Puppy Proofing Your Home

Before you collect your puppy, make sure your home is safe. Puppy proof as you would do for a toddler. Walk around your property, both inside and outside your house. Remove anything that the puppy could pull or knock down onto itself. Small objects able to be swallowed must be put away.

Closing off Stairs and Escape Places in your fences

Please do not call us and ask if you should close off gaps in case your puppy falls or escapes. If you are thinking this could possibly be the case, then do something about it. As we are not at your property and cant see the fence, we will not make recommendations on this, other than to suggest to be cautious.

Barricade stairs. Climbing up and down stairs on puppy legs can cause joint and hip problems later in life.

Check pool fencing is impenetrable.

Check yard fencing, and gate latches are very secure (we use two closures on all gates)

Remove drowning risks such as full buckets of water

Please make sure your yard is fully fenced for puppy. Any gaps, weak points in gates or areas where holes could be dug under fences must be made secure. Put a sign up at your gate so it is shut properly, or double gate for extra security.

Dog Doors

We suggest a large sized door, rather than a small one. Please follow the recommendations of the companies that make the doors. Their sizes vary, as do the size of dogs.

Cleaning Supplies and Medication

Cleaning supplies, radiator fluid, and many other household items can be poisonous or deadly. Move these out of reach. The childproof tops on medicine bottles are a simple chewing challenge to a puppy, and the tablets are sometimes tasty. Move all medicines to where they cannot be reached.

Electrical

Computer cables and extension cords can be delicious, and dangerous chew toys. Make sure they are out of reach

Breakable items are best moved out of the way.

Poisonous Foods

Avocados (All parts)

Chocolate

Onion family (limit amount)

Alcoholic Beverages

Coffee

Candy and any foods containing Xylitol – the artificial sweetener

Grapes

Gum

Macadamia nuts

Mustard seeds

Raisons

Rhubarb leaves

Walnuts