Puppy Proofing Your Home

A new puppy can be an be an expensive purchase, both financially and emotionally. Purebred pups can run into the thousands of dollars, but even if you've adopted a new dog, you want to insure their safety in your home.  Dr. Mark Mosier, DVM, is an expert at helping people make their houses the safest and best environments for their animals.  A practicing veterinarian, and  a nationally recognized breeder of bulldogs, Dr. Mosier uses common sense guidelines to help his patients and their owners adapt to their new lives together.  Using simple methods, you, too can easily puppy proof your home.

The first step in puppy proofing your house is to view the room at a dog's eye level.  Look around from his standpoint to see the possible trouble he could get into in each room.  Make sure you clear away all electrical cords, and block off outlets for added safety.  Remember, your pup explores with his mouth.  "If you don't want your furniture to get chewed on, be sure to treat it with a no-bite spray," says Mosier.  These sprays are inexpensive and are readily available through your veterinarian, or your local pet store.  Bitter apple is a very effective flavor.  Make sure that you clear away any hazards that your pup might chew up.  A good guideline is to put away everything that isn't appropriate for your pet to nibble on.  As noted above, young animals will chew on anything, and swallowing foreign materials (like pantyhose) can be deadly.  Insuring that only appropriate chew things are available has benefits other than safety. Doing this also helps your dog learn what his toys are.  It encourages good behavior by making bad behavior impossible.

After you've taken care of general hazards, you can begin to eliminate specific problems.  It's good to start with clearing off all of your coffee and end tables.  Even though they're short little guys, pips will stand on their hind legs to explore.  Anything they can reach, they can chew.  Additionally, if you have breakable items on higher tables, you may want to put them away until your puppy is a bit older.  Fast running puppies can easily knock into a high table and break fragile glassware.

Always remember to keep your bathroom door closed.  This will prevent your puppy from stringing toilet paper all over your house.  Make sure all bathroom cleansers are safely tucked away and totally out of reach.  You can use child locks on cabinets if they're loose, or for added security.  Also, keep the toilet lid down (especially if you're using toilet sanitizers) even if the door is closed.  You really don't want your dog to know what's in the toilet.  Always keeping the lid down prevents your pet from regarding your toilet as his own private drinking fountain.

In the kitchen, make sure your cabinet doors are closed.  Again, use cabinet locks if you suspect your pet may be able to get into them.  It's best to use  a trashcan with a secure lid.  "Make sure you get rid of chicken, pork, and turkey bones as soon as you finish your meals," says Mosier, "you may want to take them out to the dumpster immediately.  These bones can splinter if chewed and could cause your pet serious distress.  Also, if you can regularly remover your trash, you'll keep delectable smells to a minimum.  It's best if your pup thinks there's never anything interesting in your trashcan.

Be alert when purchasing gifts for your pet.  Make sure you give you dog only appropriate treats and toys.  Remember, your puppy can't tell the difference between the old shoe you gave him to chew on, and your eight hundred dollar Prada sandals!  Socks are also bad.  Puppies who swallow socks often experience extreme abdominal distress!  Ask your vet for a list of appropriate toys, and feep them were your puppy can play with them.  As a general rule of thumb, it's best to purchase toys at the pet store rather than making your own.

Ask your vet for a list of plants that art toxic to pets.  Some common houseplants can be deadly to your dog.  Mosier lists a few of them at: Rhododendrons, Japanese Yews, and Lily of the Valley.  We aware, also, that pits from fruits can be toxic as well -- especially cherry and peach pits.  It's not good for  your plants or your pets if your pup is chewing on your greenery.  Keep all plants well out of reach or  your new puppy.