Few things are more exciting for an animal lover than the arrival of a new dog. But whether you’re welcoming a puppy or a rescue dog, you need to know that your home is safe.
Depending on the breed, your new pooch could be naughty, inquisitive, playful or a combination of all three — which could lead to accidents and mishaps unless you take the necessary precautions.
Before your dog arrives in his or her new home, take the time to take a few steps to make your home as safe as it can be.
The main living areas
One of the most important tasks to complete involves removing all the trip hazards from your living room, dining room and any reception rooms you might have. Puppies in particular and injure themselves through trips, slips and falls, so make sure you remove trailing cables and clutter from floors.
Remove all of the furniture from these main rooms, and vacuum them thoroughly. Remember: if your vacuum cleaner can’t reach a particular area of a room, you can’t be sure that it’s free from choking hazards such as string and small toys.
It’s also important to store sharp items away safely. Move household plants out of reach, and make sure radiators and fires are protected.
Kitchen and bathrooms
There are usually several potentially harmful items in the average bathroom, so it’s important to keep them secure. Cleaning products, razor blades and hygiene products should be stored away, and secured with childproof latches. Also, keep the toilet lid closed at all times, as a toilet poses a serious drowning risk for small dogs.
In the kitchen, make sure all of your cleaning agents are secured behind a lock or childproof latch. You should also keep trash locked away, as puppies in particular will try to eat just about everything they find. Foods and certain types of packaging can be a real hazard to young dogs. Keep all of your food out of reach in locked or latched cupboards. And make sure knives and sharp instruments are never left on worktops.
Check every inch of both your bathroom and kitchen for small spaces that your new dog might be able to climb into. You should block any holes, vents or recesses you find with furniture or baby gates. And make sure you check the back of appliances, as they often have recesses that might prove very attractive to small dogs.
Bedrooms
A lot of people like to keep certain items accessible in their bedroom, but doing so can be an invitation to chew and play if you’re introducing a young dog into your home. Make sure that medications, creams and cosmetics are well out of reach — preferably locked away. You’ll need to remain vigilant and organised at all times too, as dogs can scoop something up in their mouth in an instant.
If you keep laundry in your bedrooms, keep it in a locked hamper or a closet. Buttons, drawstrings and socks can become very dangerous choking hazards when you have a precocious dog in the house. For the first few months of having a small dog, you should also check that he’s not lying asleep in your wardrobes before closing them.
Stay vigilant
If you’ve never had a dog before, nothing can prepare you for the change that lies ahead. Puppies in particular will follow you around everywhere you go if given the opportunity, so always check for paws, tails and noses when you’re closing doors or moving furniture.
You’ll probably also need a cage for the evening, otherwise your new dog will have the run of your home while you’re sleeping. But don’t worry, modern puppy cages are spacious, and you can furnish them with blankets, pillows and chew toys.
While you will never be able to remove all the hazards from your home, just a few changes here and there should keep your dog as safe and comfortable as possible.