Tips For Puppy Proofing Your House

July 15, 2024     Organisation

Ensure your home is fully puppy-proofed before your bundle of furry joy arrives. There’s nothing more exciting than bringing home your brand-new puppy. But, before you do, your home must be puppy-proofed.

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, and as a first-time dog owner, you’ll need to focus on puppy-proofing your house. As much as the initial welcome and the excitement that a puppy can provide, there will come a time when you may be challenged in keeping your puppy away from biting, chewing or playing with things they probably shouldn’t!

So, what are the best tips for puppy-proofing your house?

What Is Puppy Proofing?

Puppy proofing is the steps you take to ensure your home is safe for your new pet. Such as removing hazards and creating a secure environment where your puppy can explore without risk. Though it might take some effort, having a safe space for your puppy from day one will save you a lot of headaches and worries down the road.

Is Your Home Prepared For A Puppy?

Before you start making your home safe, have you gathered all the essentials for your puppy’s arrival? Stock up on fun toys, cosy blankets, delicious treats, and the right kind of food. Have you also got a comfy basket or crate ready for them? Creating a warm and welcoming environment will help your puppy feel at ease from the moment they step inside.

To help them settle in during the first couple of nights:

• Have a blanket or item of clothing that smells like their mother or previous home. You can ask the seller for an item or provide them with one of your own jumpers
• In the weeks leading up to bringing your puppy home, give them a jumper or item that smells like you, so they get used to your scent

These simple steps will ensure a smooth transition and help your new puppy feel safe and loved.

How To Puppy Proof Your Home?

Once you have the basics covered, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty of puppy-proofing. Puppies are naturally curious and have a knack for finding trouble, so it’s crucial to be proactive in keeping them safe. Here are some practical tips to help you get started:

Puppy proofing furniture

Furniture can be a huge investment, especially if you’ve recently updated your furnishings. Puppies often target table legs and sofa legs for chewing. How to stop a puppy from chewing on furniture legs?

To protect your furniture, you may want to consider the following:

• Wrapping several layers of bubble wrap around the table or chair legs
• Lightly spray diluted vinegar and water or pre-bought bitter apple spray onto areas of the furniture that are attractive to your new puppy. This isn’t harmful to your puppy and will act as a natural deterrent.
• Restrict access to loose furnishings such as pillows, curtains and coffee table ornaments

In the first few weeks or months, consider storing these items in a personal storage unit until you fully understand your puppy’s behaviour. Our affordable long term Bridgwater storage units are perfect for storing furniture, sports equipment, documents, toys, or clothing. Keep them safe and secure for as long as you need. Once you’re confident in your puppy’s habits, you can reintroduce these objects into your living areas.

Puppy proofing and restricted foods

Certain human foods, like onions, chocolate, raisins and avocados, are poisonous to dogs and can be life-threatening! To keep your puppy safe:

• Keep restricted foods well out of reach. Use safety latches on low-level cupboards
• Ensure human medicines are stored out of reach,

Keeping these items secure prevents emergencies and unnecessary vet visits

Puppy proofing wires

Dogs, especially puppies, will be inquisitive and highly susceptible to wanting to play with things that aren’t their toys. A popular choice for puppies, especially because they are everywhere around the house, are loose cables and wires. Whether it be connections to the TV, phone charger cables or lamps on your living room side table, if it’s visible, they will give it a good go!

So to prevent accidents:

• Use cheap wire covers or housings to protect visible cables running along walls
• If you have spare cables, box them up and store them in our self storage services until you need them again

Puppy-proofing skirting boards

Puppies naturally explore their world by chewing, which can cause trouble, especially when they chew skirting boards. They also chew to relieve teething pain as their adult teeth come in. Then, how to stop a puppy from chewing skirting boards? You may want to consider these tips:

• Take your dog for more walks
• Provide a variety of chew toys
• Increase playtime
• Create physical barriers with furniture, baby gates, or mats

Puppy proofing garden safety tips

If you have a garden, follow these steps to ensure it’s safe for your puppy:

• Ensure fences are secure to prevent escapes
• Keep sharp tools, garden furniture, and cushions tidy. Using a Bridgwater garden storage unit can help keep these items safe and out of your puppy’s reach
• If there’s no fence, never leave your puppy unattended and keep them on a lead
• Eliminate rodent traps and insect bait stations from areas accessible to your puppy, as these can be deadly

Get Ready For Puppy Proofing With Your Store Bridgwater

Bringing a new puppy home can help you get more organised. As you sort through items to keep them safe from your curious pup, you’ll likely find things you no longer need or want. It’s a great chance to declutter and tidy up your home. Explore our 5 decluttering tips from Bridgwater storage facilities.

At Your Store Bridgwater, we understand the importance of a smooth transition so you and your family can enjoy your new puppy without stress. With our range of long and short-term storage units, you can store as much or as little as you need, for as many days or months as you want. If you need assistance in choosing the correct size of storage unit for your needs, read our blog “What Storage Unit Size Do I Need?” for more information.

Book your no-obligation free quote today by calling us at 01278 448871 or emailing info@yourstorebridgwater.co.uk and get started on making your home safe and organised for your new puppy!