Preparing Your Home For a New Dog

July 22nd, 2010


Dogs like to live their life on the edge. They will investigate all the exciting things life has to offer and never once think of the consequences. The average house or yard are full of exciting attractions for any dog and could lead them into a lot of trouble. This is particularly true when you get a new dog since they’ll be eager to explore their new surroundings. Before your canine is ready to move in, make sure your home is fit for a dog!

Dog-proofing Your Home

Ever hear of child-proofing a home once your kids learn to crawl? Well dog-proofing a home is just like child-proofing one! It means removing anything that can put your pet in danger or break. For example, a dangling cable could be irresistible for your new dog to play with. To prevent electric shocks or a bump on the head from an appliance, unplug electrical cords or put them out of sight and reach.

Taste Test

Toxic chemicals that you would never think to drink could be delicious to your dog. Keep all solvents and cleaning products in a safe place and away from dogs. It’s best to put them on a high shelf where they can’t get to them. Remember to always close toilet lids to prevent them from drinking harmful and poisonous bacteria. Trash cans should always have a tight fitting lid. Your dog will do anything to get a taste of your leftover dinner from last night. Medication bottles may be hard to open but that won’t stop your dog from biting away at the bottle so always keep them out of reach as well. All dog owners should make sure chocolate is kept away from your dog as it contains a stimulant called theobromine which can make dogs seriously ill.

Lockdown

If you have a yard that you plan on letting your dog run around in, make sure you have strong fencing. Check for any lose poles or weak breaks in the fence. Don’t forget that dogs can dig under the fence and escape. The last thing you want is for your dog to slip under the fence and get away. For a small breed a 4 foot high fence should be adequate, and a 6 foot fence should hold a large dog. Make sure you keep an eye on your dog for the first couple months while they play in the yard. Swimming pools should also be fenced and covered.

Boundaries

Garages and sheds are filled with oil spills, sharp objects, pesticides and other things your dog might think of as toys or food. Make sure that your dog can’t get into these types of things. Common objects such as fertilizers, rodent baits, paint, insect sprays, anti-freeze and oil can all poison your dog. You may not be aware that some of these things can leak from the car or lawn mowers and leave puddles on the ground. Make sure that they are cleaned up and no where near your dog.

Gourmet Garden

Your garden may leave you with a gourmet of fruits and vegetables but can be harmful to your dog. Be sure to remove all toxic plants including poinsettia, rhubarb, apricots, oleander, potatoes, foxgloves, azaleas, rhododendrons and tomatoes. Also keep your yard free of sticks that can be chewed. These could perforate her palate, throat or intestine. Give your dog-safe chew toys instead!

Justin used to own two out of control dogs and learned to raise them on his own. Now, 7 years later, he writes tips on how to properly raise a dog on http://www.raisethedog.com

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