How to Puppy Proof Your Home

When you bring home a puppy you are facing a couple of challenges right off the bat. The first consideration is keeping the new little member of the family safe, and the next issue to tackle is making sure your things stay protected from the furry addition to the household.

The Puppy’s Eye View

Before the puppy even lays a paw across the threshold of the doorway try seeing your home from what will be his perspective. Get down on the floor and look around. Understand that your dog will not see a difference between his toys and the rubber used for electrical cords, your carefully tended plants, floor fans, or outlets. These need to either be placed at a height the little furred one can’t reach or covered up and protected from their questing little teeth and paws. You might not believe that a tiny puppy can do as much damage as they are, in fact capable of and usually determined to perform.

Puppies vs. electricity

They can and will chew through electrical cords, drywall, carpeting, wood flooring, plastic coverings, and leather furnishings. Puppies get shocked by electrical outlets and electrical cords so often this is usually one of the first cautionary tales you will hear from fellow pet owners and the veterinarian.

Place the puppy’s water and food tray far away from any outlets or cords. It is almost a guarantee the water dish will be upturned usually as it happens when it contains the most water. Having the dish near electronics or outlets could spell disaster. A good solution to a wet floor is to put water absorbent mats under the feeding area.

Puppies vs. the carpet and drapes

Frayed edges or rough patches might make the carpeting look tired to you, but to a puppy this sort of disrepair is very exciting. The frayed end is good for chewing, and the rough patches provide the challenge of making them even bigger. Smooth down frayed edges and if repair is impossible at this time then cheat and use the smallest amount possible of hot glue as a quick temporary fix. Rough patches can be covered with rugs and even taped down if necessary.

If you have drapes you want to see how interested the puppy is in them. A gust of wind or the air conditioner can make them wave invitingly enough for the puppy to want to play tug of war with your window treatments. Pinning or taping them up out of puppy’s reach is a good plan.

Window blinds are a far more serious threat. If the blinds are manipulated up and down with a cord the puppy could get tackled and seriously hurt. Tie blind cords up to your own shoulder level or replace cords with plastic twists.

When the little one is roaming around watch careful for any hazards you missed. During times, you are not at home the puppy should be confined in a location of the house where he can’t cause damage or get hurt.

Photo Credits: Hendricks Photos

This post involves:

absorbent mats, carpeting, electrical cords, electrical outlets, food tray, leather furnishings, pet owners, plastic coverings, water dish, wet floor, wood flooring

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Canines, Tips for Dog Owners, Your Dog's Safety

Posted by Dog Training Pet on August 25, 2010 in Canines, Tips for Dog Owners, Your Dog's Safety. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.