Puppy Proofing a Home

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting. You’ve prepared: you went to the pet store, bought food and water dishes, plenty of toys, a comfortable place for your puppy to sleep, and perhaps a gate or crate to help contain the little bundle of joy.

Before you rush off to the shelter or breeder to bring home your new furry friend, take a look around your home. Chances are, there are plenty of places where your new addition could get into trouble. Puppies are notorious for finding mischief in the most unlikely places, so let’s take a moment and look around from their perspective.

Plants can be hazardous both to your clean house and your puppy’s health. House plants, especially those in large pots with plenty of potting soil, are an instant favorite for puppies. To them, it’s the perfect indoor toy that you left in the most surprising places. They can satisfy both their love of digging and their need to chew all in one convenient package. However, some plants can be poisonous to dogs. In addition to making a mess, your new little bundle of joy could end up ill—or worse.

Tassels are another common temptation that we often overlook until we catch Little Rex tearing apart your bedspread or tablecloth. The tight construction of tassels feels great on a puppy’s little teeth, and the soft fabric is easy for them to destroy. Until your puppy learns to only chew on his toys, it’s best to keep the tassels out of reach and stored away in the closet.

Stairs are a hazard we often take for granted. We recognize that small children are susceptible to falling down stairs, but unsupervised puppies are likely to take a nasty tumble too. While it’s important for your puppy to learn to navigate stairs, a gate is still a good idea for times when you can’t fully supervise their activities.

As you continue to look around, pay attention to items on the floor that might tempt your puppy or that would be a loss if destroyed. Baskets containing sewing items, magazines, decorative artifacts, and even throw rugs can easily end up in your puppy’s mouth. Children’s bedrooms are a goldmine of chewable treasures. It’s best to have children keep their doors closed. While it would be ideal to remind them to clean up and keep their belongings safe from the new puppy, children tend to lapse into moments of forgetfulness and messiness.

Limit Where Your Puppy Can Go

It’s wise to start by confining your puppy to a portion of the house—the area where the family spends most of their time—and block off the rest of the house, except when under supervised access. Limiting their movement makes it easier to keep that area puppy-proofed, rather than the entire house. Just because you’ve puppy-proofed once doesn’t mean you won’t miss something, life won’t get messy, or that children won’t leave something behind. Puppy-proofing is an ongoing task.

Once you’re confident that everything you can see has been picked up or put out of Fido’s reach, lie down on the floor and take another look. The change in perspective can be quite surprising. One of the first things you’ll notice is the network of wires that becomes visible from this angle. Even if you think your puppy can’t reach them all, puppies have a way of surprising us. Wires should be contained and lifted as far out of reach as possible.

While you’re on the floor, take note of the small things that may have made their way under furniture. It’s a good time to do a thorough cleaning. You don’t need a sterile living room, but it’s important that your puppy learn what is acceptable to touch and what is not. The goal of puppy-proofing is to provide a safe space where your puppy can learn, while also allowing for human error—like not being able to give constant attention.

As your puppy grows, he’ll reach higher places and find himself in more trouble. If you have a large breed, he will grow quickly and reach new heights, requiring you to stay on top of his changing abilities. Smaller breeds aren’t as challenging, but a bored puppy will still look for trouble if not properly stimulated.

If you brought home a dog that will eventually weigh thirty pounds or more, he will likely discover the treasures you leave in the trash. Unfortunately, some things we throw away are not safe for puppy mischief. Regardless of your puppy’s size, never throw used razors in the bathroom trash. Bathroom trash can be just as tempting to your puppy, and for some breeds, it’s the only garbage delicacy they’ll ever have access to. Soap can make your dog sick, but a razor can kill him.

Similarly, be cautious about throwing away cleaning products or any form of hazardous waste. Used oil, bleach, bait salt, antifreeze, and detergents can all be lethal. Properly disposing of them and keeping them out of reach is one of the most overlooked yet important steps in puppy-proofing.

If by chance your little one manages to get into something dangerous and you’re unsure of the health effects, call your vet immediately. You’re not bothering them with unimportant questions. It’s always better to consult a professional than wait and see. Similarly, if your puppy experiences sudden changes in behavior—such as lethargy, extreme anxiety, pacing, or listlessness—call your vet right away. Chances are, he found something you overlooked. The same is true if your puppy develops sudden diarrhea or vomiting.

Give your puppy time. The dramatic changes you make in your home won’t last forever. Eventually, your puppy will learn what he can and cannot touch, and hopefully, he will grow into a trustworthy dog. In the meantime, take great care to ensure his safety and enjoy his company. He won’t stay this little and boisterous for long!