Puppy Safety 101
When you’re bringing home a new puppy, you want to do everything you can to keep him safe and happy. Here, we’ve collected some of the main things you’ll want to keep in mind to help ensure your puppy’s safety.
Never let puppy sleep in your bed with you
When you or a family member would like to snuggle puppy in bed it is very important to put him in the crate before you doze off. He can fall from the bed and be injured while you sleep. If he makes it to the floor safely, he has free rein to chew and ingest hazardous items.
Laundry (and dishwasher) pods are extremely dangerous for dogs; keep them locked up.
Secure garbage cans
Puppies have great noses, and they may try to help themselves to leftovers if they can get into the garbage can. This can lead to vomiting and diarrhea, intestinal obstruction with non-food items or bones, or even toxicity. Keep all garbage cans, including those in the bathroom and office areas, covered securely or up high enough that your puppy can’t get into them.
Tie up, cover, or remove electrical cords
Puppies often chew on electrical cords, and this can result in severe burns or death from electrical shock. Remove cords where possible, secure them together up high when you can.
Secure Drapery cords
Cords that control blinds or drapes are a strangulation hazard for curious puppies, who may get wrapped up in them. Keep these cords secured up high so your puppy can’t get
Keep Your Puppy Safely in a Crate When You Can’t Supervise Him
Crates are a wonderful way to keep your puppy safe. When you must leave him at home or are unable to supervise him because you are otherwise occupied, a dog crate is the safest place for him. Crates also help tremendously with house-training. The crate should match his size. A crate that is too big will allow him to potty at one end and sleep at the other. Pups will not potty where they sleep and will wait to go if their crate is the right size. Crates that have a divider are also a good choice. You can adjust as he grows.