by E K Stapleton

Created on: July 18, 2008   Last Updated: July 24, 2008

Bringing a new puppy into your home is an exciting time for you and your new addition. As we well know excitement can cause certain things to be overlooked. One important aspect of puppy preparation which can't be neglected is puppy proofing your home. It is vital to ensuring your puppy's safety as well as preventing the destruction of your property. Trust me, one tiny puppy has the ability to wreak havoc on an entire household in a relatively short period of time.

The task of puppy proofing should be undertaken before the arrival of your canine companion. Some minor adjustments may need to be made as your pooch familiarizes itself with it's new surroundings, but taking care of the basics ahead of time will eliminate a lot of stress, aggravation and cost. Unfortunately I speak from experience as the unprepared arrival of my Black Lab puppy resulted in the replacement of a living room set, wall to wall carpeting, two doors and an area rug before I invested in a crate. Taking the proper steps would have avoided all the chaos.

KEEP THINGS OUT OF REACH

Just as you would with a baby, extra care must be taken to prevent your new puppy from getting hold of anything that may harm him or that you don't want destroyed. Leave no stone unturned as the list of things a puppy is intrigued by is endless. It is best to go through the entire house on your hands and knees to view things from a puppy's perspective and discover what may be there to entice a young, inquisitive mind.

- Clear the floor of tiny objects than could easily become lodged in the throat.

- For the time being put away pillows and throw cushions, which your puppy will delight in ripping to shreds.

- Secure heavy items that can easily be knocked or pulled from tables(this can cause serious injury to your puppy).

- Keep shoes and dirty laundry stored away to prevent them from being chewed.

- Keep electrical wires, computer cables and telephone cords off the floor and don't let them hang loosely. Secure the slack with twist ties. Chewing on these could result in serious injury to your puppy or the replacement of expensive equipment.

- Medication and cosmetics which could potentially be fatal shouldn't be left out.

- Strings from blinds or other window furnishings shouldn't be dangling. Puppy could easily be choked or strangled.

- Don't leave extra rolls of toilette paper out in baskets in the bathroom. Puppies delight in shredding and eating these rolls or fun.

- Be sure not to leave coins on the counter or dressers where

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