So, you’ve decided to get a new puppy – congratulations! While it’s a time of love and laughter with your new bundle of fur, it’s also crucial that you prepare your home for their arrival.
Set yourself up for success by safety-proofing your home with these seven steps, or download our eBook Surviving the first 100 days after you bring a puppy home.
1. Take care of electrical wiring
Make sure all power cords around the house are tucked away or taped down so your puppy can’t claw or bite through them. Also think about whether outlet covers would be a worthy investment. Not only will this protect your puppy from potential electrocution, but it could save you from costly repairs or replacements.
2. Don’t let anything fall!
Could your puppy reach that precious vase and knock it over? What about that wobbly bookcase? If there are unstable objects in your house that could be hazardous, now is the time to fasten them down or secure them somewhere safer – before your puppy accidentally hurts themselves.
3. Toxic plants are a big risk
It’s important to acquaint yourself with the most common toxic plants in Australia. What might be safe for you could cause serious harm to your puppy if ingested – flora like lilies, ivy, aloe vera and lantana, for example. Some plants – such as agapanthus, frangipanis, wandering jew, mulberry trees and eucalyptus trees – can also cause serious skin rashes and dermatitis if your pet comes into physical contact with them. Remove any plants that are toxic to dogs from around your home and garden, so you won’t have to worry about your pup whenever they’re outside.
4. Dangerous substances
There’s nowhere a puppy won’t explore! Dogs ‘test’ things by either licking them or swallowing them, and as you can imagine, this can be quite dangerous and can sometimes result in poisoning. That means you’ll need to store away all medications, cleaning liquids, poisonous chemicals (like weed killer, rodent or snail bait), batteries (or any device containing batteries, including remote controls) and medications in places that your puppy can’t reach or access.
5. Seal away all food
A puppy’s nose is so sensitive that it’ll smell any food from the other end of the house – so make sure you pack away all food and especially keep the dog food (such as dry kibble) somewhere your puppy can’t access.
Puppies are highly prone to digestive upsets with any sudden change of diet. They can also become dangerously ill if they eat some foods, including cooked bones. It’s important to secure all garbage bins to prevent your puppy from digesting undesirable food items like grapes, sultanas, chocolate, onion and garlic – and any other dangerous materials such as string, food wrappings or plastic bags.
6. Curtain tangles
If your home has curtains, puppies can wreak havoc on them when untrained. They might claw or chew at the fabric, and if they are strong they might even be able to tear them completely off the curtain rod. This can lead to injury if your puppy becomes tangled in the curtains or, if your puppy ingests them, they could suffer from intestinal obstruction, strangulation or perforation. Tie up all curtains when not in use and keep curtain cords out of reach of prying puppies.
7. Choking hazards
If you’ve had children, you’ll already know how dangerous small objects can be when ingested. So, treat your puppy in much the same way by storing away any potential choking hazards from around your home. These could include things like toy cars, loose change, tissues and other objects that could cause serious harm if your puppy swallowed them. Some pet toys are even a risk, such as soft toys with plastic eyes or noses that a puppy could chew off. That’s why it’s important to choose your pet toys wisely – visit your local pet store to see a wide range of toys, from tough-chew toys to tug-of-war ropes, balls, frisbees and more.
You may not be able to keep an eye on your inquisitive puppy 24/7, but you can protect yourself financially should they become ill or get injured. To find out more about how pet insurance can give you peace of mind, request a call back on 1300 881 492 or get a quote and buy online today.
Download Surviving the first 100 days after you bring a puppy home [eBook]
28 Oct 2019