Dogs offer so much to our lives, including companionship, and unconditional love, and they clean up after us when we spill our food. Unfortunately, dogs can also get into everything they're not supposed to. Usually, this is no big deal, but when you’re moving into a new home, it can get intense very quickly.
This typically means that you’ll be tasked with puppy-proofing the house pretty quickly after moving in. To make this easier, dog-proof your home by room priority (such as the bathroom and the kitchen). You can try to keep your dog out of the rooms that haven’t been dog-proofed until you can take care of them.
Let’s cover how to dog-proof room by room:
The Kitchen
We recommend you start dog proofing in the kitchen, although it is your choice. Now, this will be a little more difficult to do since you might be unpacking your kitchen items, so keep in mind as you are puppy-proofing that things might have to be moved.
- Throw away packing materials as soon as you can
- If you need to, install kid-proof latches on your counters so that neither you nor your pet can open the doors
- Use a trash can with a lid
- Unpack the items that are the most hazardous to your dog first
- Cleaning supplies, food, candy, etc.
- Make sure you keep chairs and boxes away from the counters, so your pup doesn’t jump up
The Living Room
This is probably the room where you will spend the most time with your doggos, so you need to make it safe for them. Here are some of the things we recommend:
- A baby gate can be placed in front of the fireplace to block access
- Keep breakable decorations off the coffee table and side tables
- If you have plants, make sure they are not poisonous and that they are out of your pup’s reach
- If you aren’t using it, store away charging cords and cables
The Bathrooms
Since dogs are very curious creatures, they probably sniff out the bathroom to see what goodies they can get in there. Because of that, here are some ideas to dog-proof the bathroom:
- Keep the toilet lid closed, and remember to never use bowl cleaners that stick to your toilet bowl since they can be harmful to pets
- Keep loofahs, bath toys, and sponges out of your dog’s reach
- Never leave hot curling irons on the counter, and store cords in your cabinets when not in use
- Keep trash cans in a cabinet
- If your dog is notorious for eating toilet paper, store it in a container, or a cabinet
The Backyard
Since there are times, your pup will have to go outside, sometimes unsupervised, it is important to ensure your dog is safe in your backyard.
- Make sure all your plants are pet safe
- Do not keep tools, gardening items, and any other lawn equipment out
- Make sure your fence is the correct height, and that your dog can’t crawl out from under the fence
The Bedrooms
If you’re anything like us, your pet sleeps with you and spends a lot of time in the bedroom. Before you allow that, you will first need to make the room safe for your pooch. Here are some suggestions:
- Keep your dresser and closet always closed
- Mothballs are poisonous to pups, so do not use them
- Keep your jewelry and small accessories out of your dog’s reach
- Frequently check under your bed to make sure no socks or loose clothes that your dog can chew on
The Laundry Room
Finally, the laundry room can do some damage to your pets. There are chemicals and detergents in there that Fido needs to stay away from. Here are some suggestions for dog proofing the laundry room:
- Keep chemicals and detergent up high on a shelf or in a cabinet
- Keep dryer sheets contained and out of your pets’ reach
- Keep the doors to your washer and dryer closed at all times
- Keep clothes and laundry off the floor
Puppies
Of course, when you have a dog, it is important to monitor them to ensure they are not getting into any trouble. If you just got a new puppy, here are some ideas to help with your puppy:
- Watch their chewing - Puppies chew on everything. Because of that, it is important to monitor them and when they chew on something they shouldn’t, redirect them with a toy or a treat
- Understand that accidents will happen, so get pet-safe cleaning products as well as puppy pads to help train your dog
- Be patient with your new pup, she is learning and only wants to please you
- Look into pet insurance – pet insurance can quickly pay for itself if something happens to your pup, so look into it so you aren’t going broke for your pet
Puppy-proofing, while time-consuming, is worth it. It will keep your pets safe, making them happy and healthy.