Bringing your new puppy home for the very first time can be exciting and chaotic at the same time. That is if you fail to puppy-proof your home before your little doggo’s arrival.
To help you create a haven for your puppy, we made this handy guide on puppy-proof your house! Here, we talk about puppy-proofing essentials, canine home adaptation, and other tips to keep your pup out of trouble.
Understanding Your Puppy
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Every puppy shows a zest for life, especially when they’re under ten weeks old. They’re full of energy, spending their days running, playing, and exploring the world with their mouths.
By the time puppies reach 16 weeks, they start to push limits, much like teenagers do. According to Purina, this testing of boundaries is a normal part of growing up. You might notice them forgetting their training or choosing to ignore your commands.
Puppy-proofing your home is essential because puppies can be quite a handful. It’s important to carefully check your home for any potential dangers to keep them safe.
Puppy-proofing also helps prevent bad habits or destructive behaviors that could last into adulthood. It ensures your puppy can settle into their new environment safely, without any distress.
For new puppy owners, taking the time to puppy-proof can save your possessions and avoid expensive vet bills if your puppy eats something dangerous or gets hurt by something in your home.
Preparing for a Puppy: What to Expect
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Preparing for a puppy’s arrival is very much similar to preparing for a newborn baby. Expect to commit most of your time to looking after them and providing for their needs.
These include enrolling them in obedience classes, socializing them, stimulating them physically and mentally, and addressing their grooming needs.
To keep them healthy, you would need to bring them to the vet for checkups and have them vaccinated. Meanwhile, to reduce certain health risks and prevent behavioral problems, spaying or neutering may also be necessary.
Raising a puppy is by no means easy. It requires patience as well as physical, emotional, and financial preparedness on your end. A certain level of dedication is needed if you want their transition seamless, but we can vouch that it’s all worth it in the end.
Puppy-Proofing House Checklist
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Here’s a puppy-proofing house checklist you can follow so you can keep a pet-safe household!
Indoor Puppy-Proofing Checklist
Get your home ready for a new puppy with our Indoor Puppy-Proofing Checklist. Create a safe space for your puppy to play and grow with ease.
- Medicine Safety: Store all medicines out of your puppy’s sight and reach to prevent them from mistaking them for treats.
- Bathroom Precautions: Always keep toilet lids closed to ensure your puppy doesn’t try to drink from them.
- Home Security: Maintain closed doors and windows to keep your puppy safely inside, even if they’re microchipped.
- Small Item Storage: Secure small items like jewelry and coins to prevent your curious puppy from choking on them.
- Plant Safety: Relocate or remove plants that could harm or poison your puppy.
- Cutting Tool Storage: Keep cutting tools like scissors and knives out of your puppy’s reach.
- Chemical Safety: Use childproof latches on cabinets to store cleaning supplies away from your puppy.
- Electrical Safety: Hide electrical cords when not in use to protect your puppy from potential harm.
- Outlet Protection: Cover all electrical outlets to prevent your puppy from licking them and risking electrocution.
- Garbage Management: Ensure trash cans are securely closed to stop your puppy from scavenging and eating something harmful.
- Furniture Stability: Anchor heavy furniture to prevent it from tipping over if your puppy runs into it.
- Pet Area Separation: Keep cat litter boxes inaccessible to your puppy to prevent them from eating harmful waste.
- Access Control: Install dog gates to limit your puppy’s roaming area and protect them from hazards like stairs.
- Food Storage: Keep human food, especially toxic items like chocolate and raisins, out of your puppy’s reach.
Outdoor Puppy-Proofing Checklist
Ensure your puppy’s outdoor playtime is safe with our Outdoor Puppy-Proofing Checklist. With these simple steps, your backyard will be a secure playground for your puppy.
- Install a fence if possible. Put up a fence to keep your dog from getting out. Make sure it has no gaps they can squeeze through.
- Remove toxic plants and flowers. Get rid of poisonous plants from your yard so your dog won’t eat them.
- Trim the lawn. Cut your grass short to keep away bugs and ticks that might hurt your puppy.
- Avoid using insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers in your yard. Avoid using harsh chemicals like insecticides or fertilizers in your yard to protect your puppy from getting sick.
- Put up a fence surrounding the pool. Fence in your pool to stop your puppy from drowning, even if they know how to swim.
Canine Home Adaptation: Making Your Home Puppy-Friendly
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When you bring a new puppy home, it’s important to help them feel comfortable in their new surroundings. Beyond puppy-proofing, establish a consistent routine and clear boundaries to help your puppy settle in. Keep a close eye on them as they learn about their new world.
As a new puppy owner, be prepared to adjust your lifestyle to meet their needs. Puppies require a lot of care and attention, so you may find yourself spending more time at home, reducing social outings, and possibly tweaking your work schedule to accommodate their needs.
Your time with your puppy will be spent engaging in activities that benefit their well-being, like regular exercise, training sessions, and socialization through puppy-friendly outings such as hikes.
Your presence is what makes your house a welcoming home for your puppy. The time and effort you invest in them during these early stages are crucial and incredibly rewarding.
Safe Spaces for Puppies: Creating Safe Zones in Your Home
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Even if you lucked out and have a chill doggo, you should still provide it with safe spaces inside your home. These are areas they view positively—far from noise and super cozy!
To create these safe spaces for puppies, the first step is to find comfortable areas in your house. These areas should be cool in the summer and warm during winter. They should also be quiet and big enough to fit your puppy.
After identifying these zones, you should stock them with food and water as well as comforting items for your pup, like a dog bed and blanket. You might also want to consider adding a Puppy Toy Mat and a Hide’n’Treat Puzzle Toy from Hound Games to stimulate them.
Once you’ve set up the safe spaces with all these items, install a white noise machine to create a barrier from the noise that causes them stress. If this is out of your budget, just install a speaker near their safe spaces so you can play soothing music for them.
Puppy-Proofing Essentials: Must-Have Items for Puppy-Proofing Your Home
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You can only completely puppy-proof your home by purchasing certain puppy-proofing essentials. Most of these are available on Amazon for a very reasonable price, but you may also head to a local supply store near you.
| Item | Description | Recommended Use |
| Dog Gate | A gate with narrow gaps to block off-limit areas. | To restrict access to certain rooms or stairs. |
| Puppy Pens | A playpen suited to your dog’s energy for safe play. | For secure playtime when supervision isn’t possible. |
| Crate | A spacious crate for lying down, standing, and turning around. | For comfortable, safe resting and sleeping. |
| Trash Can | A can with a secure, locking lid to keep garbage away from your puppy. | To prevent scavenging and potential ingestion of trash. |
| Cabinet Locks | Easy-to-use locks for your cabinets to keep harmful items out of reach, no drilling required. | To keep cleaning supplies and medications secure. |
| Chew Toys | Toys to prevent furniture gnawing and relieve teething pain. | To distract from chewing furniture and personal items. |
| Outlet Covers | Tight covers for electrical outlets to prevent shocks. | To protect against electrical hazards. |
| Door Latches | Sturdy latches to keep doors closed against curious puppies. | To prevent puppies from wandering into unsafe areas. |
| Corner Protectors | Soft protectors for furniture corners to prevent injury from sharp edges. | To safeguard against injuries from bumps and falls. |
| Safety Locks | Locks for appliances to prevent your puppy from opening things like fridges or ovens. | To ensure appliances remain closed and inaccessible. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take For a Puppy To Get Used to Your House?
According to the RSPCA, it takes three weeks for a puppy to settle in a new home. By this time, they’ll start to show their true behavior based on their breed.
Where Should a New Puppy Sleep on the First Night?
For the first night, put your puppy’s bed inside your bedroom so they feel safe. Slowly move their bed further from yours every few nights until they’re in the spot where they are really designated to sleep. This process should not be rushed.
Conclusion
Your new puppy will completely rely on you as they transition to a new environment. Puppy proofing is just one of the many steps you should take in preparing for their arrival.
Make sure you use our checklist on how to puppy-proof your house and apply all the puppy-proofing tips so you won’t miss any hidden dangers in your home. Be patient in your preparations and you will amply be rewarded!
