The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [9]
If you plan to give your puppy access to your kitchen or a bathroom, make sure cabinet doors near the floor are securely fastened. As a further precaution, consider storing all cleaning products and other toxic items in a higher location for now. A hanging shower curtain won’t survive a puppy attack. Make sure it’s tucked inside the tub if your pup spends time in the bathroom alone.
Puppies can find trouble just about anywhere, so at first, limit your pup’s access to just two or three rooms of the house. The fewer rooms your puppy is allowed to visit, the less puppy proofing you’ll have to do. Once he grows out of the chewing stage, and is reliably housebroken, you can gradually give him the run of the house. He has earned it! By the way, many dogs happily learn to relax in a single room (kitchen, basement, family room, for example) when the family is away, even though they are used to roaming around the rest of the time. You’ll have a deeper and more satisfying relationship, however, with a dog who knows how to behave no matter where he is in the house, so don’t rely on restricting his access as a permanent solution.
After checking the inside of your home for potential problems, step outdoors and review your backyard with your puppy in mind. Again, get down on his level by crouching down and checking out the view. Look for objects that your puppy can chew on and swallow, such as garden tools, children’s toys, and other small objects. Pay close attention to your fencing to make certain there are no broken areas or gaps where your puppy could escape.
Puppies love to gnaw, and garden plants can be a tempting treat to a youngster exploring his world with his mouth. Take a look at the plant species in your yard and find out if any of them are poisonous to dogs. I recommend the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center’s Web site (www.aspca.org) for a list of dog-friendly and dog-dangerous plants. Any plant that is potentially toxic should be removed or blocked off with secure fencing, such as chicken wire.
Remember, too, that a rambunctious puppy can dig up a garden before you know what he’s up to. If you have areas of soft dirt or sand in your yard, cover them by spreading out some chicken wire weighed down with large rocks to discourage the pup from digging. Digging is a difficult habit to break, so it’s best to keep it from starting in the first place. Otherwise, your beautiful garden could end up looking like the surface of the moon.
For your puppy’s safety, dispose of any pesticides or chemical fertilizers you might be using in your garden and switch to safer, more natural methods of pest control and plant feeding. Be particularly aware of poisonous bait designed to kill snails and slugs, as this can be very appealing to dogs, and very deadly. If your puppy will be allowed to keep you company while you are in your garage, pay special attention to puppy proofing this area. Garages are notorious for housing hazardous chemicals that are deadly to pets. Antifreeze is a particular concern; look for a nontoxic brand. Tools, rags, car parts — anything that people normally keep in a garage — can become a danger if a puppy is around. Put these items well out of your puppy’s reach.
In addition to puppy proofing your property, you will need to provide your young pup with plenty of supervision, for safety’s sake as well as for socialization. Tap the times you’re with your pup to work in some fun training and games that will shape his manners and give him an appropriate outlet for his high energy.
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION
It takes time and effort, but puppy proofing your house in the first place is much easier than rushing your puppy to the vet for emergency surgery (not to mention the emotional and financial cost of such of trip). Veterinarians have removed a remarkable variety of objects from the stomachs and intestines of dogs of all