This pet parent has done made sure to puppy proof before puppy came home for the first time.

Puppy Proof Your House Like a Pro

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Puppy proof your house before your puppy arrives home. That’s the rule of thumb because it’s near impossible to do so once your puppy arrives. And while puppies are a human’s best friend, they one of their fave things in life is to chew.

Although your main objective in puppy proofing is protecting your pooch, not puppy proofing can cost you thousands in property damage.

In short, it’s also for the greater good of your footwear. And your home décor. And every other imaginable object that isn’t firmly fixed to the ground. Scratch that. Puppies will even chew things that are fixed to the ground.

With that in mind, here’s how to puppy proof your house…

Puppy proof indoors and out

While you’re still toilet training your puppy, it’s a good idea to remove any rugs, mats and carpets that aren’t fixed. Until the poopy place has been firmly fixed in your pup’s mind, get yourself some puppy training pads

Don’t worry, it’s just temporary.

Pack up small objects

Remove anything that’s small enough to be swallowed. In our recent survey of more than 1,000 pet parents, PD discovered that one adult pooch swallowed a whole sock in the midst of lockdown (we also know a dog who swallowed more than a dozen golf balls!).

The chances of this happening is much higher when your pooch is still a puppy. Here’s a list of things to pack away to get you started:

  • Socks
  • Shoes
  • Chargers
  • Plugs
  • Toys
  • Ornaments
  • Books
  • Magazines
  • And then some…

When it comes to reading material, you’ll be surprised by how good Vogue tastes to a puppy. He or she’s got good taste!

Pack away your shoes so pup doesn't use them as a chew toy.

Chemicals and electrics

In addition to small objects and floor objects, you’ll need to also pack away a range of household goods. This includes cleaning substances and medicine. If you’re used to keeping vitamins or painkillers by your bedside, it’s time to pack them away securely.

In much the same way these can be dangerous for children, they can be poisonous to puppies too.

In addition, your puppy will eat the container and get a dose of polymers. Anyone who has watched Blue Planet knows what plastic does to our ocean creatures; it’s just as foul for dogs.

And remember that cleaning substances mean soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toilet paper too!

When it comes to electric, wherever possible run cabling behind heavy furniture. Tape any exposed cabling to the ground, wall, etc. In addition, don’t leave any plugs that aren’t in use in the wall socket.

Close doors and lids

Close doors to no-access areas. This includes floor level cupboards which should be fastened with cable ties/baby proofing equipment or locked. Close bin lids and of course toilet lids. A better fix may be to keep the toilet and bathroom doors closed.

You may feel out of breath reading all this. However, it’s a million billion times easier to do this before your puppy comes home. Following through now with these tips will help make being a first time pet owner a walk in the park.

Hanging things

In a bid to chew everything everywhere, a puppy can easily become entangled with hanging objects. If you have blinds in your house, you’ll need to make sure the pull strings are hoisted high out of jumping reach and firmly fastened.

Any drapes on chairs or hanging tablecloths should be either removed or firmly fixed. Though bear in mind, firmly fixed only means nothing can fall. Chewing is still very much an option.  

This woman has made sure all cables are run behind the couch so her puppy won't chew them.

Puppy proof your garden

Gardens are a puppy’s wonderland. As much as they form a necessary part of pooch’s world, they do hold potential dangers. Here are seven outdoors focus areas:

1. Gates

Fasten wire or plastic mesh to your house gate, your street gate and your pool gate. If you don’t have gates in these crucial areas, get a temporary adjustable baby gate. Even adult dogs can get through the rungs of a gate.

This makes puppies the ultimate Houdini. As a result, some cheap mesh could save your pooch from walking into traffic or landing in the pool when they’re too young to swim.

2. Garage or parking area

It’s best to keep puppies on the other side of a gate and securely away from your driveway and garage. If for any reason this isn’t possible, always check your puppy isn’t hiding under the car before starting the ignition.

3. Hosepipes

These can be dangerous to puppies if left unravelled. Always wind up and pack away your hose pipe and keep it protected with a cover. Otherwise, you may discover your hose pipe has inadvertently been transformed into a sprinkler through tiny puppy bites.

4. Plants

With the exception of the Venus flytrap and a few others, plants don’t move, so they may appear to be harmless. Don’t let yourself be fooled. Lots of common garden plants can be poisonous to dogs. So, read yourself up and make sure your greens don’t fall under things that can poison your pet.

5. Fertilisers

Avoid using any kind of chemical fertilisers if you can. Lawn chemicals and pesticides are dangerous for dogs. If you’re unsure, speak to your vet about it.

6. Fences

Check your wall and fences for any small holes or gaps you’ll need to cover. You might not see any openings that are concealed by garden plants, so check in places you normally wouldn’t.

7. Vaccinate

Vaccinate your pup before you let them go outside. Pooch will be exposed to parasites and viruses to a greater extend one they set paw outside. Find out which vaccinations your puppy needs and when during their visit to the vet. Also read our routine pet care article.

This puppy has a puppy proofed garden with no chemical fertilisers.

Puppy proof pet insurance

Puppy proof your puppy’s wellbeing with affordable dog insurance. Pet insurance goes a long way to setting your mind at ease to you can give your full attention to your fur kid.

PD Insurance offers three dog insurance plans with different inclusions, such as financial protection for non-routine vet visits, hospitalisation, operation theatre costs and a range of additional healthcare needs.

Plus, if you sign up online with us you will get one or more months of cover for free!

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