How to Puppy Proof Your Home
It's a lot easier to puppy-proof your home before your new puppy is underfoot pointing out all the dangers by example. So get busy and check off what needs to be checked out!
IN THE KITCHEN
- Open cabinets: Can contain caustic cleaners.
- Accessible garbage pail: Can contain bad food, bones and plastic wrap that could be swallowed.
- Overhanging pan handle: Can be pulled off of stove.
- Open oven doors: May be very hot.
- Knives, skewers: Can be licked or swallowed.
- Plastic bags, wrap and aluminum foil: Can be swallowed if they taste like the food they were wrapping.
- Plastic canisters: Can form a deadly airtight seal if a puppy gets his head stuck inside.
What to do: Close cabinet doors; install childproof locks if the puppy can open them, and store caustic cleaners in high cupboards. Place the garbage pail under the sink or on the counter. Don't leave wrappers or implements where puppies can reach them. Don't let the puppy underfoot when you're cooking!
IN THE DINING ROOM
- Swinging door: Can swing shut on a tail, or worse, neck.
- Hanging tablecloth: Can be pulled down, along with what's on it.
What to do: Remove or prop open swinging doors. Go without a tablecloth for a while -or keep him out of the room when you eat!
IN THE FAMILY ROOM
- Fireplace without secure fire screen: Can burn puppy.
- Uncovered electrical outlets: Can shock if licked.
- Electric wires: Can shock if chewed through, or can pull lamps and appliances down when pulled on.
- Unattached Bookcase: Can be pulled down on top of a puppy.
- Sewing or knitting basket: Can contain pins and thread, both of which can cause serious problems if swallowed.
- Craft kits: Can contain glue, beads, strings and other objects that are dangerous if swallowed.
- Open stairway: Small puppies may not be ready to negotiate steps.
What to do: Get a good fire screen and don't let the puppy loose around a fire. Cover electrical outlets and hide as many electric cords as possible. Place hobby and sewing baskets out of reach. Place a baby gate in front of stairways. Don't let the puppy play unsupervised! A playpen or exercise pen is a good place to keep him around when you're distracted.
IN THE BEDROOM
- Toys: Can be destroyed and some parts can be dangerous if swallowed.
- Coins: Pennies, especially, are dangerous if swallowed because they are made of zinc and can cause zinc toxicity.
- Open closets: Don't blame the puppy if he chews your shoes!
- Diaper pail: If swallowed, diaper material can cause impactions or bowel obstructions.
- Blinds with long cords: Can choke a puppy if the puppy catches his head in them.
What to do: Don't leave toys, coins or diaper pails in reach. Close closet doors or place shoes on racks. Cut the loop in the cords for blinds, leaving two long pieces, or hang the cord out of reach. Place a baby gate in front of children's rooms that may not be reliably tidied.
IN THE BATHROOM
- Pills: Puppies can chew through childproof caps and can overdose on normally safe medications and react adversely to some human medications, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, even in small doses.
- Toiletries: Toothpaste, razors, hair coloring, suntan lotions, deodorants and rubbing alcohol must all be kept out of reach.
- Drain cleaners: Drain cleaners can be deadly if swallowed, and can cause severe irritation on contact.
What to do: Close the bathroom door! Even so, keep everything out of reach in medicine cabinets or cupboards.
IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM
- Detergents, bleach and lye: Some powders can burn eyes and throats, and bleach can be blinding or fatal.
What to do: Place everything up high. If possible, close the door or use a baby gate in front of it.
IN THE GARAGE
- Antifreeze: Just one lick of antifreeze containing ethylene glycol can kill. Propylene glycol is less toxic. With either, clean up any spills.
- Gasoline, diesel, oil, kerosene, brake fluid, carburetor cleaner, windshield fluid, paints, paint thinners, acetone, mineral spirits, wood stain, furniture polish, used oil, batteries, glue: Can irritate skin and yes, and may be toxic if swallowed.
- Tools: Heavy tools can fall on a puppy.
- Car: Puppies may fall asleep under a parked car and not move when it starts.
- Garage door: Puppies may try to run through at the last second, resulting in breaking their back.
- Nails, tacks, and screws: May be deadly if swallowed.
- Herbicides, rodent poisons, slug bait: May be enticing to eat, deadly if swallowed.
- Fertilizers: May be deadly if swallowed.
What to do: Keep the puppy out of the garage! The only exception is if you make a puppy-proof area from which the puppy cannot escape.
IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
- Decks, balconies, and upper level open windows: May have open sides that a puppy can fall from.
- Unsealed deck wood: Pressure treated wood contains arsenic; if not sealed regularly it can leach out and be toxic, especially if licked.
- Open doors: Can let your dog get loose and be hurt; may also be caught by the wind and slam on the puppy.
- Glass doors: Running into a glass door can cause neck injuries.
- Weak fence: Every time the puppy finds a way out it teaches him to keep on trying harder next time.
- Unfenced pool: Unless he knows how to get out, he can fall in and drown.
- Cocoa mulch: Has a chocolate taste, but contains toxic theobromine.
- Nut trees: Swallowed nuts may need to be surgically removed.
- Tree limbs: Falling limbs can crush a puppy.
- Pointed twigs or sticks at eye level: Can poke a running puppy in the eye.
- Predators: Small puppies can be viewed as prey by coyotes, mountain lions, alligators and large birds of prey. Neighborhood dogs may attack a puppy. People may steal one.
- Wild animals: Poisonous snakes, snapping turtles, giant marine toads and stinging insects may injure a puppy in self defense.
- Poisonous plants: Learn what poisonous plants are in your area, and keep the puppy away. Go to www.aspca.org for a list of poisonous plants.
- Treated lawns: Keep the puppy off freshly treated lawns.
What to do: Place barriers or temporary fencing, even chicken wire, in front of open high places. Seal deck wood. Make it a rule that doors are either shut firmly or held open with a doorstop. Place decals on glass doors at puppy level. Fix any weak spots in the fence. Teach your puppy to swim and how to get out of the pool. If he cannot swim, fence the pool off. Remove cocoa mulch. Remove rotted branches, or place temporary fencing beneath them and nut trees. Remove or fence off poisonous plants.
Remember: If a toddler could get into it, it's child's play for a puppy!
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Comments (14)
Hide Posted Comments
Shirley April 30, 2009 7:41 PM
This article should be read by everyone who has a puppy.
teresa May 20, 2009 11:52 PM
so reading this made me realize just how much having a puppy is the same as having a toddler. they really do get into everything!
charles May 24, 2009 12:54 PM
this is real hlepful so when i get mine im doin every thing this saids june 4 so hype harlem stand up and t u goin to have a hard time with my dog
vicki May 31, 2009 9:06 PM
just like a child you have to watch everything. the only differance is veternarians can over charge you because they know a real pet lover will try to do anything they can.
DOLORES SLOAN June 2, 2009 8:00 PM
just like a little children 2yrs old or so.
danielle and am 12 years old June 7, 2009 7:56 PM
i think their cuties and ihope they have a better life like they whont be smacked.
victoria 11 June 10, 2009 9:57 PM
i thinkthat this web site is geart and that evry first time puppy owner should read this its great
Anonymous June 14, 2009 7:25 PM
So many dangers... So many precautions... But I definetley don't want my puppy to be hurt.
jamey 12 June 21, 2009 9:39 AM
i dont think im goin to take good care of my puppy:-((...but i will to give it a shot!!!:-))
SYLVIA June 21, 2009 10:04 AM
HOW DO I stop her from putting things in her mouth? I have put everything up that I can think of. BUT she still will see something small and put it in her mouth. WHY do they do that? SHE is a 7 month old chihuahua that was with my friend. She could not take care of her any more so I took her about 1 1/2 weeks ago. PLEASE HELP
Anonymous June 22, 2009 4:10 PM
this doggy so cute it reminds about my doggy hes cute as pie and hes the best dog ever
SallyJane July 16, 2009 8:01 PM
Sylvia (June 21) - dogs are like babies, but harder for them because they can't feel things by touch so they do it by tasting, even if the taste is unpleasant. If you had a baby or toddler in your house you would have to put every little thing up high - same with puppies and older dogs. My Fred is 4 years old and still likes to put things in his mouth. I pick up whatever drops every day, in the house and outside. Takes time, but it's good for your dog! Good luck with her.
Momma Rosie July 17, 2009 4:43 AM
I have 2 one a manchester mix that is almost like angel he will listen and will do what is commanded, bur my female pu will put any thing in her mouth and chew up things like lighting [lol] ,and they both have chew bones and toddler safe toys, and the are both 20 months old,But like my own children when they were babies, I pick up everything and put things out of reach just to keep them an my things safe and I love them both dearly.
proper training also helps
cricket July 17, 2009 2:42 PM
my dog is now almost 9yrs old, and i'm happy to say he doesn't get into the bin, chew stuff that isn't his toys, etc etc.... key point that goes along with this article would be training training training!!! it took less than two weeks to toilet train him, less than 3 months to leave stuff that wasn't his alone, and 2 years for the puppy stage to actually wear off. I also made sure he only went outside the yard with a leash on - thus he learnt not to leave the premises without a leash (even if a door is open or gate etc). prevention is better than cure, but part of the prevention is to train what not to touch and how to behave. Training is also great exercise and allows closer bonding!!!