Puppy Proofing Your Home

Nothing brings joy to a household quite like the pitter patter of four little feet. Congratulations on the newest member of the family!

As you’ve probably already noticed, puppies are insatiably curious, and they feed that curiosity with their nose and mouth. That’s why it’s important to make sure your home is safe by removing items or situations that could prove dangerous to your pup. 

Our food, your food

Feeding your puppy from the dinner table might seem adorable at first, but in the long run it isn’t a good idea for either of you. Enforcing this habit can not only lead to a dinnertime nuisance, it can introduce foods to your pup that may upset their tummy, or worse yet, prove to be poisonous. 

In addition to discouraging begging behavior during meals, be sure at all times to keep foods out of reach that are known hazards to dogs. Delicious snacks to us can be dangerous to dogs, such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, gum and nuts, among others. Not only can accidental ingestion harm your dog, it can also result in extensive vet bills to treat the problem. 

For more information on foods that are dangerous to dogs, visit akc.org or aspca.org, and for information on specific breeds and their susceptibility, consult your veterinarian. 

Cords and cabinets

Puppies are a lot like toddlers, and require the same type of protection from household dangers. With that in mind, be sure to move electrical cords out of reach or run them through cord concealers so your pup isn’t tempted to chew them. Likewise cords from curtains or window shades can be trimmed or tied up to a safe level so your playful pal doesn’t get tangled up.

Think about your home the way you would if you put a human toddler on the ground. You wouldn’t leave a cabinet full of cleaning supplies or medications open with a toddler in the house, and you shouldn’t with a puppy either. Your pup is likely to chew whatever they find, and can even be affected by dangerous fumes if they get too close. It takes only a few minutes to install one of the many cabinet safety locks available, and remove that temptation. 

How low can you go

To get a puppy’s eye view of what curiosities might lie about, you need to get down low. Check behind spaces where they might be able to reach, and scan under furniture where anything looks like something that to them might be worth a nibble. That quarter that slipped under the couch? Your pup could easily find it and try it out as a snack. Best if you find it first and remove the danger.  

Puppy pickers

What puppy doesn’t like a good garbage can? So many smells to investigate and stuff to munch on! For your puppy’s sake, secure your trash cans and choose waste baskets with lids to keep your curious pet safe. Better yet, consider keeping your puppy away from these temptations with Invisible Fence Shields® Units, a convenient, hands-off approach.

"Foods with high fat content, chocolate, high sugar content foods/desserts, pies, jams, onions, grapes, raisins, garlic, corn on the cob, and turkey bones in the trash can be dangerous for dogs for several reasons," said Invisible Fence® Brand National Pet Training Manager Georgia Welch. "These can be toxic or cause blockages in their digestive systems and can also lead to high vet bills and sometimes even can be fatal."

Invisible Fence® Brand Indoor Shields® solutions manage food hazards for pets by providing a consistent response with a safe and effective barrier. Don’t worry about pets digging in the trash, creating a mess, and potentially ingesting harmful materials.

"The Shields® unit helps create an association with trash cans and areas of potential hazards and helps reduce the risk of 'dumpster diving' in the future." Georgia added. "But remember, a puppy not already on an Invisible Fence® Brand solution would need a short Certified Perfect Start Plus™ pet training."

If all of this makes you feel like you have a new baby in the house, you do! It may seem like a lot of work now, but If you start your puppy on the right track, they are sure to bring your family years of joy and unconditional love in return.