5-Step Guide to Puppy Proofing Your Home

Once you get a new puppy, you should start preparing for your new puppy by finding a veterinarian and ensuring you have all the necessities. Your environment should be safe and favorable for your puppy. This is what we call puppy proofing.

Below are the steps you should take when puppy proofing your home;

1. Organize Your Home

A new puppy will always want to explore everything around the house, and so it’s important that you put away (On a high place or in a closet) the things that you don’t want him to get into. This could be a great excuse for you to get your house and yourself organized. It doesn’t matter whether you live in a tiny home or a shipping container house, make sure that your home is well organized before you bring your puppy.

2. Switch to Plastic and Lock Away Poisonous Substances

Murphy’s Law states that if it’s breakable, then it’s going to be broken; and puppies tend to live by this rule. New puppies tend to knock things that can easily break, for example, glass or ceramic. A normal house has a lot of dangerous chemicals that your puppy might be curious to touch or ingest. Keep the dangerous chemicals (laundry detergent, lotion, makeup, medication, perfumes, etc.) in a secure spot. The poisons to either rat, cockroach, or mice are highly dangerous and should be removed before bringing your puppy.

Batteries are not safe. Remote controls, electronic toys, and other devices that contain batteries should be kept well out of reach. Dogs can chew and swallow the parts of the battery or even the whole battery, which is quite dangerous because it can easily cause burns to your puppy’s soft tissues around the esophagus all the way down.

3. Set Up His Sleeping Space

Invest in a crate that is adjustable so that you can adjust it as your puppy grows. When he is about 60 pounds, you can buy another one. It’s good to know the expected size that your dog will be when he is fully grown to pick the right crate for him. His crate should have enough space to sleep and stretch, especially when he is potty training. Get a soft blanket or a small bed and some durable food or water bowls to complete his crate.

You should just only create enough space for your puppy, the sleeping area, and the toys to minimize damage. This will help your puppy in adapting to his new environment and allows you to introduce him to the other parts of your home. In his crate, keep only the items that are friendly to the puppy.

Invest in a bed with an enclosure to give your dog space where it is safe, and he can sleep or relax. Your puppy will be more confident to sleep or relax in other areas as it gets comfortable with your new home.

Prevent the dog’s tricks with locks or deadbolts by installing motion sensors. This will help you protect your puppy from escaping out of its cage. The motion sensor will send you alerts on your phone when your puppy has moved from where it is supposed to be. Cabinet doors in the home should be secured with latches.

4. Designate Off-limits Areas

If your puppy won’t be coming to your home potty trained, it is always a good idea to plan the places he won’t be allowed to go into the house. In case you have other pets such as cats, then you should keep your cat’s room out of bounds to the puppy. Puppies can squeeze through very small spaces, so you should ensure there are no holes of any size in your fence. Cover any holes or spaces with wire or wooden slats. All gates should be closed securely and install motion sensors to the off-limit areas to ensure the safety of your puppy.

If you have a pit, pool, or any other fire or water hazards, you’ll definitely want to secure them by fencing and installing motion sensors. These tips will help you get along with your puppy well and thus improving its health and happiness. Here are some of the things you can do to your backyard to make it puppy friendly;

Ensure the backyard is fenced and the fence is high enough so your puppy can’t go over it.
Don’t put anything against or near the fence because dogs can turn it into a stool to step to escape.
Invest in pool covers.
Avoid plants and flowers that can be poisonous for the puppy.
Always have the Animal Poison Control on hand in case of emergencies or questions.

5. Invest in Chew Toys

Puppies love chewing things like shoes, pillows, plastics, etc. and are quick to anything that they are curious about. Invest in some quality and cute chew toys to divert your puppy’s attention away from your important stuff. Ensure that you have toys in every section or location that your puppy goes. Some of the advantages of these toys include;

They keep your puppy always occupied.
Help with the teeth strengthening process.
Act stress relievers for the puppies.
Promote chewing on the right things instead of your home belongings.

Conclusion

At first, getting a new puppy can be overwhelming, but in a few weeks, all will be well since the puppy will have adapted to its new routine. You will also be able to build a long-lasting bond with your puppy. By taking time to puppy-proof your home; you will give the puppy a good start and a comfortable stay at his new home.

As he grows older and goes through all his developmental phases, he will learn some basic virtues such as obedience, and you won’t need to be struggling with your routine. Until then, better be safe than sorry!