According to Forbes, over 90 million households in the United States have a pet, with more of these households owning dogs rather than any other animal. In 2024, around 2 million dogs were adopted from shelters throughout the United States. These could be dogs of any age, but what they all have in common is a shared need to get acquainted with their new homes. This may mean dealing with curiosity, anxiety, or boredom – all of which can lead to your new dog “getting into things” when you’re not around to provide a constant eye.
Puppy proofing your house isn’t just for puppies, it’s for any dog who is getting used to a new environment. While puppies might be the most rambunctious of the bunch, every dog can benefit from being able to enjoy a suitably safe space.
What Is Puppy Proofing?
For households that haven’t brought home a new puppy or older dog before, puppy proofing your house might seem like a daunting concept. Afterall – how will you know what to do? What to put up? What to put away? While you may have a few questions at first, the process of puppy proofing your home is pretty simple and it’s easy to catch on.
Puppy proofing your house is the process of creating a safe environment for your dog. While you may have every intention to keep an eye on your dog as often as possible, it’s simply not feasible to have a watchful eye on your dog 24/7. There will be times you’ll have to step away, and in a home that isn’t puppy proofed, it only takes those few seconds for your pup to get into something they shouldn’t. Puppy proofing ensures you’ve created an environment that is safe, fun, cozy, able to be explored, and presents minimal risk to your new furry family member.
Start With The Basics
Puppy proofing your house is made easier when you start with the basics first. This means taking care of the most obvious hazards that may be available to your pup throughout your space. A few steps you can take to begin puppy proofing according to the American Kennel Club are:
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Move electrical cords out of your dog’s reach – Electrical cords may not look too delicious or interesting to you, but it’s pretty likely that your new pup will beg to differ. Chewing on an electrical cord can be particularly dangerous to your dog, leading quickly to severe oral burns or electric shock.
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Keep toxic chemicals secured and out of reach – While bleach wipes or surface cleaners might not smell appetizing to you, this may be a bit of a different situation to a curious dog. These chemicals can present a serious hazard to your dog, and you might be surprised by how skilled dogs are at getting to something that smells interesting to them. For this reason, it’s important to store household cleaners, medications, and other chemicals up and away from your dog’s reach, and to lock any cabinets when necessary.
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Set rules for table feeding – Few things are as persuasive as a big pair of puppy dog eyes staring back up at you, but it’s imperative that pet parents learn to resist. While you may think that a bite here and there won’t hurt, many human foods are toxic to dogs and even those that aren’t may lead to serious weight gain with surprising quickness. It’s best for you to have your food, and for your dog to have theirs.
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Make sure doors and windows are closed – Doors and windows can be a fast and surprising hazard for puppies, and even more so for older dogs who may be coming into your home with separation or other anxieties. A door left ajar, or an open window is a way your curious puppy can escape while following an interesting smell coming from outside, or a way for your nervous older dog to escape in a moment of undue panic. Closing, locking, and checking up on windows and doors ensures your dog will be kept safe indoors.
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Close toilet lids – While you may not see a toilet as a hazard, or even as a particularly enticing fixture in your home, it’s quite an interesting place for your dog. Filled with unique “scents” and cold water, dogs and puppies will gravitate toward your bathroom space if given the chance. Toilet bowls with cleaners may poison your dog or puppy, and particularly adventurous puppies may even find themselves falling into an open toilet while exploring or drinking from the bowl. Closing toilet lids is a simple way to eliminate a big bathroom hazard for your dog.
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Check for choking hazards – Puppies in particular will explore the world around them with their mouths. They’ll be enticed by scents and textures and take the next step to put objects in their mouth to investigate this interesting thing further. When it comes to smaller objects, this presents a quick and potentially dangerous choking hazard.
- Tuck away fabrics – A soft blanket is something most dogs love, and they’re able to spend time with them as long as they’re being supervised. While a good snuggle is great for your dog, they may be enticed to chew on the same cuddly blankets they enjoy sleeping with so much, and this is when things may turn dangerous. Fabrics like those used in blankets, socks, or clothes can create a bowel obstruction when ingested, which will then lead to emergency vet trips and the high vet bills to match in short order.
It’s Not Only Indoors You Have To Worry About
While puppy proofing the inside of your home is important, you can’t forget the outside parts, too. Your backyard is going to be a place where your dog spends quite a bit of time going to the “bathroom”, playing outside, soaking up the sun, and investigating their environment, and you’ll want to make sure this space is just as safe for them as your living room. A few things you can do to puppy proof the outside of your home are:
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Set up fencing – If you’re able, setting up secure fencing is one of the best things you can do to keep your dog safe while enjoying time outdoors. This will keep them restricted to your property and away from dangers like roads or other neighborhood animals, as well as keep them secure within your grounds. When setting up fencing, make sure there are no holes in the fence, no gaps they can squeeze through, and the fencing materials are strong enough to hold an excited pup.
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Provide shade – On warm days, your puppy may overexert themselves a bit and find that they need a space to cool down. While this may mean bringing your pup inside on most occasions, you don’t have to do the “in and out” dance if you have some cool shade provided. A spot where your puppy or dog can calm down out of the sun is a great way to ensure you have a safe space for you both to enjoy outside time together on a sunny spring or summer day.
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Have a designated “potty” area – Having a designated potty area for your pup not only helps to make housebreaking easier, but it can help to keep your dog safe, too. Some dogs may feel compelled to “recycle” their waste, which can make them sick or expose them to outdoor parasites. Separating the potty area from the play area limits their ability to do this.
- Keep chemicals away from your yard – While the thought of pulling weeds might seem daunting when you could always spray them away, it’s best to keep chemicals away from your lawn and garden if you’re bringing home a puppy. Many of these chemicals can be dangerous to dogs, while some marked “safe” can still make your dog sick.
The Little Things You May Not Think Of
Puppies have a unique talent for finding all of those little things you may not have thought of when it comes to getting into trouble. A few things to consider when puppy proofing, that you may not think about at first, include:
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Dog proof furniture covers – You can’t necessarily tuck a sofa away, or put that favorite chair up and out of your dog’s reach, so what can do you do if your puppy takes interest in it? You don’t want your furniture ruined, and you also don’t want the potential hazard of your dog ingesting those materials. Chew-proof furniture covers can present a workable and easy solution.
- Dog proof your trash can – If there’s one spot in your home that is likely the most enticing to your dog or puppy, it’s your trash can. Whether the kitchen or bathroom, it’s filled with interesting smells they’d love to investigate further. Investing in a dog-proof trash can is a great way to achieve peace of mind when you can’t keep an uninterrupted eye on your dog for any period of time.
When You Can’t Be There
It’s not reasonable to think you can keep an eye on your dog 24/7, and there will be times when you’ll need to go to work, run to the store, or do other not “dog-friendly” tasks. What will you do then? Even if your home has been thoroughly puppy proofed, it pays to have that peace of mind. This is when a sturdy and safe crate really comes in handy. When you can’t be there yourself, the crate serves as a safe-haven for your dog, and a place where they can relax happily while you don’t need to worry.