Bringing a new puppy home for the first time is an exciting yet challenging time. Not only is it a big adjustment for everyone in the family but for the puppy too. You can make the whole process easier for everyone by being prepared. You’ll need to stock on some puppy essentials like a leash, collar, water and food bowls, grooming supplies, and age-appropriate puppy food. You’ll also have to find a local vet. Another key thing to consider is puppy-proofing your home.
Here are some tips on preparing your home for your new puppy. These tips will help ensure your home is safe for the new arrival.
There are several things around the home that can prove dangerous for a puppy who loves to explore, such as stairs, windows, and balconies. Make sure you secure your balconies and keep doors and windows locked. If needed, use stair gates. Also, survey your home to see if there are any small places that a puppy could squeeze into and get stuck.
Puppies are curious by nature and will explore every nook and cranny of your home given the chance. That’s why it’s important to store household cleaning products, chemicals, medicines, and other toxic or dangerous substances out of reach. Child locks on cupboards work well.
Dozens of common houseplants can be toxic for dogs, including ivy, lilies, aloe vera, sago palm, arrowhead, bird of paradise, ZZ plant, dieffenbachia or dumb cane, jade, cornstalk or dracaena fragrans, cyclamen, desert rose or adenium, pothos, kalanchoe, eucalyptus, ficus, and more. Double check to make sure your houseplants are safe for dogs. It’s also a good idea to keep plants out of reach of puppies, especially if it’s a breed that has a tendency to dig.
Puppies like to explore with their mouths and find electrical cables very tempting to chew. They can also get entangled in cables and choke. Make sure all your electrical cables are put away or hidden out of view. Use cable ties to keep them organized. Also, use shields or covers on plug sockets.
Anything that a puppy can potentially put into her mouth or swallow should be put out of reach. This includes small children’s toys, tennis balls, elastic bands, and plastic bags. It also includes sticks and stones in your yard.
Not all human foods are safe for dogs to consume. Learn about the human foods that can be harmful for your puppy or adult dog. Some common examples are chocolate, grapes, avocados, and coffee. Make sure all food is kept out of reach of your puppy, but especially foods that can be poisonous for dogs. Educate your kids to not feed the puppy anything except the puppy’s special food.
Not only do you need to puppy proof the inside of your home but also any outdoor area, such as a fenced yard, where your dog might explore and play. Make sure you have the appropriate fencing and gates which the puppy can’t dig under or climb over. Check that you don’t have any toxic garden plants such as iris, narcissus, hyacinth, mistletoe, oleander, sweet pea, or poinsettia, among others. Take a look around and remove any hazards like sharp garden tools, small objects, and supplies like fertilizers or insecticides that could injure your puppy or be poisonous. If you have a pool or water feature, keep it covered to prevent your puppy falling in and drowning.
A little care and preparation will go a long way in making your home secure for your puppy. Use these puppy proofing tips like a checklist to ensure you’ve done all you can to keep the newest member of your family safe.
06 April, 2022