Is Your Home Safe For a Puppy?

Making the decision to get a puppy, and bringing them home for the first time, is incredibly exciting. However, making sure that your house is safe for a small, inquisitive furry friend is a very important step to take before their arrival.

Puppy proofing your home is very similar to, and should be treated with as much forethought, as baby proofing. Many things in your home can be dangerous for dogs, and action should be taken to remove these risks so as to prevent injury or illness befalling your beloved pet. In this article, we’ve compiled some common home features which will need to be altered for the safety of a new puppy.

Cables and wires

Puppies are curious creatures and will play with anything they can get their paws on, including cables and wiring. If a puppy chews on cables, they could receive a nasty electric shock, burns to their mouth or worse. Make sure cables are kept tucked away, out of reach and sight, or run them through protective cable casing.

Fireplaces

Puppies should not be left alone with any open flames such as fireplaces, stoves, candles and BBQs. An investigating nose or over zealous tail could easily get burned. Furthermore, there is also the risk of puppies knocking over candles, or even electric heaters, and this could cause a blaze in your home. Extinguish any flames as you leave a room, and consider getting a fireguard to keep your puppy a safe distance from a fireplace.

Baby gates

Baby gates are a fantastic way to section off areas of your home, designating them as puppy-friendly or puppy-free zones. A common choice is to have a baby gate at the stairs to keep your puppy from your upper rooms, and prevent them from unfortunate falls. Furthermore, you may want them to keep to a specific space overnight or whilst you’re out of the house; a baby gate can help facilitate this without making them feel shut in.

Kitchen safety

The kitchen is full of hazards for a pet owner to remove. Don’t underestimate how prying a dog can be, or how high an energetic pup can jump! Putting childproof latches on ground level kitchen cupboards is a good idea. Additionally, food should be kept off kitchen tables and counters to remove temptation. Bins shouldn’t be left open either, as curious dogs will often be drawn to investigate and could easily eat something that could make them ill.

Secure harmful substances

Leading on from kitchen safety, it is important to secure any substances which could be harmful to a pet. These could include cleaning fluids, medication or even poisonous plants. Do your research and keep any toxins far away from your puppy.

Open doors and windows

Make sure you keep doors and windows closed if you don’t want your pup to get outside. Open exits can be tempting and once outside your property, it can be easy for your new dog to become lost.

Secure your garden

Sturdy fences are key to making your garden a safe, contained space for a dog throughout its life. Fencing will ensure your dog doesn’t wander off and will give you a manageable, set space to keep hazard free so your puppy can play safely to its heart’s content.

These are just some of the ways you can puppy-proof your home, and you should make sure you analyse your unique space for any further potential dangers before your puppy arrives.

Jaycliffe Pets provide a home-from-home for your pets whilst you are away. We offer both day care services and long-term stays for your pets, and will ensure they get all the necessary exercise, comfort and their accustomed diet during their stay. Our Rotherham-based kennels, cattery and grooming services are run by true animal lovers and pet care experts who live on site to allow around the clock care. For enquiries and further information, get in touch with our friendly team today.