Puppy-Proofing Your Garden
As a new dog parent, you may feel that it is tricky to secure and remove everything that could pose a risk for your little friend. However, it is essential for your dog's safety. Petli is happy to help you puppy-proof your garden. Your backyard or garden may become your puppy's toilet area and natural playground for new friends. Therefore, it is important that the environment is safe, free from dangers and injury risks. Risks can lurk where you least expect them. Having a puppy is a bit like having a baby crawling around; they need to be supervised constantly, outdoors and indoors. So make sure to puppy-proof your home as well. Read also the article How to puppy-proof your home.
Practical list to puppy-proof your garden
Securing the plot with a durable fence
Fence in your garden! No puppy will with 100% certainty stay within an invisible boundary. A hedge is rarely dense enough. Play it safe, put up a fence that your puppy can't bite through, crawl under or jump over as an adult.
Protect your puppy from the dangers of the garden
Put up a temporary fence around ditches, holes, entrances in the foundation of the house, and other nooks and crannies your puppy may crawl into and get stuck.
Removing poisonous plants in the garden
Remove poisonous plants from your garden that can be harmful to your puppy, such as onion plants. Please read the article Not for doggy.
Secure the yard with a durable fence in the pool for puppy safety
If you have a pool, fence it in for obvious reasons.
Keep grass short to avoid snakes
Keep the grass cut short to keep snakes and ticks away. A well-cut lawn will give you a good overview of what lurks in the grass.
Avoid chemicals on the site
If you use fertilizers or pesticides in your garden, keep your puppy away until the coast is clear.
Keep the tool shed closed and secure
Close the tool shed and place sharp objects and chemicals on high shelves or in closed boxes.
Give your puppy water and shade outdoors
Make sure there is water and shade in the yard if your puppy is outside on a hot day.
Keep your site clean and hygienic
Keep it clean, pick up poop so that your puppy doesn't eat its own poop.
Use the plot with your puppy
Use the garden wisely. Avoid letting a young puppy tumble around independently. Go out together. Use the space to train and play, socialize and enjoy the outdoors together. If you let your puppy be outside on their own, digging, barking at neighbors, or running after dogs that pass outside the fence may very well become a habit. Behaviors you probably won't appreciate in your adult dog.
Keep an eye on your puppy to protect against dangers
Be safe! Other dogs may also jump into your garden and frighten your puppy if out alone. Even predators such as foxes or birds of prey can get in and harm your puppy if you are not present.
Temporary safety measures for the puppy's first period
Your puppy is completely dependent on you for safety. It's a responsibility, but as your dog gets older, you won't have to be on the lookout as much.
But for now, get used to fences and gates being your best friends for some time to come. Know that your garden doesn't have to look like this forever, but during a few critical months, you need to be careful. Slowly but surely, you can gradually ease the barricades.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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