13 Steps to Puppy Proofing Your House

Puppies are cute, awkward and entertaining. They fall over, trip on their own feet and can shred a roll of paper towels into the smallest pieces. A puppy needs a safe environment where potentially dangerous and hazardous items are unreachable. Puppy proof your home by organizing, cleaning and keeping hazardous objects away from your dog.

Puppy Proofing Your Home: Assume Your Puppy is a Baby
Realize that you are bringing home a newborn, as a puppy is completely clueless about the world or its new surroundings. A puppy is much like a baby, they do not know that bathroom time is done outdoors or that mom's new shoes are not chew toys. Puppy proofing is like baby proofing, you are trying to protect them from common dangers and teach them the right way.

Assuming your puppy is like a baby also helps you have enough patience and understanding. Your puppy will make mistakes but will make up for it with puppy breath kisses.

To Crate or Not to Crate?
Some dog owners are against crating but I personally feel that dogs should be crated when little. A dog's crate becomes their comfortable little area and makes house training a lot easier. A crate is also recommended when you are leaving the house, as your dog will be protected from many dangers and choking hazards. Puppies explore their home but also chew, swallow and even fall. Crating helps protect the dog from household dangers when you are away from home.

Protect Your Furniture
A part of your puppy proofing routine should be protecting the furniture. Decide if you will allow your dog to get up on the couches and sofas. There is no going back once a dog realizes it can lounge on your loveseat. Buy protective covers and use them while the puppy is still housetraining. This will make accident cleanups a lot easier. A dog that will not be allowed on the furniture should not be teased with cuddling next to you on the couch. It encourages bad behavior that is later hard to correct.

Electrical Cords
Puppy proof your home by purchasing plastic or rubber runners for electrical cords. Tape all electrical cords to the wall if possible. Tucking cords behind the couch will not work, as a puppy can crawl under or behind the couch and chew on electrical cords. TV, stereo and other wires can be tied up or protected with rubber runners that are sold at hardware stores. Puppies do not realize that chewing on wires is dangerous or that it can electrocute them.

Buy Bitter-Tasting Sprays
Stock up on bitter-tasting sprays such as Bitter Apple, sold at pet stores or super markets. The sprays are non-toxic but discourage chewing and biting by tasting foul. Your puppy will learn that items sprayed are off limits, and bitter sprays can be used on furniture, molding, doors and other household items like wires.

Children Toys are Not Dog Toys
Small objects and pieces of kids toys can be choking hazards to puppies. Keep all toys and small chewable items in toys crates or in kids' rooms where the puppy has no access.

Small Objects
Small household items such as pins, paper clips, earrings and coins should be kept away from your puppy. Small items such as this will look appealing and are also easily ingested.

Securing Windows
Secure window screens and lock windows so your puppy cannot fall out. Window screens can be pushed out if not properly fastened.

Household Plants and Toxicity
Many household plants are toxic to dogs and should be removed when bringing home a new puppy.

Read the full list of Toxic and Non-Toxic plants for dogs.

Chemicals and Medicine
Organize your home by locking all cleaning chemicals in a cabinet and place a child-proof lock on the cabinet door. Dogs can open cabinet doors with their snouts and puppies love exploring. Human and dog medicine should be kept in medicine cabinets and away from your pet.

Setup a Housetraining Schedule
A part of puppy proofing regimen is dealing with house training and those first few accidents. Stain and odor remover sprays are good to have in order to clean up puppy urine. The sprays will eliminate odor but many of them have repellents that prevent future accidents in the same spot.

Setup a house training schedule early by taking your puppy out every 3 hours, including throughout the night when your puppy first comes home. A house training schedule will help both you and your puppy to get adjusted and learn the routine.

Should You Buy Baby Gates?
Baby gates are excellent to have for new puppies as they can keep your dog away from stairs and rooms that are forbidden. Puppies are not strong enough to go up and down the stairs, but they are determined to try it. This can cause accidents, falls and fragile dog legs can be broken. A baby gate can keep your dog away from your home office as well, where papers, office supplies and other destructible items are available.

Designate Eating and Sleeping Areas
Your new puppy will need to feel at home. Designate an area for sleeping by placing the crate or dog bed in that spot. That will be your puppy's comfort zone and an area for rest. Eating area should be setup with dog food and water bowls. Use a bowl holder for your puppy to prevent spills. A mat for the food and drink area also helps to cut down on the mess. Having designated areas for eating and sleeping helps your dog learn the rules around the house.

Continuing to teach and train your dog is important, even as your puppy grows. Consider enrolling your dog in basic dog training classes and practice commands at home. Frustration, yelling or hitting your dog is not a correct way to teach. A dog training class is also good for dog owners to learn the proper way to correct bad behavior.

Start puppy proofing your home before bringing a new dog home. This helps to create a healthy and happy environment that is safe for your puppy to explore.

Source:

How to puppy proof your home

New puppy center

Toxic and non-toxic plants