Puppy Proofing 101

Puppies.

Cue the JAWS theme music…

There comes a stage in every growing puppy’s life when they are basically land sharks. Those tiny little teeth not only feel like needles or razor blades digging into your skin, but they can do an outstanding amount of damage around the home as well.

Let’s get right into it. Puppy proofing your home from mini daggers of pain.

Puppies are short. Their line of sight is much different than ours. Get down to their level and check out your home. Is there anything down there that looks like it may intrigue a puppy? Most likely, everything will intrigue a pup, so let’s conquer this room by room.

Remember, you can keep certain rooms “off limits” while your pup is learning the ways.

Living Room/Bedroom/Office:

Wires- Puppy teeth can easily sever a wire. Not only is this destructive but it’s very dangerous to your pup. Make sure electrical cords, phone/computer chargers and video game cords are out of your puppy’s reach.

Remotes- For some reason, a lot puppies find remotes irresistible. Place those up high and out of sight.

Pillows/Blankets- Pillows are really fun to rip apart. Keep an eye on your pup if you dare to leave pillows and blankets in a room alone with them.

Shoes/Socks- These are really fun to gnaw on and also hide. It’s best to keep shoes and socks up and out of reach or tucked away in a closet.

Clothes/undies- It’s best to keep tidy when a puppy is around. Some dogs especially love the dirty clothes pile. Invest in a secure hamper so you don’t have to invest in a zipper surgery from an intestinal obstruction.

Kitchen/Bathroom:

Cleaners- It seems like common sense, but we are here to give you a friendly reminder. Keep cleaners out of your pet’s reach. Sometimes, pups learn to nudge open cabinets. You’ve been warned.

The cooktop- Depending on the size of your pup, if pups can put their paws on the counter, they can turn an oven knob. We have seen this first hand. If you block your pup in your kitchen make sure your dog cannot reach the oven knobs.

Gum/Candy/Food- From a possible choking hazard to a poisonous ingredient, many humans foods are dangerous to dogs. Common sweeteners like xylitol can be fatal. Xylitol is commonly found in gum and can be found in some peanut butters.

Medications- This is a friendly reminder to keep your meds in a cabinet when you have a puppy or counter surfing dog around.

Garbage can/compost bin- Make sure you have a garbage can that cannot be easily knocked down or nudged open.

Plants- My dog loves plants. By love, I mean, he enjoys biting their leaves as he zooms by. Click the button below to get a poisonous plant list from the ASPCA, it’s been bookmarked in our home.

By puppy proofing your home, you’ll keep belongings in tact and most importantly, you’ll keep your land shark safe and healthy.

Here’s to overwhelming puppy breath and a happy and healthy home.

Help! My Dog is Destroying My Home!

Sooner or later most dog owners will return home and find something ruined by their beloved pooch. Here is what you need to know: chewing is a natural behavior for puppies and dogs. It helps relieve teething pain in puppies, it's how Fido explores his environment (he doesn't have hands after all), it's a lot of fun, and it keeps their teeth healthy. Your dog needs to chew; it's up to you to teach them the difference between good chewing and bad chewing.

First, you need to figure out why your dog is chewing. Are they lonely, under-exercised, teething, or have separation anxiety? Knowing why will help you figure out how to stop it.

Here are some places to start:

Every dog, regardless of their age, needs toys. A lot of toys and with great variety. Be sure the toys don't look like household items. Buying a puppy a toy that looks like a shoe (and they are out there) and then being angry when the pup chews a real shoe is your fault. Get puzzle toys, chew toys, soft toys, Kongs, balls, and tug toys. However, if there are tons of toys lying around, they may get bored with them. Take all away except 3 or 4 and rotate them out every few days to keep life interesting. Be sure they are size appropriate and if your dog is a strong chewer that they are tough toys to withstand their chompers.

If your pooch is a chewer, you'll need to chew-proof your home. Put shoes away, put books on a shelf, don't leave your eyeglasses on the coffee table, and tuck electrical cords behind furniture. When your dog picks something inappropriate to chew, don't punish them, instead redirect your best friend to a toy they can chew. Some people say "no" or make a buzzer sound like "ehh" to tell their dog he has chewed the wrong thing. This is a good strategy as long as you give your pooch something acceptable to chew and say "good dog" when they chew that toy. If you're consistent, it won't take long for Fido to get the hang of the rules. You might want to try a taste deterrent like Bitter Apple to help him learn. When you can't supervise your chewer, put them in a crate or a gated safe room, so they don't get into trouble.

Other things that help with chewing: plenty of mental and physical exercise, a lot of people time, and playtime with other dogs. Another strategy is to feed them their meals in puzzle type toys because this builds a toy obsession, so hopefully, they choose the toy over your new leather purse.

If your dog has other reasons for chewing, like separation anxiety, fear, or boredom, you will have to solve those issues to resolve the chewing problem. It might be best to talk to your vet, a trainer, or a dog behaviorist to come up with strategies to combat inappropriate chewing. We are happy to help with underexercised or bored dogs!

Keeping your stuff safe is just a matter of teaching your pooch good habits, and doing this will strengthen your bond with your dog.