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How to Puppy Proof Your Home

Posted by Clare Bristow | 1 Comment

Puppies are naturally very inquisitive and, combined with a huge amount of energy, can get themselves into trouble and/or cause a great deal of destruction in a very short space of time.

To keep your puppy safe, and help you retain your sanity in the first few weeks after you bring him home, it pays to spend some time 'puppy proofing' your home prior to his arrival.

It doesn't take too long to do and the best way to do it is by looking at your house through the eyes of a puppy. Try getting low down on the floor and looking around you, pretend you are in the house for the first time - you'll notice lots of interesting things to investigate, and many could cause serious injury, or prove fatal, if your puppy gets hold of them and starts chewing.

Here is a list of some of the common indoor hazards your puppy could encounter on a daily basis and many of them apply to a dog of any age:

• Check to see if you have any houseplants that are known to be toxic to dogs; if you do, either replace them or put them somewhere where your puppy either can't reach them or pull them down from the place you've put them.
  Some of the more common poisonous plants are azalea, lilies, ivy and begonias;
• Electrical cords can prove fatal if they are chewed - run any visible cables under the carpet, tidy up and conceal surplus wire behind furniture where possible and consider using plastic cable covers or plastic tubing to cover any exposed cables;
• Small objects left lying around can cause all sorts of problems such as choking, poisoning and intestinal blockages - children's Lego, sewing kits, yarn, pencils, pens, items of clothing are all items you need to be aware of and tidy away;
• Many medications, cleaning products, human food and tobacco products can be toxic to dogs. Keep medicines and cleaning products shut away in cupboards or on high shelves. Ensure food and tobacco products (cigarettes, tobacco, nicotine patches and gum) are also well out of reach. Do not underestimate your puppy's ability to jump up and take things off low tables and shelves;
• All types of fires can be dangerous, so fence your puppy off from them with a baby gate or fire guard;
• Trash cans are another potential hazard and I suggest you either put them in a cupboard or buy a strong fitting lid for them. I had to brick on top of my trash can to stop Zoe rummaging around in there! and
• Keep toilet lids down and don't leave bathtubs and sinks full of water - all are potential drowning hazards for your dog.

More generally, when inside with your puppy:

• Do not leave leave your puppy in a room un-supervized; if your attention is needed elsewhere, it's a good idea to put him in a small playpen with a few safe toys to play with;
• When he's in a room with you, keep windows and doors shut, or closed off with a screen or gate, so he can't wander off and get himself into trouble in another room of the house or outside;
• Close off stairwells, porches and raised decks with a screen or gates.

I still keep most of the items listed above out of the way of Fritz and Zoe because it's become a habit - the house looks a great deal tidier too!

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10 Things To Do Before Your New Puppy Arrives

Posted by Clare Bristow | 12 Comments

I was reminded of how exciting, and daunting, it is to bring home your new puppy by two things last week. First, Zoe had a litter of 8 puppies on Tuesday which made me remember how excited I was when I knew that I was going to get a puppy, and secondly I moved house on Wednesday - the first house Zoe lived in. As I walked around the house for the last time it brought back all the memories of our first few months together.

I don't think anything prepares you for the upheaval to your lifestyle that a new puppy brings, but the better prepared you are before your puppy arrives, the easier those first few weeks will be and you'll be off to a good start with your new companion.

Before your puppy arrives:

1. Plan to have three or four days, a week if possible, free from work and social commitments so you can get your puppy used to his new surroundings, start and maintain a consistent approach to house training and get your puppy used to a routine;
2. Decide on a name for your puppy so you can start using it immediately;
3. Know in advance where you want him to sleep, eat, how you are going to house train him and what words you are going to use for certain commands. It's important that everyone in the house knows and agrees on what you've decided.
   Whilst this all takes a bit of effort it is less confusing for your new puppy, and he will quickly learn what is expected of him if he receives a consistent message from everyone in the house.
4. Spend time researching the breed you are buying, or dog breeds if you are buying a specific cross breed, because they may have specific traits that you need to be aware of. A good book on puppy care is also a wise purchase;
5. Choose a vet, if you don't already have one, and make an appointment to go and see him with your new puppy within a couple of days of bringing him home;
6. Find out what dog food your puppy has been eating and make sure you have sufficient supplies in the house before your puppy arrives home. Moving to a new house will be stressful for your puppy, so ensuring he has the same food to eat will help to ease the transition.
7. Puppy proof your home - puppies are naturally inquisitive and are quickly into anything they find interesting, and they do it mouth first! Reduce the risk to your puppy's health, and your possessions by removing all hazards and temptations from his reach.
   Get down on the floor if necessary and try and look at your house - inside and outside in the yard/garden - from your puppy's point of view.
8. Stock up on necessary supplies which include: food and water dishes, a crate and/or bed, toys (including chew toys), collar, leash, nametag and a basic grooming and dental care kit.
   You might want to buy a baby gate or child's playpen so you can contain your puppy in one room for the times you can't supervise his activity;
9. Find out where your local puppy classes are held, and reserve a place. These classes are excellent for socializing your puppy and tend to get booked up very quickly; and
10. Last, but not least, remember that you'll need a great deal of patience, kindness and a sense of humor.

Puppyhood doesn't last forever but it forms the foundation for how your puppy will behave when he's grown up. Adequate planning and putting the time and effort in in the first 6 months will set you up for a long and fantastic relationship with your dog.

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