Puppy-Proofing Your Home

Finally, after months of discussion and planning, your family and you have decided to bring home a puppy. You have already picked out his name; he will be called Jaco. This is all well and good, but before you bring him home, you need to make sure your house is puppy proof. This will not only ensure that little Jaco keeps himself safe, but that you also keep your possessions looking pristine.

There's a lot to do, so be sure to start a few days or more before you plan to bring the puppy into your pad. Below is a list of common things to be on the lookout for both inside and outside your home. This list isn't exhaustive, so your own judgment will come in handy too.

Indoor Hazards:

• Tape all electrical cords out of reach of puppy teeth, or cover them in protective piping. If not kept away from him, Jaco could chew through them and burn his mouth, or worse, electrocute himself.

• Keep valuables off the floor, such as shoes, toys or other pieces of clothing. This goes for laundry baskets, as well. While he is still young and testing his teeth, they should be kept off the floor. Jaco will gladly get into toys, and just about anything else he can reach, so he can chew it. Not only is this wonton destruction of property expensive, but Jaco also runs the risk of ingesting little pieces of each object, potentially causing medical problems.

• Keep coins, pushpins, staples, paper clips, and any other small, sharp metal objects off the floor. Puppies are notorious for eating anything that is small enough to fit in their mouths - even more so than human babies! To avoid a costly trip to the vet to get these items removed from Jaco's stomach, make sure that all members of the family are vigilant, and do a daily sweep of the carpet, as we;; as any other easy to reach places. Some of these items are also toxic to dogs, so it is worth making the Small Metal Object Hunt a ritual in your household.

• Keep heavy, breakable objects out of reach. Puppies are fond of dangling things, so if you have a heavy lamp sitting on a tasseled tablecloth, Jaco may just pull the cloth for fun. What he may not expect, however, is the heavy lamp sitting on top. So make sure to place anything like this out of reach of puppy teeth. He could get a lot more than a new chew toy.

• Keep chemicals out of reach of your puppy. Like babies, puppies will taste and chew just about anything new to them. This goes for cleaners, disinfectants and other household chemicals. Ideally, you should house them in a high cupboard. If this option is unavailable, place baby gates leading to the area or secure access to the cupboard with baby proof locks. Under no circumstances do you want Jaco poisoning himself.

• Secure garbage cans, treat containers, and routes to unsafe areas, such as the garage. Dogs are born to follow their noses, and little Jaco is no exception. If garbage cans and treat containers aren't made puppy proof, he will find his way into your discarded food, or his favorite pepperoni treat. Not only is this a recipe for disaster, but also the foods that unsupervised he gets into could be dangerous or even deadly to him. Like the garbage cans, places that have the equal potential for harm need to be cordoned off. Super hazardous chemicals, such as antifreeze and oil are usually stored here, and if Jaco gets wind of them, he may just decide to lap them up.

• Keep tubs empty and toilet lids down. Not only are bathtubs and open toilets drowning hazards, but the water may also poison Jaco if you have recently used cleaners, in particular those with bleach or ammonia.

• Don't let him eat indoor plants. Although Jaco may like to eat or chew on your houseplants, you shouldn't let him do so unless you are absolutely sure it is non-hazardous.

Outdoor Hazards:

• Keep your yard clean of feces. If you have other animals, this is especially important, since Jaco may decide he wants to eat another animal's waste, and this could infect him with a variety of diseases and parasites. Keeping your yard clean is also just a part of responsible dog ownership.

• Keep Jaco out of your flower and vegetable garden. A variety of flower bulbs can be poisonous and some vegetables may be as well. To avoid a possible health concern, or having your precious flowers and vegetables dug up, it may be better to keep Jaco out of it altogether.

• Keep gardening tools, such as rakes, clippers, shovels, etc., off the lawn and out of reach. You wouldn't leave these around for your child to get injured, so make sure you don't do this with your puppy.

• Keep your yard clean of oak tree debris and acorns. These can be poisonous and even fatal to dogs if ingested.

• Keep compost units secure. Just as with indoor places of disposal, the outdoor places need to be secured as well. Coffee grinds in particular pose a threat, given the similarities they have with chocolate.

• Be vigilant. Do a check every day to clear your yard of any of these hazards.

Although this list seems like a lot to keep in mind, there is a simple way to achieve all of this. Never leave your puppy unattended, and always view your environment through Jaco's eyes: the eyes of curiosity and mischief. This should help you catch any dangers before they have a chance to hurt your playful and loving new friend.