Dog-Proofing Your Home, One Step At A Time

Are you looking for ways to dog-proof your home? If so, you’re in luck. Thousands of people have already dealt with this problem, and they have a bunch of ideas you can use too. That’s super helpful! Introducing a dog to your home is a bit like having a child. Your new pooch doesn’t know that electricity runs through wires or not to chew the sofa. It takes time to teach them the basics. In the meantime, you need to make changes to your home to stop them from damaging it – or themselves. 

Keep Dangerous Foods Locked Away

Dogs have a very sophisticated sense of smell. If something seems edible, they’ll put it in their mouths and taste it. It’s almost instinct.  Not all human food, however, is suitable for dogs. And some are downright dangerous. Chocolate, for instance, is extremely toxic for dogs and can lead to organ failure in some cases.  Resolve to keep food elevated and locked away, out of sight. Don’t leave half-eaten food lying around. Dogs will help themselves. 

Fit A Dog Flap

You’ve heard of cat flaps. But now you can get dog doors too, allowing them to run in and out of the house and garden, without you having to get up and open the main entrance.  Weather-tight pet doors from Pet Door Products are one example of how these products work. You simply cut out a section of your existing door, add the new flap, and off you go. Quality vendors make doors that keep the elements out of your house year-round. 

Puppy-Proof Your Wires

Older dogs will generally leave wires alone. But puppies are curious creatures. And they’re particularly attracted to cables.  The best way to solve the problem is to hide your cables away behind walls. If you can’t do that, you can buy special wire protectors that stop your pooch from chewing them at all. And that means a lower risk of electrocution. 

Keep Poisonous Substances Out Of Reach

You would never consider drinking a bottle of bleach. But dogs don’t have the same visceral reaction to the prospect. They haven’t grown up with parents telling them that certain chemicals are dangerous. So they don’t understand that they shouldn’t consume them.  Keep dogs away from your bleach where possible. Place it high up in your bathroom or medicine cabinet. Keep other cleaning products out of sight in cupboards that dogs can’t open. 

Wrapping Up

If you’re thinking about getting a puppy, you should start preparing your home now. Go room to room and think about the hazards your dog might face. Try to see it from their perspective. Think about what they don’t know and then make changes.  The task is often more laborious than you might think. We navigate our homes oblivious to most dangers because we’re so used to them. But dogs don’t have the same experience as we do. And so they can find it challenging to regulate their behavior or perceive threats. Making changes now will put your mind at ease for when your pooch finally arrives.