by Susan Hoffman

Created on: July 19, 2008

Puppy Proofing Your Home

Congratulations, you have decided to welcome a little furry bundle of joy and mischief into your heart and your home. Does your lounge suite really need the foam inside it to be comfortable? Did your garden bed actually need flowers? I know you really love that smelly bone buried in your pillows and just try to think of the puppy poop in your favorite shoes as a spa treatment for your feet. If this strikes a chord of fear in your heart well look out, as you are in for the many highs and lows that a puppy will bring into your life.

A puppy will for approximately the next two to four years of your life need constant supervision, training, exercise, vet checks, food, and more importantly your time and your love. It takes approximately two to four years for most breeds to mature through to adult hood. The first two years of puppy hood are toddler taming of your puppy, very similar to that of a child, but worse! Be prepared for all hell braking lose as you go through young puppy hood together. Before choosing your puppy, it is highly recommended to research the breed, as although all breeds need the above-mentioned requirements, some breeds require more of an effort. There are many sites on the internet such as www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.html that can help you determine which breed will best suite you and your lifestyle. Thankfully, the reward for your effort will be an obedient, happy dog that loves you and respects your home.

Ideally, you should start your preparation in attempting to puppy proof your home before the arrival of your puppy. However, unless your home has bare walls with rooms devoid of carpets or furnishings of any kind, to completely puppy proof your home is impossible. Even the corners of your walls can become exciting and something new to chew upon if your puppy is unsupervised. Supervision is the only way of ensuring that both your pup and your home remain safe.

As you will eventually have to leave your pup home alone, the best action that you can take is to ensure that you can provide the safest possible environment for your pup until you return. A very young puppy will explore its surroundings but for the most part, it will sleep. A puppy crate or a room such as your laundry is ideal for a short trip down to the shop. The main concern in a laundry is the poisons usually located there. You must make sure that access to any cleaning chemicals is restricted. If a small child can easily open your cupboards then a puppy easily

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