Make Your Home Safe for Your New Puppy

Before bringing your darling puppy home, it’s important to make a few changes. I’m not suggesting installing cabinet or toilet locks. It’s more about setting boundaries and management.

Setting Boundaries

Setting boundaries is probably one of the most important parts of puppy proofing. Schedule a family meeting so everyone is on the same page and discuss each topic in detail. Capture meeting notes and post in a highly visible area, such as the refrigerator.

Keep Children Away From Eating Dogs

Children should leave puppies and dogs alone while they’re eating or chewing on toys. Supervision is not 100% so it’s best to feed meals or provide chews when children are napping or otherwise engaged. Explain, during your family meeting, that an adult will take all toys and chews away. This prevents resource guarding and it’s best to “trade” instead of “take away.”

RELATED: Resource Guarding

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Many children and adults are accidentally bitten when startling a sleeping dog. It’s pretty hard to resist a puppy’s sleeping face, but petting or kissing her while she’s napping is likely to startle her. If you must wake her, say her name and wait for her to waken. Also, puppies and dogs should not be teased when they are crated, as this can cause major issues later.

RELATED: Crate Training

Dogs Don’t Like Hugs

Hugs show affection, but only to people. Hugging a dog or puppy is considered rude in dog language. Instead of hugging, teach children to pet dogs on their chest or under their chin. The internet is filled with photos of children hugging dogs and my heart drops to my feet, as the dog is clearly uncomfortable. Her body language is screaming “Leave me alone!” Please explain this to all children and remind them often during family meetings. Oh, and ask children to remind their friends too!

Management

This part is overlooked. Management means controlling things in a puppy’s environment to prevent certain unwanted behaviors. Now, dog training is totally different because you’re teaching her something new. Management doesn’t teach a new behavior, but it can sure make your life so much easier!

Lidded Trash Cans are Your Best Friend

Switch out indoor trash cans with lidded versions. Choose heavy lidded versions lifted by a step pedal. Dogs will scavenge, even the best trained dogs will do it, especially if something yummy is poking out the trash can. If purchasing lidded trash cans is not an option, place trash cans behind closed doors or cabinets. You can spend tons of time and money (medical bills for the removal of foreign body obstructions) teaching puppies and dogs to ignore trash cans. Trust me, manage this one and redirect your energy (and money) on something else. 🙂

Keep Doors Closed

This means bedroom, closet, bathroom and laundry doors should be closed immediately upon entering or exiting. Funny story, Stella (Mini Bull Terrier) chewed several of my shoes as a puppy so I contacted a local shoe repair guy to fix them. He was a crusty old fella who grumbled, “Lady, just close your closet door.” I still giggle at his comment. He was spot on, but his delivery was a tad sassy!

Invest in Décor Baby Gates

Wow, baby gates are super fancy now! Even though my dogs are adults, I still use baby gates. They are fabulous multi-taskers. When guests come over, my dogs are behind a baby gate. Guests need a moment to walk in the door, greet you and settle on the sofa with a beverage. Now, you can unleash the hounds! Also, I find this creates less jumping and excited greeting behavior from your dog. Plus, baby gates section off areas of your home, which works just like a closed door.

Keep the Floor Safe

After everyone agrees to the above boundaries and management tips, it’s important to remove hazardous items from the floor. Get children involved and have them crawl around at puppy level and identify potential hazards.

• Tuck wires under entertainment centers or under heavy furniture. If that’s impossible, CritterCord is a clear power cord protector, which features a citrus scent and taste for deterring chewing pets. The protector is clear with “cut to fit” directions. With it’s 4.2 rating on Amazon, it’s worth giving a try. In a pinch, you can spritz a bit of spray deterrent on cords too. I personally found the gel version lasts longer.

• Remove poisonous household plants or move them to a high shelf to discourage ingestion.

• Relocate medication, especially if medications are kept on bedroom nightstands. All cleaners should be behind a closed cabinet door.

• Survey your fence line. Are their holes in or under the fencing? Address now, repair fencing and cover holes with large rocks to prevent escaping.

• Antifreeze is toxic to dogs so make sure containers are securely locked behind cabinet doors.

• Keep purses and backpacks off the floor. Xylitol is a sweetener found in gum, candy and some drinks, and it’s highly toxic to dogs. Advil, Tylenol and certain ingredients found in lip balm, lip gloss and cough drops are toxic too. Install coat hangers or cabinets for storage.

Puppy proofing is about common sense rolled into management and boundaries! Enjoy your new fuzzy edition. 🙂

READ ALSO: Surviving the First Night with Your Puppy