty breathing, lethargy, upset stomach, vomiting

Castor Bean-Abdominal pain, dehydration, diarrhea, drooling, excessive thirst, lethargy, loss of appetite, muscle twitching, seizures, vomiting. This plant comes in different colors other than green.