Getting a new puppy can be one of the most joyous occasions for a family to experience together. Being completely prepared is the key to making the puppy’s transition into your home a positive experience for everyone. If you don’t know how to puppy-proof your home, here is a quick checklist to help you get the job done.
1. Secure Your Trash Cans
Puppies love to sniff and get into curious things such as your kitchen trash cans. Keeping them covered and secured will help to keep the puppy out of danger from things he or she shouldn’t be munching on. Taking out the trash immediately as it fills up should help control the smell and keep your puppy away from temptation.
2. Take Care of Your Electrical Cords
Prevent accidental shock or mouth burns by making sure that all electrical cords are covered with cord covers. An alternative to this is to use deterrent sprays on all power cables, chargers, and electric cords. Spray deterrents work by making the object taste bitter to the animal.
3. Safely Store Away Medicines and Prescription Drugs
More pets die from consuming human medications each year than any other source of poisoning. To make sure this doesn’t happen in your home, be sure to keep your prescription drugs tucked away inside cabinets or drawers.
4. Check Your Houseplants
Since puppies love to chew, your little one will likely start munching on your houseplants at some point. That is why it is important to remove any plants that are known to be toxic to dogs.
If your puppy eats one type of toxic houseplant, it might become mildly irritating to its stomach. However, if it eats a different one, the dog could experience organ failure and even death. This is why it is important to have access to the ASPCA Poison Control list of flowers and plants that are toxic to dogs.
5. Provide Them With a Crate
Puppies feel safe in small, confined spaces. It is a good idea to get your puppy acclimated to spending some time in a crate. As a bonus, when you need to take your dog to the vet or a groomer, they will feel more comfortable.
6. Put Away Toxic Chemicals and Batteries
Whether it is simple household cleansers, adhesives, or automotive chemicals, they should at no time be accessible to your puppy’s sharp teeth. Lock up any toxic or poisonous chemicals, or place them up high inside of a cabinet.
Batteries or devices that contain batteries can be particularly problematic for puppies. If the pup swallows a battery, it can burn his throat as it is swallowed.