Bringing a new puppy into your life marks the beginning of a new era, one that’s filled with excitement, love, and yes, quite a bit of stress. Getting to know this new addition to your family, figuring out their character, and training them will take over a big part of your life for several months, so it’s important to be prepared.
Puppy-proofing your home is one of the biggest projects you’ll do as you get ready to welcome your furry friend, and if this is your first time doing it, here’s what you need to know.
Have a Puppy Zone in Your House
The first step to take in your puppy-proofing project is to decide where your pup will spend most of their time, aka a designated puppy zone. If you’re getting a very young puppy, at first they’ll be a bit slower and easily startled, so you want to provide them with a safe space with everything they need.
Whether you’re getting a lap dog or a larger breed won’t be as important in the beginning, all you have to focus on is having a space for them with their bed, water, a potty pad, and some soft toys. This will also make your life easier when you can’t keep a close eye on them, because you know they’ll be safe in their space and you don’t have to worry about them getting hurt.
Keep Things Off the Floor
Puppy’s boisterous energy and curiosity are only some of the reasons we love them so much, but these characteristics can also get them in trouble. They will jump at and chew on just about anything in their path, and it’s your job to ensure that the floors are clear of any potentially dangerous items.
The best way to know what is within your pup’s reach is to get down to their perspective and inspect what’s in your view. When you see:
- Dangling electrical cords, be sure to move them out of the way, or use cord protectors to prevent your puppy from chewing on them and getting electrocuted.
- Small objects on the floor that could be a choking hazard, like buttons, paper clips, and coins, pick them all up and put them out of reach.
- Cleaners and dangerous chemicals should always be on high shelves or even in locked cabinets to prevent your puppy from getting to them. This goes for everyday items as well, like hand soap or dishwasher pods, as they may look enticing to your four-legged friend.
- Socks and shoes will become your puppy’s favorite chew toys as they get bigger and have more energy. If you’ve got shoes you’re particularly fond of, be sure to put them well out of sight, otherwise you risk having them decorated with your pup’s teeth marks. The same goes for socks, which are also a choking hazard, so you’ll want to avoid them lying around because your dog will find them.
- Any medication in the house should be out of reach for your puppy. Keep in mind that even small doses of human medications can be very toxic for your new pet, so keep them safely stored away to avoid headaches. You can always use Woodbury animal hospital services and consult expert vets to minimize harm to your puppy, but prevention is better than cure.
Puppy-Proofing Your Furniture
Once the floor is secure, it’s time to move on to the rest of the house and puppy-proof your furniture. In addition to chewing on anything they can get their teeth on, puppies are surprisingly agile, and once something piques their interest, they won’t stop until they get to it.
If you have thick rugs and carpets in your home, a warm recommendation is to store them away until your dog is fully potty trained. Otherwise, you’ll spend a lot of time relentlessly scrubbing them, which will get frustrating quickly.
If you’ve got wooden furniture with corners your puppy can nibble on, it’s a good idea to use corner guards to prevent that. Windows should be firmly closed so that your puppy can’t wiggle out, and the same goes for screen doors. If you’ve got stairs in your home, install stair gates to keep your puppy from tumbling down the stairs when unsupervised.
Plants make for great decor but before the new puppy arrives, check if any of them are toxic to dogs. If you have lilies, aloe vera, snake plants, or philodendrons, it would be good to replace them with alternatives that aren’t harmful to your puppy when ingested.
Keeping Your Puppy Away from Human Foods
If your puppy is to become an emotional support animal, their training will start early, but in the beginning, all the training in the world can’t stop them from succumbing to their sense of smell. Dogs love human food and some of them will do a lot to get some of it, especially when they’re young and curious.
For puppies, trash cans can be very enticing because they’re full of smells and delicious foods, and if you don’t take precautions, you’ll find them burrowing through them sooner or later. A simple way to prevent this is to use secure lids on your trash cans or, even better, keep them in cabinets. Don’t leave your food on low club tables for your puppy to easily reach, because they won’t resist the temptation. Some foods like avocado, alcohol, chocolate, and onions are toxic for them, and your puppy eating them will result in an emergency vet visit.
Conclusion
Prepping your home for the arrival of a new puppy will take some time and energy, but it’s necessary to do it well. Your soon-to-be best friend will explore every nook and cranny of your home, and their curiosity and energy know no bounds. The best you can do is provide a safe space for them to discover, train them, and enjoy every minute of it.
