Puppy Proofing Your Home

If you are a dog lover, there is nothing more exciting than welcoming a new addition into your home. Puppies are brimming with energy, and they are furry little balls of love. But they can wreak havoc on your home as they try to settle in. While your older dog knows not to touch mommy’s leather boots or daddy’s laptop cord, your puppy needs to learn. Puppy proofing your home is one of the most important things you can do to help your puppy adjust to your home and for you to adjust to your puppy.

The first step is to think like a dog and think at his level, that is, what can he reach? Go through your house and put everything potentially hazardous out of reach in a cabinet or another secure location. This includes both human and canine medications or supplements, cleaning supplies, small objects that he could choke on, fishing lines and hooks, tobacco products, and human foods, like chocolate. These all contain elements or ingredients that can be harmful or even fatal to your puppy.

Along a similar line, make sure you either give away or put up any toxic plants. During the holiday season, it is important to remember that bright, festive poinsettias are poisonous to dogs. Electrical cords are another potential trouble spot because puppies love to chew. If yours has an attraction to your power cords, invest in cord concealers or even PVC pipes to run the cables through. This is hopefully a temporary situation as your dog learns to stay away from the cords.

Like a small child, your puppy will want to explore. And like a small child, he may not be able to get down what he so enthusiastically climbed up. Get a gate to block the stairs or keep your pup contained in a certain section of your home.

Chewing is a major problem with some puppies. To stop this behavior from becoming a habit, you may want to consider crate training. During the times when you are not there, you can put your puppy in his crate. Start with only small amounts of time and work your way up to a few hours. While you’re gone, he won’t be getting into trouble. When you are home, provide your dog with a chew toy of his own and sternly say, “No,” if he chews on something else. Be consistent and firm, and don’t forget to reward him when he does well.

Crates also provide a feeling of security for many dogs. They like having their own space, and this may help your puppy acclimate sooner.

Above all, expect that there will be a learning curve as you and your puppy figure each other out. Don’t expect perfection, but at the same time, keep teaching your dog the rules. And don’t be afraid to use bribery: dogs love rewards, but they also love attention from you and kind words. Lavish them on your dog when he does well, and soon he’ll be fitting right in.