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Puppies may be cute and cuddly, but they also love to chew everything they can get their little teeth on. These antics might amuse you, but it’s still important to learn how to puppy-proof your house properly.
Puppy-proofing your house doesn’t just protect your household items from sharp little teeth. It’s essential for keeping your new puppy safe and preventing them from getting hurt, trapped, escaping, or eating something dangerous, says Dr. Emma Scales-Theobald, a canine nutrition and behavior consultant.
It’s not uncommon for puppies to hurt themselves in the home. In fact, according to ManyPets Insurance, almost a quarter of puppy-related claims are due to accidents. But you can do a lot to puppy-proof your house, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Read on for expert tips on how to puppy-proof every room in your home, plus some tips for helpful supplies.
Kait Hembree, CVT, KPA CTP, VTS-Behavior, head of training at GoodPup.
These restrictions are important for you and your puppy. “Too much freedom makes it really challenging to directly supervise your puppy in between scheduled bathroom breaks,” Hembree says. This can increase their chances of having more accidents, she adds, and they could get confused about where they should eliminate.
Once they’ve had a few days to get to know their new space, you can let them check out other rooms.
Set up a crate as a safe space
Crate training can also help your puppy dog settle in. You can keep the crate in the bedroom, living area, or both spaces.
Crates create a secure space for dogs to have quiet time where they can relax and be unbothered, says Leigh Siegfried, founder and training director at Opportunity Barks.
“Usually, if it’s a young dog, you’ll have a crate close to your sleeping quarters,” Siegfried says. “Then you may move that crate out of your bedroom at some point.”
To help your puppy’s crate feel safe and comfortable, add a washable, chew-resistant dog bed and some toys to keep them entertained.
Make a puppy pad station
Puppy pads can help save your floor when you have a young puppy, but Siegfried recommends keeping the pads in one area, or “station,” instead of placing them all over the house. Using pads all over your home can confuse puppies and may make it harder to eventually train them to go outside, she says.
She recommends keeping the station until your dog goes about four to five weeks without having accidents all over the house.
Tips for Proofing Your Living Room
Here are a few hazards and how to handle them:
- Declutter string, food wrappers, and other small objects: Regularly check under cupboards and sofas—and anywhere else little paws and mouths can reach — for things your puppy can grab and chew. Store items that require regular access, like remote controls, in boxes or holders high enough that your puppy can’t reach them.
- Stabilize decorative items: Playful puppies can easily knock over loose breakables, like ornaments, photo frames, and vases. You can store these items until your puppy grows a little or display them securely with something like museum putty, says Mariya Snisar, head of interior design at Renowell.
- Organize cables and wires: It’s not always possible to keep cords completely out of reach, but you can use cord protectors to keep your puppy from chewing them, says Trevor Smith, a certified dog trainer with Pupford. He adds that plenty of playtime and treats can help distract your dog from cables. You can also use positive reinforcement by praising and rewarding them when they choose their toys over cables.
- Steady heavy items: Coffee table books, lamps, fans, and other appliances can all fall and injure a young puppy. Consider moving these out of your puppy’s reach or keeping them in another room.
- Move plants: Many puppies snack on plants before they learn to leave them alone—which is why it’s safest to swap any indoor plants that are toxic to dogs (like anthurium and kaffir lily) for dog-friendly house plants and use plant hangers instead of pots. Teaching a puppy not to chew plants requires a combination of proactive measures and positive reinforcement training, Scales-Theobald says. For instance, teaching the “leave it” command will help them learn not to touch or go near certain objects.
- Cover up furniture: Chewing can mean you’re not entirely meeting your pup’s needs, Siegfried says. Training your puppy and providing enough physical activity and playtime can help keep your dog from chewing, scratching, and climbing on your furniture. If you need a helping hand during training, sofa covers and pet-friendly and furniture-safe bitter sprays can act as a deterrent.
- Put away children’s toys: Toys meant for human babies can pose a choking hazard to puppies and dogs. Extendable baby gates and child playpens can help divide the space and keep your child’s toys away from your pup—which will help keep your puppy safe and your kid happy!
Keep Your Kitchen Scraps & Hazard Free
It’s true the hard floors in your kitchen may be easier to clean than carpet after toilet accidents and other puppy messes. Still, a kitchen holds plenty of dangers for dogs of all ages, like sharp knives, toxic ingredients, and hot surfaces.
If you plan to let your new puppy in the kitchen, these steps can help you make it a dog-friendly space.
Keep it a pup-free zone while cooking
Sharp knives, hot surfaces, and sizzling oil make the kitchen a much more hazardous place. Not only that, your puppy may quickly grab any food you accidentally drop.
Scales-Theobald recommends using particular caution with these ingredients, which are highly toxic to dogs:
- Chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Alliums (onions, leeks, and garlic)
- Xylitol (often found in gum and sugar-free candy)
- Avocado pits or skin
- Macadamia nuts
When you aren’t cooking, keep these ingredients and dangerous cooking tools, like knives, sealed away or out of reach in a drawer or cabinet.
Use childproof locks
Safety locks can keep toddlers and dogs out of drawers and cupboards. Place these locks on any doors or drawers your puppy can reach with their paw or nose. Child safety locks on appliances like washers, dryers, and dishwashers can keep curious puppies from exploring these machines.
Most dogs also love to nose around trash cans—but you have plenty of options to consider when it comes to dog-proof trash cans. You can also close your trash away behind a closed door, Smith says.
Seal off gaps
If your kitchen has small gaps between cabinets and appliances, you may want to consider blocking these off. A small pup may squeeze into them easily—but then get stuck or not know how to get back out.
You can stuff these spaces with fabric, like spare towels, or anything else that fills the gap. Snisar suggests foam pool noodles!
How To Puppy-Proof Your Bathroom
The bathroom is the perfect place to wash your puppy after outdoor adventures—as long as you keep these tips in mind:
- Stick with soap developed for pups: Soaps and other cleaning products designed for people generally won’t work well for dogs. These products often contain chemicals or ingredients that can be harmful or toxic if your dog eats them. They could also cause irritation if they come into contact with your dog’s eyes or skin, Scales-Theobald says.
- Store dangerous items securely: It’s a good idea to keep things medications and sharp objects, like razor blades and nail scissors, in high cupboards. “If you’re struggling for storage space, consider restricting access by keeping the door shut or putting toxic cleaning supplies in another room,” Scales-Theobald suggests. It’s also wise to store rolls of toilet paper and boxes of tissue out of reach, since a bored or curious pup may shred and eat these.
- Don’t forget about the toilet bowl and bathtub: Water can pose a drowning risk for puppies, Smith says, so keep them out of the bathroom when the tub has water in it and avoid leaving them unattended during a bath. You’ll also want to leave the toilet lid closed. You can even add a baby-proof toilet lock for an extra layer of safety!
- Use pet-safe cleaners: You’d be surprised how many places an enterprising puppy thinks to lick. Consider switching your household over to pet-safe cleaning products.
How To Puppy-Proof Your Bedroom
If you plan to let your new puppy sleep in your bedroom (at least for the first few weeks) to help them settle in, you’ll want to take care to make it a safe space!
You can use the same tactics described above to make your bedroom a dog-friendly zone:
- Use cable protectors to secure cords you can’t move out of reach.
- Use child locks or magnetized doors to keep doors and drawers shut.
- Choose pup-safe window blinds and keep windows within your pup’s reach at least partially closed—a determined dog could shred the screen and escape.
Keep clothing and shoes out of your pup’s reach so they don’t become your puppy’s new blanket or chew toy!
And of course, it’s also essential to keep up good training habits. “Distract your puppy with toys and reward good behavior to reinforce boundaries and protect your wardrobe,” Smith recommends.
Block Off Stairs While They Are Young
Whether your puppy should go up or down your stairs depends on their age and size, the pitch of your stairs, and the height of your steps, Hembree says. A veterinarian can offer more guidance on the safety of your stairs based on your puppy’s growth.
In the meantime:
- Block the stairs: Try dog gates and baby gates at the top and bottom of your stairs to prevent accidental tumbles. Just keep in mind that puppies are curious and smart and may try to squeeze in between the railing, Snisar says.
- Close any gaps: Stairs with vertical bannister bars or backless steps can prove risky, as puppies might fall through and injure themselves. In this case, Snisar recommends the pool noodle trick again. Slip noodles through the spaces to keep puppies from squeezing through gaps and getting stuck.
- Start slow: Once your pup reaches a safe size for climbing stairs, take them step by step (literally).
Hembree recommends leading your pup to go up or down the next-to-last step (rather than having them run up the whole flight of stairs). “Encourage them by praising and talking to them and then reward them with a treat,” she says.
As their confidence grows, they’ll be able to tackle more steps.
How To Puppy-Proof Your Backyard & Garden
A puppy’s socialization period (which lasts until about 14 weeks of age) is a key time to expose your dog to new experiences, people, places, and things, Hembree says.
If you have your own backyard, you might consider it the perfect place to let your puppy romp and play—after your vet gives the OK. If they agree your yard is safe, your puppy can begin exploring it right away.
A few safety tips to keep in mind:
- Supervise your puppy: Keeping a close eye on their play can help you make sure they don’t get into any mischief or trouble, Hembree says.
- Curious puppies = escape masters: To keep a little explorer safely in your yard, fill gaps underneath or between gates and fences. You can also try chicken wire and trellis for puppy-proof fencing. Just keep in mind that while they might not be able to jump over low fences right now, this can certainly change as they grow.
- Check your plants: Many outdoor plants are toxic to dogs, so it’s a good idea to replace any hazardous plants with dog-safe options like marigolds, sunflowers, fuchsias, and camellias.
- Create barriers: To help prevent puppies from attacking plants or digging around them, Snisar suggests using flexible plastic mesh to create a barrier. “Push it into the soil and secure it around the plants with cable ties,” she says. “Plastic mesh is rust-resistant and comes in various colors.”
- Secure your ornaments: Garden ornaments like gnomes and statues don’t necessarily pose a risk to your dog, but they may fall victim to puppy play. You can help distract your pup by providing plenty of dog-friendly toys in your yard and playing together outside.
- Lock up the shed or garage: It’s generally best to avoid letting a puppy in your shed or garage. These spaces tend to have plenty of sharp items and toxic chemicals. You’ll also want to make sure all pets are safe inside before opening your gate and driving in or out.
Do I need to puppy-proof my pool?
Swimming can be a fun way for dogs to keep fit, Scales-Theobald says, but puppies need to learn how to swim and gain confidence in the water first. You’ll want to make sure your puppy can swim and pay close attention to make sure they’re not in any distress while in the pool.
Pools and ponds do present a drowning hazard for dogs who don’t know how to swim. What’s more, swimming can be physically demanding, Scales-Theobald adds, so it’s essential to make sure your dog takes breaks. A dog life jacket can help, and a puppy pool for practice isn’t a bad idea.
Chemicals like chlorine may irritate your dog’s skin and eyes or make them sick if they swallow a lot of pool water, according to Scales-Theobald. Monitoring levels of these chemicals and limiting your dog’s time in the pool can help prevent irritation and reactions.
When your dog gets out of the pool, rinse them with fresh water and dry their ears thoroughly to help prevent ear infections, Scales-Theobald recommends.
Note: Hembree recommends putting up a garden fence to prevent your puppy from jumping into pools and ponds without your supervision.
Does My House Need To Stay Puppy-Proofed Forever?
Some measures, like keeping toxic items out of reach and preventing escape, are essential for dogs of any age, Scales-Theobald says. But you can scale back some types of puppy-proofing once your puppy hits their first birthday—once you’re sure they’ll stay safe without your supervision.
You can also let older puppies spend time in other rooms of your house, depending on their personality and training, Scales-Theobald says. For instance, once you know they won’t chew toys, they may be able to spend time in a playroom or child’s bedroom.
If you have any other concerns as you begin puppy-proofing your house, your vet can offer more guidance.