How to Keep Your New Puppy Safe at Home

Making the decision to bring a puppy into your home is an exciting time, but unfortunately people often bring dogs home without thinking it through. A dog is a big responsibility and a commitment you will probably need to manage for the next 14-16 years.

Hopefully, you have thought long and hard about all the pros and cons of dog ownership, as well as the challenges of raising a puppy. A big part of this is keeping your puppy safe because there are lots of hidden dangers found in the home and garden. Here is some important advice on keeping puppies safe which all new dog owners should be aware of.

Be Aware of Poisonous Plants and Toxic Human Foods

You will learn very quickly that puppies like to chew pretty much anything they can get in their mouth. This means you need be vigilant about what you leave in your puppy’s reach not only to prevent unwanted destruction, but also to ensure they do not ingest poison or chew on an electrical cord.

This also includes household cleaners, medications, and bathroom products which should be secured, but you might not be aware that many plants and human foods are also poisonous to dogs. If you puppy eats any type of plant, it is likely that they will suffer with vomiting and diarrhea, but some can cause severe damage to their internal organs which can be fatal. Click here for more information on poisonous plants

It is also important to know which foods are toxic to dogs, e.g. chocolate, and, even better, to avoid giving them human food altogether. Human foods tend to include a lot of salt and chemicals which are harmful to dogs. If you believe your puppy has eaten something they should not, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Make Sure Outside Space is Secure

Puppies love to explore the outside world and your garden will quickly become one of their favorite places, but it is important to ensure that they are secure and safe. If your garden is not secure, you should invest in fencing or invisible fence technology such as PetsafeYardmax. Read this PetsafeYardmax review blog post by Four Paw Ideas for more detail. In the early months, it is always best to supervise your puppy (possibly keeping them on a leash) when they are outside to ensure they do not escape or eat dangerous items.

Supervise the Puppy’s Interaction with Other Animals and Children

Children are not always careful or sensible around a puppy and this can mean that they play too rough, drop them, or cause injury in some way. Of course, a frightened or nervous puppy may bite or scratch, so any interaction between puppies and children should be supervised. In addition, if you already have pets in the home, be aware that they may not welcome the new arrival initially and could hurt the puppy intentionally or by accident. Be sure to introduce pets to each other gradually and never without supervision.

Keep Toilet Seats Closed

Puppies are liable to climb into toilets, buckets, or sinks of water, and this could present a risk of drowning. Toilet seats should be closed, but also because they may try to drink the water which could be contaminated with cleaning bleach.

Install a Gate Across the Stairs

An excitable, unbalanced puppy with short legs is an accident waiting to happen if you have stairs, so consider installing a baby gate to prevent them from going upstairs. This will also help to keep the upper levels of your home dog free if this is what you want.

Invest in a Crate

When you cannot be home, your puppy should be in a secure room with no safety hazards, or you should invest in a crate. This will become the puppy’s den, somewhere they feel safe and can have some quiet time. Crate training is also highly recommended when trying to housetrain a puppy.