We adopted a 4 month old Border Collie Mix. The lady at the foster agency where we got her said, “This is great! Her energy level will keep up with your 3 kids energy levels as they get older!” This excited me and made me smile. Our kids were 2, 4 & 6 at the time so I thought, “Great, they need someone to tire them out each day.”
Fast forward 2 weeks….
Mommy is on the floor of the closet crying because the dog was tiring ME out everyday!
Getting a new puppy is very exciting! Puppies are naturally curious creatures with a lot of energy to go around. They get into everything and try everything once. Just like small kids, they need boundaries and protection.
We quickly got our puppy into a puppy training class and things started to change right away! Just a little bit of discipline can go a long way! Part of that discipline plan is making your house safe for your new pup. It’s very important to keep your puppy safe while concurrently teaching him/her how to behave in these new surroundings. Here are some tips on puppy proofing your home…
Puppy Proofing Your House
The whole house
Hide electrical cords. Puppies love to chew and electrical cords can cause burns, shock and even death if chewed on. You can run your cords through PVC pipe to hide them from you puppy.
Hide small objects your puppy can chew or choke on.
Get guardrails for stairs, low windows, and balconies.
Invest in mats or runners for slippery hallways.
Place poisonous plants in high spots—or give them away.
Keep puppies away from fireplaces and space-heaters.
Cords that hang from draperies or blinds can cause strangulation. Either tie up the excess cords, or cut the loop in the cord.
Watch behind you when going through doors, puppies love to follow close behind.
Keep puppies out of the cat litter box. Both cat feces and the litter itself can be a health hazard to your puppy. Get a lid for your box, create a private space for the box that your puppy can’t get to or put it behind a baby gate.
Puppy Proofing Your Kitchen & Bathrooms
Dangers lurk everywhere
Put safety latches on any cabinet with cleaning supplies or poison.
Keep your dog away from human food scraps. When in the kitchen, put food away immediately so your puppy is not tempted to steal it. Dog-proof your garbage. Do not feed table scraps to your dog, this can be an annoying and a dangerous habit.
Keep plastic bags out of your puppy’s reach, and secure your garbage can.
Keep the toilet lid closed. This is for two reasons, the discourage drinking and prevent accidental drowning.
How To Puppy Proof Your Backyard
The whole yard
Make sure your yard is escape-proof.
Don’t leave your puppy in the yard unsupervised.
If you have a pool, put a fence around it.
Check your garage and any sheds to make sure chemicals, fertilizers, and sharp garden tools are off-limits.
Constant Puppy Supervision Is Key
That’s indoors and out. If you can’t supervise, put your puppy in a confinement/safe area with a toy.
And, YES we did keep the dog…still have her 4 years later. She is the best thing that ever happened to our family now!
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