Puppy's New Home - Household and Yard Dangers

At the risk of sounding like a paranoid dog owner, I'd like to alert you to a few things you should take into consideration when you get a new puppy. Please take the time to look around your home and yard for anything that could potentially cause harm to your little pup.

Inside The Home

Get down on all fours in your house and look at what the puppy is able to get at. Puppies are like small children and like to explore objects by putting them in their mouths. They also like to work on their need for "teething" by using what's available. Make sure there are no small items that could cause a choking hazard. Put up temptations such as candles, pillows, shoes, poorly constructed toys, etc. where they can't reach them.

Take a good look at the locations of your electrical wires. If at all possible, hide the wires behind couches, chairs, and beds so puppy can't get at them. If you can't hid them and the puppy is interested in chewing on them, try covering them with a spray such as Bitter Apple or wrap them in aluminum foil to discourage chewing. You can ask your vet for ideas as well.

If you have children, teach them not to feed the puppy. There are certain things a dog should definitely not have; grapes, raisins, or chocolate for example. If your child insists, then allow her to give the puppy an acceptable doggie biscuit.

Another dangerous situation in the home is allowing your puppy to have free range when you're not around to keep a careful eye on him. You wouldn't leave your 2 year old running around while you were in the shower would you? The same goes for a young puppy.

Outside In The Yard

There are many types of bushes that are very dangerous to puppies who like to sample leaves. Do an Internet search for your specific shrubbery to see if there are any potential issues. You may need to relocate the bushes to the front yard and plant something else.

Check the perimeter of your fence. Does the gate latch properly? Are there any areas such as broken boards or spots where the bottom of the fence doesn't go all the way to the ground through which a crafty puppy could escape? Is the fence short and your growing puppy able to jump over it? Find solutions so you don't lose your precious dog.

Look around. Are there any potentially dangerous items in your yard like containers of fertilizer or weed killer? Also, make sure there are no sharp objects like metal landscape edging that your dog could cut his foot on.

If you get down and think like a puppy, you will spot potential problems that you can fix before your little guy has a mishap. It all starts with you being aware of what could cause danger to your newest household member. Take care of any problems so your puppy can stay safe.