Puppy proofing your home - 17 tips to keep your new addition safe.

Did you know that March 23 is considered National Puppy Day? So, in honor of all those new puppies, I thought it would be fitting to talk about puppy proofing your home! It is just as important to puppy proof your home as you when a new baby arrives. Especially since they are moving around and chewing almost from day 1!

Living Room –

1. Tuck in electronic wires and cables the best you can. Spray the cables and wires with Bitter Apple to deter chewing or conceal them in hard plastic or rubber runners.

2. If there is a smoker in the house, make sure ashtrays and tobacco products are kept away from pups reach.

3. Keep shoes and toys away from puppies, they love to chew! A child’s bedroom and playroom should be off limits unless the pup is supervised.

4. Small objects are also a danger to pups. Swallowed small items such as coins, rubber bands, nails, screws, earrings and small toys can get lodged in your puppy’s digestive track. Many plants can be toxic if chewed too, so make sure small items and plants are kept out of reach.

5. Puppies can slip and fall down the stairs, make sure you use baby gates to keep that new puppy safe.

6. Keep candles out of reach of your puppy. Unlit candles can broken and lit candles especially cute ones like I help make at http://www.dogcandlesandmore.com/ are interesting with the fragrances and flickering candle light and can lead to burns or even worse to fires. It is always best to keep them out of reach of your puppy.

Bathroom –

7. Check at your puppy’s level for medications and cleaning supplies. Don’t store these items under the sink unless you install a child lock on the cabinets.

8. Keep that toilet seat down!

9. Put away hair dryers and curling irons. These items can be knocked down and accidentally turned on.

Kitchen –

10. Keep trash cans covered and behind closed doors if possible. Coffee grounds and spoiled foods can be hazardous to puppies.

11. Just like in the bathroom, keep cleaners and soaps away from puppy’s reach. Another childproof lock might be a good idea!

12. Store baking goods, especially chocolate and raisins on a high shelf.

13. Keep the dishwasher closed, dirty plates and utensils are temping for a puppy to taste.

Garage –

14. Antifreeze can taste sweet but is deadly. Keep bottles on a high shelf in the garage and frequently check your car for leaks.

15. Keep pesticides, fertilizers, batteries, cleaners, solvents, motor oil, and gasoline all way from your new pups reach.

Outside –

16. Don’t leave your puppy outside unattended. Check your fence for holes and keep an eye on him until he learns his boundaries.

17. A curious pup may fall into a poor or pond. Keep the pool or pond fenced off and consider getting a pool alarm that sounds if something falls into the water.

Everything is new and exciting to your new puppy, but not everything is safe.
You can reduce risks by creating a dog-friendly environment. Get down on the floor and look around at puppy eye level. See his world as he would see it to help make your pup's new home safe.

That's all I have for you this month. Remember to keep your pets safe! See you soon.

Fido