Protect Your Puppy from Danger, Disasters and Other Dumb Stuff

Puppies get into everything. Puppies think they are invulnerable. Puppies rush in where angel dogs fear to tread. Puppies will run away, unaware that they don't know how to get back. Puppies will confront big, grown dogs, oblivious to the fact they could be eaten for a snack. Puppies eat anything and everything, never having taken a course in Poison 101. In sum, puppies have to be protected from themselves.

Protect Puppy from the Dangers of Traffic

Of course you would never let your little puppy go play in traffic. But he might get away and dart out in the street before you can even panic. Do not allow your pup to run around off leash, even if you are right there. He may go off in a chase, or be alarmed by a sudden noise and go into hiding. One friend took a new pup out to the lawn around the parking lot of his apartment, and put her down to potty. Someone revved up a car and the puppy took off. It took a neighbor dog (on leash) sniffing her out to find the frightened pup cowering in a bush.

Protecting Your Puppy from Poison Disasters

So many things are poisonous to your puppy, especially at Christmas. Poinsettia leaves are poisonous, as are many doodads on the tree. Not to mention: antifreeze, aspirin, bleach, boric acid, brake fluid, carbon monoxide, carburetor cleaner, chocolate, cleaning fluid, deodorants, deodorizers, disinfectants, drain cleaner, dye, fungicides, furniture polish, gasoline, hair coloring, herbicides, insecticides, kerosene, laxatives, lead, lye, matches, minerals, spirits, mothballs, nail polish and remover, paint, paint remover, permanent wave lotion, photographic developer, rat poison, rubbing alcohol, shoe polish, sleeping pills, snail or slug bait, soaps, detergents, suntan lotion, tar, turpentine, windshield washer fluid, wood varnish and preservatives.

Also, puppies can choke on non-poisonous materials, like Christmas tree tinsel. One new pup mom put the Christmas tree in a playpen, and let the pup run free.

Protecting Your Puppy from Evil Attack Dogs

Yes, you want to take your puppy for walks. But what about the loose dogs who may try to attack? Robert Walker, of the Cesar Milan dog training school of thought, advises you to carry a big stick or tube that won't snap easily. Thrust the stick toward the attack dog and take one step forward. This may discourage the attack. If the aggressive dog takes the tube or stick in its mouth, thrust again. The dog may back off. Do not engage in a tug of war, or use the stick to hit the attacking dog. You will lose in a test of aggression. Alternately, carry a whistle. The loud piercing noise will scare the dog off, but it will also scare the puppy.

And speaking of walks, remember puppies have short, little, easily tired legs. Again, letting your puppy toddle around off leash is endangerment. Pup may charge a big dog who could literally bite its head off, or may pester a big dog trying to get it to play, when the big dog is only interested in one game: "Play dead."

Dumb Stuff: Not Protecting Puppy from Heat and Cold

Never leave the pup in the car in the heat. Temperatures can climb to dangerous levels within minutes, and a puppy is extremely vulnerable to heat stroke. Similarly, never leave the puppy out in the cold, or in the car in the cold for more than minutes. Would you leave your human baby out on the porch in the winter? Didn't think so.

Dumb Stuff: Not Keeping Fresh Water Available for Your Puppy

Puppies can get dehydrated. Always have fresh water in a clean bowl for the puppy to drink. Ignore the fact that she steps right in the bowl, knocks it over, puts toys in it. Of course she has to go out right away after a drink.

Getting Your Pup Through Puppyhood Alive.

Keep puppy near you. Don't leave puppy on the loose alone in the house. Don't ever confine a new puppy with an older dog. Don't let it outside without a leash. Don't leave it out or in the car. Get it to the vet for puppy shots and check ups. Your puppy will love you for it.

Sources:
http://www.doglistener.co.uk/medical/poisins.shtml
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/dogwalkattacks.htm
Personal experience