Are you getting ready to bring your new puppy home? There’s nothing more exciting than adding on a new addition to your furever family.
If you already have a dog at home, you know just how curious, adventurous, and energetic they can be. Go ahead and multiply that by ten when we’re talking about puppies!
In many ways, a puppy is similar to a newborn: they’re young, naive and don’t know any better. They might eat food they’re not supposed to, chew on furniture, or attempt to consume items that are potential choking hazards.
That’s why puppy-proofing your home before you even bring home your new baby is essential! It’ll keep your new pup safe, healthy, and happy.
To make the experience as seamless as possible, follow these tips and checklist for puppy-proofing your home!
Puppy-Proofing Indoors
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Move or get rid of any poisonous houseplants. There are a lot of seemingly harmless houseplants that are toxic to our pets! Check out our blog post, 12 Pet-Friendly Houseplants, to see which are safe for your new family member.
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Secure all garbage cans. It’s no secret that dogs love to sniff allllll the smells. Puppies are extra curious, and if they smell anything from the garbage can — they will take their chances. This includes in the kitchen, bathroom…everywhere.
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Stow away small, loose items. From hair ties and jewelry to paper clips and pens, these are huge choking hazards for your pup. The same goes for laundry and shoes lying around! You’ll also want to be sure to keep any expensive or irreplaceable items safe from your puppy’s reach.
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Keep toilet lids closed. You bought your pup a huge, gorgeous water bowl for all of their hydration needs. Don’t let them replace that with the toilet water! Not only is it gross, but if you use harsh cleaners in your toilet bowl, then drinking the water can leave you with one sick puppy.
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Always put away cleaning supplies. A lot of cleaning supplies are full of harsh chemicals that can make your pup seriously sick if ingested. Consuming even a small amount of laundry detergent can pose life-threatening effects on your pup. *If your dog has ingested bleach-containing products, soaps, cleansers, or other harsh chemicals, contact poison control right away and seek out emergency veterinary care.*
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Unplug, contain, and/or cover electric cords. Ooooohhhh…wires. That’s what your puppy is thinking when they see the wire of your phone charger hanging out right in front of them. Make sure to organize or completely put these away. Your pup’s temptation to chew on them could leave them with mouth burns or electric shock.
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Keep doors closed. Doors to other rooms, doors to the outside. Give your puppy space to roam around and play, but leaving doors open while they’re unsupervised gives them free range to do as they please.
Puppy-Proofing Outdoors
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Fence your backyard. If possible, of course! Fencing your backyard gives your pup ample room to run around outdoors without having to face the issue of them running away or getting into an unwanted encounter with another animal.
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Clean up your pup’s business. Just because it’s your own backyard doesn’t mean you should neglect picking up Fido’s business! Cleaning up after your pup will ensure that they don’t try to eat their own feces or accidentally step in it, leaving a huge mess for you to clean up. It also can have negative effects on the environment and public health! Check out our blog post all about the Negative Health Effects of Poo-lution for more info.
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Be mindful of pesticides & lawncare products. Just as cleaning products are toxic to your pup’s health, the products we use to keep our lawn clean and green do the same. Either choose products that are nontoxic, or keep your pets off the lawn if you know you just had it fertilized.
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Remove toxic yard plants. Just like the houseplants, there are yard plants that are toxic as well. Removing them from your yard will ensure that your pup doesn’t accidentally mistake it for a snack!
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Tend to your lawn. Fleas and ticks and bugs, oh my! Fleas and ticks have a knack for hiding out in untrimmed, neglected lawns. Without keeping your lawn cut and trimmed, your pup is liable to catch a tick or flea in their early stages — before they’re on flea medicine.
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Mind the weather. Between summer and winter, some temperatures are too extreme for your pup. Be mindful of the weather patterns and when you’re taking them outside to keep their health in tip-top shape!
There’s a lot to remember when making sure that your home is puppy-proofed and certifiably safe for bringing your new baby home. Use this list to have a smooth, easy transition into puppy parenthood!
Remember, puppies are like newborn babies: they’re completely reliant on you for everything, and keeping them safe is your #1 priority!
This blog post was written by Kelsey Kryger. Kelsey is a fitness professional, writer, and social media manager. She has been a part of the HPS Team as their social media manager, blog writer, and pet sitter for nearly two years. When she’s not working on Hunter’s Pet Sitting’s latest blog post or sharing cute pics of furry clients, she’s hanging at home with her pup, Leo, and her kitten, Elvis!
