Puppy Proof Your Home :
New puppies are like little babies and are fragile. Children should be taught puppy care and should always be supervised when around a puppy or a small dog. Just as you would not pick your human baby up by the neck or leg, great steps should be taken to teach your child the proper way to handle a puppy and a dog Puppies are natural born scavengers and will put everything in their mouth. Sometimes they only mean to taste or chew. Puppies and doges can't distinguish what foods or will kill them. Just as a child at two years old. So it is imperative for you as you as your puppies human parent to take the steps and puppy proof our home just as you would baby proof your home before bringing your baby home from the hospital.
Below is a basic list I have came up with through trial and error as well as lots of research.
The best way to puppy-proof a home is to go from room to room on your hands and knees (the puppy's level) to discover what fun and interesting items a puppy might find. Maybe you'll even find something you thought you had lost forever like that missing earring!
-
Don't leave cigarette butts in ashtrays where the puppy can get to them. An eaten, cigarette butt can lead to nicotine poisoning.
-
Secure electrical cords to baseboards or make them inaccessible. If your puppy chews on them, it can suffer electric shock burns and may even die.
-
Keep glass objects out of the dog's reach. Crushed glass can result in nasty cuts and can cause death if swallowed.
-
Never burn candles where they're accessible to pups. The flame will attract them.
-
Keep all medication including vitamin bottles out of the puppy's way. Childproof bottles are not enough when it comes to a puppy or dog.
-
Always keep the toilet lid down if you use toilet bowl cleaners. They are often strongly alkaline and tempting for a puppy to drink.
-
Keep cellar doors and upper story windows closed. A curious puppy is as vulnerable as a young child.
-
Don't invite other pets to your house until your puppy is fully vaccinated. A puppy's resistance to infection is lower than an adult dog's until about 16 weeks of age.
-
Dispose of all cooked bones in a puppy-proof manner. Puppies and dogs like bones and will search through the trash to get them. Bones can be life very life threatening. Never give your pet any type of cooked bone. Never give your pet Pork of any kind.
-
Don't leave needles or pins out where your dog can get to them. They often swallow them.
-
Be certain antifreeze is out of reach and any drippings are cleaned up completely. All dogs are attracted to its scent. Antifreeze is highly toxic.
-
Use pesticides and rodent poisons with caution. Hanging strips, fly paper and other exposed toxins must be kept out of reach.
-
Avoid using flea collars. flea dips and certain other preparations until your puppy is at least 15 weeks old. Find out the limitations of these products before applying them. READ the labels.
-
Keep your puppy away from toxic plants. Rhododendron. Japanese yew, and lily of the valley, as well as apple cores, pear cores, peach and cherry pits can all cause problems if eaten.
