Puppy-Proofing 101: How to Keep Your Home Safe and Your Pup Out of Trouble
11 May 2025|David Dahl Bringing home a new puppy is like inviting a tiny, furry tornado into your life—equal parts adorable and chaotic. When I brought Zoey, his now 2-year-old pitbull, home as a pup, he thought he was ready. He had the food, the toys, the crate. What he didn’t have? A clue about how many ways a curious puppy could find trouble. Within 48 hours, Zoey had chewed through a phone charger, knocked over a potted plant, and somehow managed to open the pantry door to help herself to a bag of flour. Lesson learned: puppy-proofing isn’t optional—it’s survival. Whether you’re a first-time dog parent or just need a refresher, here’s your guide to puppy-proofing your home, room by room. 🏠 General Puppy-Proofing Tips Before diving into specific rooms, start with these universal safety checks: Get down on their level. Literally. Crawl around your home to see what your pup sees. You’ll be amazed at how many tempting cords, loose items, and chewable objects are within reach. Secure cords and cables. Use cord covers or hide them behind furniture. Puppies love to chew, and electrical cords are a shock hazard—literally. Block off no-go zones. Use baby gates or playpens to restrict access to certain areas, especially when you can’t supervise. Store cleaning supplies and medications securely. Keep them in high cabinets or locked drawers. Even “natural” products can be harmful if ingested. 🛋️ Living Room This is often the heart of the home—and a minefield for puppies. Anchor heavy furniture. If your pup tries to climb or jump, unsecured furniture can tip over. Keep small items out of reach. Remote controls, coins, and children’s toys can be choking hazards. Watch out for houseplants. Some common plants, like philodendrons and lilies, are toxic to dogs. I learned this the hard way when Zoey decided his prized fiddle-leaf fig was her new chew toy. A quick call to the vet and some activated charcoal later, both Zoey and the plant survived—but barely. 🍽️ Kitchen The kitchen is full of smells and temptations. Use childproof latches on cabinets. Puppies are surprisingly adept at opening doors. Keep trash cans covered or inside a cabinet. The smell of leftovers is irresistible, but ingesting certain foods can be dangerous. Avoid leaving food on counters. Even if your pup can’t reach now, they’ll grow—and learn. Remember, foods like chocolate, grapes, onions, and xylitol (found in sugar-free gum) are toxic to dogs. 🛏️ Bedroom Your sanctuary can be a puppy’s playground. Keep laundry in a hamper. Socks and underwear are favorite chew toys—and common causes of intestinal blockages. Store shoes in a closet. Leather is especially tempting for teething pups. Check under the bed. Puppies love to hide and chew on forgotten items. I once found Zoey under the bed with a chewed-up passport. Lesson: always check for stray items. 🛁 Bathroom Small but full of hazards. Keep the toilet lid closed. Drinking toilet water isn’t just gross—it can be harmful if you use cleaning tablets. Store toiletries securely. Razors, medications, and even toothpaste can be dangerous if ingested. Use a trash can with a lid. Bathroom trash often contains items that can be harmful or cause blockages. 🌳 Yard and Outdoor Spaces Don’t forget the great outdoors. Secure fencing. Check for gaps or loose boards where a puppy could escape. Avoid toxic plants. Common garden plants like azaleas, sago palms, and oleander are poisonous to dogs. Store tools and chemicals safely. Fertilizers, pesticides, and even some mulches can be harmful. I thought his backyard was safe until Zoey dug up and chewed on a bag of cocoa mulch. A frantic vet visit ensued, and now all garden supplies are stored in a locked shed. 🧸 Toys and Chews Provide appropriate outlets for chewing. Choose size-appropriate toys. Avoid items that can be swallowed or broken into small pieces. Rotate toys. Keep things interesting and prevent boredom. Supervise with new toys. Watch how your pup interacts before leaving them alone with it. 📝 Final Thoughts Puppy-proofing is an ongoing process. As your pup grows and learns, new challenges will arise. Stay vigilant, be patient, and remember: every chewed shoe is a learning opportunity—for both of you. I often joke that Zoey trained me more than I trained her. But with each mishap came a lesson, and now their home is both safe and welcoming—a place where Zoey can thrive and I can relax (mostly).
11 May 2025|David Dahl Bringing home a new puppy is like inviting a tiny, furry tornado into your life—equal parts adorable and chaotic. When I brought Zoey, his now 2-year-old pitbull, home as a pup, he thought he was ready. He had the food, the toys, the crate. What he didn’t have? A clue about how many ways a curious puppy could find trouble. Within 48 hours, Zoey had chewed through a phone charger, knocked over a potted plant, and somehow managed to open the pantry door to help herself to a bag of flour. Lesson learned: puppy-proofing isn’t optional—it’s survival. Whether you’re a first-time dog parent or just need a refresher, here’s your guide to puppy-proofing your home, room by room. 🏠 General Puppy-Proofing Tips Before diving into specific rooms, start with these universal safety checks: Get down on their level. Literally. Crawl around your home to see what your pup sees. You’ll be amazed at how many tempting cords, loose items, and chewable objects are within reach. Secure cords and cables. Use cord covers or hide them behind furniture. Puppies love to chew, and electrical cords are a shock hazard—literally. Block off no-go zones. Use baby gates or playpens to restrict access to certain areas, especially when you can’t supervise. Store cleaning supplies and medications securely. Keep them in high cabinets or locked drawers. Even “natural” products can be harmful if ingested. 🛋️ Living Room This is often the heart of the home—and a minefield for puppies. Anchor heavy furniture. If your pup tries to climb or jump, unsecured furniture can tip over. Keep small items out of reach. Remote controls, coins, and children’s toys can be choking hazards. Watch out for houseplants. Some common plants, like philodendrons and lilies, are toxic to dogs. I learned this the hard way when Zoey decided his prized fiddle-leaf fig was her new chew toy. A quick call to the vet and some activated charcoal later, both Zoey and the plant survived—but barely. 🍽️ Kitchen The kitchen is full of smells and temptations. Use childproof latches on cabinets. Puppies are surprisingly adept at opening doors. Keep trash cans covered or inside a cabinet. The smell of leftovers is irresistible, but ingesting certain foods can be dangerous. Avoid leaving food on counters. Even if your pup can’t reach now, they’ll grow—and learn. Remember, foods like chocolate, grapes, onions, and xylitol (found in sugar-free gum) are toxic to dogs. 🛏️ Bedroom Your sanctuary can be a puppy’s playground. Keep laundry in a hamper. Socks and underwear are favorite chew toys—and common causes of intestinal blockages. Store shoes in a closet. Leather is especially tempting for teething pups. Check under the bed. Puppies love to hide and chew on forgotten items. I once found Zoey under the bed with a chewed-up passport. Lesson: always check for stray items. 🛁 Bathroom Small but full of hazards. Keep the toilet lid closed. Drinking toilet water isn’t just gross—it can be harmful if you use cleaning tablets. Store toiletries securely. Razors, medications, and even toothpaste can be dangerous if ingested. Use a trash can with a lid. Bathroom trash often contains items that can be harmful or cause blockages. 🌳 Yard and Outdoor Spaces Don’t forget the great outdoors. Secure fencing. Check for gaps or loose boards where a puppy could escape. Avoid toxic plants. Common garden plants like azaleas, sago palms, and oleander are poisonous to dogs. Store tools and chemicals safely. Fertilizers, pesticides, and even some mulches can be harmful. I thought his backyard was safe until Zoey dug up and chewed on a bag of cocoa mulch. A frantic vet visit ensued, and now all garden supplies are stored in a locked shed. 🧸 Toys and Chews Provide appropriate outlets for chewing. Choose size-appropriate toys. Avoid items that can be swallowed or broken into small pieces. Rotate toys. Keep things interesting and prevent boredom. Supervise with new toys. Watch how your pup interacts before leaving them alone with it. 📝 Final Thoughts Puppy-proofing is an ongoing process. As your pup grows and learns, new challenges will arise. Stay vigilant, be patient, and remember: every chewed shoe is a learning opportunity—for both of you. I often joke that Zoey trained me more than I trained her. But with each mishap came a lesson, and now their home is both safe and welcoming—a place where Zoey can thrive and I can relax (mostly).