Techniques for Puppy-Proofing Your Home {Guest Post}

Guest Post By Mary Thompson

Owning a dog comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. There are some special efforts that the dog owner must take to ensure proper dog care and safety. He has to take all the necessary initiatives so that the dog is inside the yard and does not worry the outsiders and other pets, as well as the neighbor’s property.

The following suggestions are for having a puppy-proof house:

What is wireless fence and how it works

There are several options available that you can use to keep your dog in your yard. One of the most popular are fences for dogs. There are several types of fences available for dogs, including wooden fence, barbed wire, brick fence, etc. The latest trend that is widely known by pet owners is a wireless fence.

Typically, the wireless dog fence is a set of dog collar and a cable. It consists of only the dog collar that works like cell phones. The wireless fence cable comes with about 400 m of wire that has to be buried in the yard. The dog collar and this buried cable are connected to a small unit. This unit sends signals when the dog crosses the determined limit area. At first, it warns the dog with an acoustic signal and if the dog still crosses the limit, then a slight electric shock passes. This is where dog training plays a very important role for the dog to understand the meaning of the collar’s sound signal. Once the dog receives a slight electric shock, it gradually learns to stay within limits. The wireless fence is used by most dog owners for the sensitive areas of the property such as the pool, flower garden, driveway, ponds, and orchards.

Benefits of wireless dog fence

1. There are many benefits of wireless fences for dogs. For example, this is one of the best ideas if you are looking for less maintenance and more efficiency. Once you pay money for a wireless fence for dogs, afterward, you will only have to change the batteries of the dog collar after 3 – 4 months.

2. It is very easy to install and works very well in terms of training the dog for it. The best part is that you can also travel or move to a new place with a wireless fence (if necessary).

3. The wireless fence works without the help of computers or any other device. The system comes with an instruction manual and sometimes with a DVD. It can be set up quickly unlike cable systems or physical fences that need much more time to install. The collar receiver uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery can be charged by connecting it to the base station. The charging time of the battery is about four to six hours.

Other techniques for puppy proofing your home:

• Remove papers, magazines, books, ornaments and everything else from the coffee table, furniture and other low tables until the puppy is trained.
• Until the puppy is 8-10 months old, no food, sweets, dirty dishes, utensils or glasses should be left on the coffee table and other surfaces within reach.
• To prevent the puppy from eating the toilet paper from the bathroom trash, you have to close the door of the toilet.
• Do not leave cigar butts in the ashtrays where the puppy can reach them. If puppy swallows them, he may have nicotine poisoning.
• Secure electrical cords. It is very dangerous for a puppy to bite a wire. Hide all the electric cables hanging behind the furniture, as it can be very tempting for your puppy to bite them. If that is not possible, you can buy a thick cable cover at most hardware stores.
• Keep Christmas decorations out of the reach of the puppy. Crushed glass and ornaments can cause unpleasant cuts.
• Keep medicines away from his reach. Child-resistant packaging is not enough to keep the puppy safe.
• If you are using disinfectants to clean the toilet than keep the lid down. They are often very strong alkaline products and the puppy may be tempted to drink the water.

• Keep the basement doors and windows closed. A curious puppy is as vulnerable as a small child.
• Get rid of chicken or turkey bones as they are fragile and can be life-threatening for a puppy. • Do not leave needles or pins in places where the puppy can reach them because he can swallow them.
• Ensure that antifreeze is out of reach and any drips are thoroughly washed. All dogs are attracted to its smell and it is highly toxic.
• Use pesticides and poisons for rodents with great caution.
• Avoid or remove toxic substances, including toxic plants (Philodendron, mistletoe, and poinsettia), powerful chemical cleaners and environmental insecticides.
• Install locks for children in the lower cabinets of the kitchen, especially if you keep cleaning products inside.
• A carrier of the right size for your dog is not only a good way to make your dog feel safe in his own “territory”, but it will keep him safe from possible risks when he is alone. • Always remember to close the oven doors, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, dryer and washing machine. Small dogs can nap in the strangest places; so remember to put notes on the doors to remind others.
• Dogs do not have the same sense of height and depth as humans, so when preparing your home for dogs, make sure they cannot jump or fall accidentally through the windows of the upper floors.
• When your energetic puppy roams around the house, it is very easy for him to slip and fall, hurting himself. Identify those places where he is more likely to run and put a non-slip carpet or coating on slippery or hardwood floors.
• Burning candles, burning incense or oil burners only create problems when there is a curious puppy nearby: put out the flames and put guards around the fire.
Keep these dangerous items out of the reach of the puppy:

• Tape, yarn, sewing supplies and other small household items
• Clips, erasers, garters, plastic bags and wires to close food bags
• Coins, small pieces of board games, souvenirs and fragile ornaments
• Medicines, vitamins, pills, razors and cotton balls
• Chemicals for home and automotive
• Indoor toxic plants including Philodendron, mistletoe and poinsettia flower
• Toxic garden plants including lily, azaleas, narcissus, tomato, and hydrangea

Other ways to keep your puppy safe:

• Provide safe toys for pets that keep him busy
• Keep kitchen countertops clean and free of food to reduce temptation
• Store household chemicals and poisons in a lockable cabinet
• Keep the lids on the toilets closed so the puppy does not fall inside or drink from them
• Keep electrical cords and wires out of sight or secured to walls
• In the winter, rinse your dog’s legs with warm water and dry them with a towel to rinse the snow and chemicals that dissolve it as they can irritate the pads of the legs
• Keep your dog indoors and safe in extreme weather throughout the year

Intelligent and playful puppies investigate objects by touching them, chewing them and tasting them. Growing puppies love to explore, but they need protection from household items that are dangerous if swallowed. Hope you got some ideas to keep your home and your puppy safe.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Thompson

I’m blogger and genuine dog lover. On my blog dogequipmentexpert.com I share everything I learned from owning and training my puppies…

*Photos are courtesy of Mary Thompson