Welcoming a new puppy to your home is fun and exciting.  When you are the new owner (or soon-to-be owner) of a new pully you will want to start preparing for your puppy.   This includes finding a veterinarian and purchasing the necessary items. Some of the fun parts are picking out toys, a cute new collar, and a name tag with your new furry friend’s name.  One important thing you will also want to remember is to puppy proof your home. Making sure your environment is as safe as it can be we are providing you our new puppy checklist before bringing your puppy home.

Puppy-Proofing Checklist

Restricted Areas:  When you bring your new puppy home, they will want to explore as much as possible and test their limits.  You can use things like baby gates and pens to keep your furry friend in certain areas of the home as well as keep some doors closed you don’t want them in.

Poisonous houseplants to watch out for:   Houseplants can cause serious problems and should be removed completely or put up high where they can not be reached by your new puppy.  Poisonous houseplants can cause mild irritation, digestive upset, organ failure, or even death. Some of the more dangerous plants include Sago Palm, Castor Bean, American Yew, Lily, Mums, and Autumn Crocus.  The ASPCA provided a list of over 1,000 plants and flowers that can be either toxic or non-toxic that you can check out as well.

Bag Storage:  Your backpack, gym bag, purse, or diaper bag most likely contains at least one item if not many that can pose a threat to your new fido.  Things like gum, sugar-free mints, toothpaste, and hand cream that contain Xylitol pose a threat of poisoning to your puppy.  You can check out a list of over 700 items that contain Xylitol to help keep your puppy protected.  Be sure to keep your bags closed, in a closet, or out of reach to avoid unintentional poisoning, and be sure any visitors follow the same rules.

Lockdown your trash:  Puppies are curious and will be attracted to the smell of your trash, so it’s crucial to keep them secure and covered.  You don’t want your new puppy to consume something toxic, swallow anything that could cause an internal obstruction, or let them get their heads caught in a snack bag that could put them at risk of suffocation.

There’s No Place Like a Safe Place:  A new puppy deserves a place they can retreat and be contained when you are not home like a crate, pen, or a fluffy spot in your basement on an old sofa.  Crate training can be beneficial to start when you have a new puppy, this way when you travel, take them to the groomer or the vet, they will feel safe and comfortable in a crate.  You can also make your dog feel at home in their crate, check out this quick read from PetMd.

Charge-Free:  Be sure to keep your cords covered and contained.  New puppies like to chew, so you will want to protect your new puppy by puppy-proofing your cords.   This will help avoid accidental shock, burns to their mouths, or worse. You can use sturdy cord covers or deterrent spray on your charges, power cables, and electric cords.  It’s also important to supervisor your new puppy when they are not in their crate or pen and provides them with plenty of chew toys for their chewing safety.

Just Say No to Drugs:  Our own medications are one of the most common yearly sources of poisoning pets, so be sure you keep your medications and supplements in a safe place like a secured cabinet or drawer.  Your new puppy’s medications, like heartworm and flea protection medications, should be kept separately from your as well as in a safe place. When it’s time for you to take your pills, do so over a sink or bowl to avoid them falling on the floor.

Proper Poison Storage:  Everyday items you use in your homes like household cleaners, glue, yard chemicals, detergents, and automotive liquids have toxic chemicals and should be locked up.  You might think that a safety cap will protect your new puppy, but often a puppy’s teeth can chew right through them. Take extra care with antifreeze which is very toxic and enticing to pets.   Also keep rat and mouse poisons, slug baits, and insect killer products out of reach.

Ground your Puppy:  We don’t mean to actually punish your puppy by grounding them, but to keep your puppy close to the ground.  Puppies have fragile bones and can be clumsy, so you want to avoid the risk of injury from falling or trying to jump farther than they should.  We recommend keeping your puppy off of tall furniture and have children sitting down while holding them.

Batteries Included:  Batteries are not safe, so be sure to keep remote controls, key fobs, electronic toys, and other devices with batteries out of reach and picked up.  Batteries can cause burns inside your puppy’s esophagus when swallowed. Small parts can also be chewed and swallowed causing a blockage in their digestive system.   Be extra careful of disc batteries are these are especially dangerous.

If you are in the San Diego area and looking for quality pet care services you can rely on Fon Jon Pet Care.  Contact Fon Jon Pet Care at 1-858-250-3601 or visit our site today and we will be happy to help you with your pet care service needs.

Fon Jon Pet Care

Serving San Diego Since 1950 | Celebrating 70 Years of Pet Care Services