While you’re still waiting for your puppy to arrive, usually it may take a few days or so depending on the breeder and paper work, you can prepare by puppy-proofing your home. Puppy proofing or dog proofing is the process of making your home safe for your puppy. It usually involves removing or storing away anything and everything that could harm your puppy. It might help for you to crawl around the house on your hands and knees, viewing things from your puppy’s perspective to find potential threats. Put yourself in their position, this is sort of similar to baby proofing your house if you have kids
Here’s what you need to do before
your newfound puppy or dog arrives:
- Make sure
your trash and recycling containers have a tight-fitting lid or store them
in a cabinet.
- Put away
all open food containers and keep them out of reach of
your puppy.
- Store
cleaning products and other hazardous chemicals in a locked cabinet or
pantry where your puppy can’t get them.
- Make sure
electrical cords and blind pulls are wrapped up and placed out of
your puppy’s reach.
- Pick up
any small objects or toys that could be a choking hazard if your
puppy chews on them.
- Cover or
drain any open bodies of water such as the toilet, and outdoor pond, etc.
- Store any
medications and beauty products in the medicine cabinet out of your puppy’s reach.
- Check your
home for any plants that might be toxic to dogs and remove them or put them out of reach.
- Block off
fire places, windows, and doors so your puppy can’t get into trouble.
Close off any stairwells and block the entry to rooms where you do not want your puppy to be.
Author and long-time animal lover. Sharing knowledge on pet care through experience and the written word. 