How to Puppy-Proof Your Home
Welcome to the club! You are either officially a dog parent or about to bring home a puppy. You face an exciting, educational, wonderful, and sometimes totally chaotic journey. If Petli is part of this journey, you are well on your way, as knowledge is key to caring for a dog in the best way. Let's take a closer look at how to puppy-proof your home.
Create a safe home for your puppy
Your puppy sees your home as a den. A cozy and safe place to retreat after being outdoors or enjoying walks. The puppy's waking time may be spent at home during the first months. Therefore, it is essential that you create a safe environment, as this minimizes the risk of injuries and something scaring your puppy. If your four-legged friend gets scared when young, the effect can linger for a long time, sometimes a lifetime.
Seeing home through the eyes of a puppy
Puppies are usually energetic and curious, exploratory, and oral. This means they move around a lot and put most things in their mouths. When young, they have little awareness of what is dangerous or distance judgment. Assessing heights is nothing they bother about, and they know little about what is edible.
So puppy-proof your home with care. Crawl around on all fours, become a puppy, and see your home from the puppy's perspective. What can attract? What can be climbed on? What can be chewed? What can fall off?
Checklist for a puppy-proof home:
Keep cords out of reach
Disconnect electrical cords that are not in use. Cover others out of your puppy's reach. A wall-mounted cord protector/a cable duct can be good. If your puppy chews on an electrical cord, they risk serious injury.
Avoid teaching your puppy dangerous eating habits
Avoid feeding your puppy at the table. You only teach your puppy that goodies are on tables and kitchen counters. Your puppy may try to climb up via a chair and fall or eat inappropriate foods such as chewing gum, chocolate, or raisins that are toxic to dogs. Please read the article Not for doggy.
Safe chemicals from puppy curiosity
Store chemicals such as cleaning products on high shelves or closed cabinets. If your puppy ingests dishwashing liquid, a trip to the vet is a must.
Medicines in safe places
Hide away medicines for the same reason. No sleeping pills on the bedside table or painkillers lying around or left in a bag in the hallway.
Puppy-proof bathroom and toilet
Keep the toilet lid closed. You don't want your puppy to use the toilet as a water bowl or fall into it. For hygienic reasons, you also want to put the toilet brush away. Let's spare you the sight of your pup dragging this uncharming household item.
Preventing the puppy from running away
Get in the habit of closing doors (front door, balcony, and patio doors) and windows, so you know where your puppy is at all times. An intriguing scent or a dog bark can cause a creative pup to climb onto tables and out through windows. If you live on the fifth floor or in a one-story villa, your little friend doesn’t know the difference.
Secure blind cords, avoid accidents
Do you have cords hanging from the blinds? Tie them up high or cut them apart. You want to avoid your puppy getting stuck in a low-hanging noose.
Avoid sharp and small objects
Put away objects your puppy may put in its mouth and swallow or choke on. Sharp, small, fragile, or valuables belong in drawers. For example, hair ties, safety pins, plastic bags, knives, scissors, and razors.
Keep litter out of puppy's reach
Put a lid on the waste bin or place it in the cupboards. Puppies can sniff out tasty trash and ingest it.
Protect your puppy from poisonous plants
Find out which potted plants are poisonous for dogs and move them out of reach. Read the article Not for Doggy for more information. If you have flower pots on the floor, place them up high for a few months, puppies love to nibble on them and can eat the soil.
Keep tobacco away from your puppy
If you're a smoker, keep cigarettes and vapes away from your puppy. If your puppy sees you putting these in your mouth, they may want to try doing the same.
Children's toys and puppy safety
Do you have children? Close the doors to their rooms and ask your kids to put away their toys. A Barbie doll can be demolished, and Lego can be swallowed.
Close doors to white goods
Ensure that the microwave, oven, dishwasher, washing machine, and tumble dryer doors are kept shut if they are within your puppy's reach.
Regular checks on dog toys
Check your puppy's toys from time to time to ensure that balls and squeaky toys aren't broken, and no pieces are swallowed that could harm your puppy.
Protect carpets and put away shoes
Roll up valuable carpets and put shoes on the hat shelf for a while.
Avoid hanging tablecloths
Get rid of low-hanging tablecloths. Your puppy can bite and pull everything on the table down and over themselves.
Be careful with hoses and cables
Keep an eye out when you vacuum with your puppy nearby. Sharp puppy teeth sinking into the hose or power cord can be expensive and dangerous.
Safe stairs for your puppy
If you live in a home with more than one floor, place a pet gate at the bottom and top of the staircase, so your puppy doesn't climb up unattended or fall. Stairs are to be walked up and down with your guidance and help. Dogs are not like cats and are not meant to jump from great heights. Puppies tumbling down the stairs can end up with broken bones. Carry your puppy when needed.
Minimizing fall risks for the puppy
Don't let heavy or large things lean against the walls. A folding chair, stepladder, a pair of skis, or a broom can be bumped into and fall over your puppy. It can be very frightening, and if this happens during the puppy's fear period, you may end up with a terrified and insecure puppy. Read the different stages of puppy maturity - important information for anyone with a puppy.
Security without exaggeration
Rather be safe than sorry, right?! But don't overdo it. A soundproof cocoon and a puppy in bubble wrap will hinder your puppy's development. At the same time, you want to minimize the risk of your puppy getting hurt or scared.
Remember that this is not forever, but it's essential for the first few critical months. After that, you can gradually let go of the security mindset. Your puppy will mature and calm down, and the oral and exploration drive will decrease. Self-preservation and coordination will develop. By then, you can roll out the mats and place your flower pots on the floor again.
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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