Preparing your home and garden for the arrival of your new puppy is an important step to ensuring their safety.
With their natural curiosity and love for exploring, it's crucial to be aware of the potential dangers that exist in our homes.
Here are seven steps to consider when puppy-proofing your home.
1. Secure Your Garbage and Recycling
Puppies are drawn to interesting smells and may eat dangerous items, such as decaying food or toxic substances. Make sure your bins have secure lids and keep them out of your puppy's reach. Items like cooked bones, corn cobs, moldy foods, onions, garlic, chocolate, raisins, and grapes can be particularly harmful to dogs.
2. Keep household chemicals in a safe Place
Keep them locked away or on high shelves to prevent your puppy from accessing them. Rat and snail baits are especially dangerous and can lead to poisoning, so consider using more humane alternatives.
3. Cover electrical cords, cables, and wires
Protect cords and wires, as puppies love to chew on them during teething. This can result in serious injury or even death. Consult with experts at hardware and electrical stores for advice on how to puppy-proof wires and cords, especially during the festive season when Christmas lights pose a particular risk.
4. Use child games or pet gates to block off any restricted spaces
Consider blocking off any restricted areas in the home by using child-proof locks and baby gates. This will prevent your puppy from entering rooms with potential hazards, such as the kitchen or areas near staircases.
5. Secure your drawers or cabinets
Secure your drawers or cabinets to prevent furniture from falling and causing harm to your puppy.
Affixing furniture to walls using straps or braces from hardware shops is a wise precaution. Additionally, be cautious of curtains and blind cords when puppy-proofing furniture, as they can pose a strangulation risk.
6. Keep food and medications out of reach
Keep food and drugs securely locked away, including your handbag. Certain human medications and foods, like sugar-free chewing gum with xylitol, can be fatal to pets. If your puppy ingests anything harmful, contact your vet or vet emergency hospital immediately.
7. Assess Your Indoor Plants
While it is a good idea to have some indoor plants, it is crucial to be aware of the plants that may be harmful to puppies. Certain plants can be toxic for dogs and may result in serious health complications that necessitate a trip to the veterinarian.
To ensure the safety of your puppy, it is advisable to keep all plants out of their reach. By doing so, you can prevent them from chewing on the plants or digging in the soil.
8. Dog-proof your garden as well
Don't forget to puppy-proof your balcony, yard, and fences as well. Ensure your backyard is secure and suitable for confining pets safely, away from traffic and swimming pools.
Check for toxic plants and remove them or fence them off to prevent your puppy from accessing them. Provide sheltered, pet-safe areas in the home, apartment, and/or garden with fresh water, safe toys, and a suitable puppy diet for your new pet to rest, play, and sleep.
9. Create a Cool and Comfortable Resting Spot
Puppies can easily become overheated and exhausted without realizing the need to take a break.
Designating a comfortable area where you can relax with your furry friend will encourage them to rest whenever necessary.
Enhance this spot by placing an elevated outdoor bed and a chilled water bowl to make it even more enticing.
10. Watch over Your Puppy Outdoors
When it comes to supervising your puppy outdoors, it is crucial to exercise the same level of vigilance as you would with a toddler.
Just as you wouldn't allow a toddler to play in the backyard unsupervised, it is equally important to keep your puppy within your sight. If there isn't a fenced area, ensure that they are on a leash to ensure their safety and prevent any potential accidents.
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