How To Dog-Proof Your Home | A Guide

• By Malaika Aman
• March 13, 2023
• 4 minutes read

Bringing a puppy home is one of the most awe-inspiring experiences in the world, and the first time they cuddle up to you is absolutely life-changing. But, it is not all unicorns and rainbows because we, as humans, must also consider dog-proofing our homes. It’s similar to childproofing, but more intense because even pups can leap up on things.

Hence, if your home is stuffed to the brim with pricey, breakable ornaments, keep them in places where your dog cannot get them otherwise they will break. And there is a slew of other things we should do, but we constantly forget. That’s why we created a handy-dandy list for dog-proofing each room so you don’t overlook anything and come home to mayhem.

Dog-proofing Your Kitchen

Many people do not allow dogs in the kitchen for fear of them consuming something they should not. However, if you properly dog-proof your kitchen, you won’t have to worry about anything when they assist you with the cooking.

1. Keep all food in tightly sealed containers so that your dog cannot get to it.
2. Lower cabinets should have latches installed so that your dog cannot open them.
3. If you don’t want your dog in the kitchen at all, baby-proofing gates are another option.
4. Place all cleaning supplies on high shelves or in lower cabinets with latches.
5. Making sure your dog cannot open your garbage can is also a good idea.

How to Dog-Proof your Living Room?

The living room is the most important room to dog-proof because it is where they will spend the most time. Making certain that all electrical cords are secure and that the fireplace has grates is a critical change.

1. When you’re not using your electrical cords, remember to put them away.
2. If you have a fireplace in your house, Install a grate in front of your fireplace to prevent your dog from accidentally starting a fire.
3. If you don’t want your dog to run outside, keep your windows closed.
4. Make certain that any plants you have in your home are safe for dogs and out of their reach.
5. Always remember to remove any breakable decorations from lower shelves and your coffee table.
6. Place small toys away from the ground so your dog doesn’t try to eat them, especially Lego pieces.

Dog-Proofing your Bathroom

The toilet can be the most dangerous place for a dog, yet they enjoy spending time there. As a result, it is critical to keep this area safe for your dog to relax in.

• Always remember to keep your toilet lid closed or install a seat lock.
• When not in use, keep all bath toys and loofah out of reach of your dog.
• Never leave blow dryers or curling irons out on your table, and always unplug and store them when not in use.
• The most important thing is to keep your toilet paper safe or out of reach of dogs.

Making your Bedroom Dog-Friendly

Not everyone allows their dog to jump on the bed, but if you are not one of these people, you must ensure that there are no choking hazards in the open so that your dog does not get hurt.

• Always keep all drawers and closets closed or secure with a child-proof lock.
• Keeping all of your socks away is critical, or you’ll think the sock goblin has them.
• Keep all small accessories and jewelry out of your dog’s reach.
• While mothballs are useful, they are toxic to dogs, so keep them away.
• Keep your handbags and shoes out of the way, or you’ll end up with chewed-up leather (trust me, I have personally paid that price).

Backyard

Dogs enjoy playing in the backyard, and it is usually safe for them if you have a doggy door for them to use to go potty. However, there may be loose posts or unlatched gates that must be secured before allowing your dog to run free.

You should take the following steps to make sure your Backyard is safe for your doggy:

1. Investigate which plants are safe for your dogs and which are not.
2. When not in use, make sure to store all gardening tools.
3. Remember to keep the gates closed and make sure the fences are at the proper height so your dog doesn’t jump out of the yard.
4. If you have a swimming pool, you should keep an eye on your dog when they are out in the yard.

These are just a few of the things that must be done to keep your dog safe, but there may be many more that must be dog-proofed depending on the size of your home and the number of rooms you have. We can only hope that this guide was useful to you, and please let us know if we missed a point you think is important in the comments below.