How to Dog-Proof Your Home and Garden

Pet-proofing your home and garden requires some easy steps to be undertaken. Once you have chosen to make a dog your new family pet, it is time to transform your home and garden into a safe environment for your pet.  Keeping your pet safe, and your home and garden intact, is simple which require a few modifications. With following modifications, you can easily turn your home and garden into a lovely, pet friendly oasis.

Dog proofing your Home:

1. Houseplants (especially toxic ones) need to be put on high shelves so that they cannot be dug up or eaten by puppy. Some toxic plants for dogs are caladium, poinsettias, orange day lilies, tulips, philodendron, dieffenbachia (or dumb cane), and elephant’s ear.
2. Fit child locks to your kitchen and other cabinets.
3. Invest in some non-toxic unpleasant tasting anti-chew spray if you think any expensive furniture or other valuable item may come under attack.
4. Remove or adequately cover all the exposed cablings, especially mains electricity leads.
5. Protect exposed wooden floors or fabrics that are at risk of being scratched or chewed easily. Remember, your puppy will find it hard to stop if they are running onto a slick surface, so ensure that they are adequately protected from causing damage to both themselves and your property.
6. Clear glass doors are also going to cause issues for an excited new canine!
7. Consider purchasing a stair-gate, as it will allow you to block access easily to areas that are out of bounds.
8. Move various toxic and hazardous household products, such as bleach, glass cleaner, mosquito repellant, toilet cleaner etc., to a secured storage area.
9. Keep your toilet lid closed, and it may be worth putting a latch on the lid.

Dog Proofing your Garden

1. If you do not have a fence in the garden, consider fencing the garden. This will keep your puppy at home and avoid impoundment if he is found running loose. In addition to this, fence will keep your dog out of the road and away from pedestrians. If you already has fence, you should check it for gaps, loose boards, and uneven areas.
2. Remove any pointed or sharp objects from the garden. Look for broken lawn tables, old car parts, and chairs.
3. Remove any small objects from the garden that could be ingested accidently. This may include small children’s toys, rocks or gardening tools.
4. Move any breakable lawn ornaments to an area that will not be accessible by the dog.
5. Do not plant onions or tomatoes in a garden accessible to dogs, as these are toxic to dogs
6. Design the perfect doghouse with proper protection from all season. Raised floors of doghouse provide extra insulation.
7. Enclose or remove any deep fountains, ponds or other water bodies that could pose a drowning hazard for small puppies.
8. Use smooth pebbles or flagstones for the pathways in the garden.  Anything that is pointed or sharp should not be used in the pathways, as it may stab into the pads of your pet’s feet.
9. If you have a planted areas and use insecticides, fertilizers, or pesticides, you make sure the ones you use are labeled as ‘pet safe’ or switch to chemical free and organic gardening.

Conclusion

The goal of dog proofing is essentially protection of your puppy as well as your property. Puppy’s are mischievous and can get themselves into various troubles. It is owners’ responsibility to do the best they can so as to keep puppy safe inside and around home. By following above mentioned tips, you can make your home a safe environment for your puppy.