This weekend, a new rescue puppy joins our family – an adorable Golden x Flat Coat Retriever. The kids can’t wait, and neither can I - but there's a lot to sort out before then. In preparation, I’m sorting piles of objects, holding each one up and asking myself, if the puppy gets hold of this, is it safe? Do we mind if it gets bitten, destroyed or pulled apart and can never be used again? I’m not precious about our old rugs and tired sofa, but puppy proofing is an essential step in dog ownership, and the right decisions now could save broken hearts later.
Preparing to welcome your own four-legged friend? I’m a dog trainer and behaviourist, as well as puppy parent, and this is my step-by-step guide to puppy-proofing your own home, room-by-room.
Kitchen
Ask yourself, what’s in reach and how much do I value it? For example, I love my huge Le Creuset casserole dishes and they could be in reach, but a puppy would need to be Hercules to shift those, so they can stay where they are. But the bins? They need to be swapped for ones with lids. The same goes for the washing basket – it’s open and made of wicker, so could be an inviting space for a puppy to dive in. That needs shifting.
On the door, we’ve added a baby gate, as the room leads to the front door and we don’t want him escaping. When our puppy’s inside the kitchen, we’ve set up a place of his own to relax in while we're cooking. It’s an open crate with a blanket inside. There are heaps of second hand ones on FB marketplace, just make sure to disinfect, dry and air it well before you need it.
Living room
One of the most important things to think about is wires. You can find cable covers which keep lose wires together and out of the way, and they’re top of my list to buy. One of my clients had a puppy who chewed through a lamp cable and got a nasty burn. Some wire covers are just mesh, but you’ll want something solid which is as durable as possible.
Another client of mine installed £20k worth of carpets, only for her puppy to pee all over and ruin them. Add protective, washable rugs on top of your carpets (Ruggable have lots of machine-washable options), and invest in a vacuum with pet hair cleaning capabilities. If you have hard floors, like I do, you’ll also want to add some washable, non-slip rugs. Floorboards can be slippy, potentially causing hip and joint issues for puppies, so keep an eye out in case your dog’s feet start splaying.
And don’t forget about the kids’ stuff, too. Toys often have a lot of small parts, so make sure they’re kept stored away. I got the kids to tidy up their Lego and Nerf gun foam bullets, and they know to keep the door to their craft cupboard shut going forward.
The hallway
In our house, the hallway is more like a boot room, meaning our shoes are at high risk of being chewed. There are lots of storage options available to keep trainers, sandals and muddy boots out the way (which also save space!), while coats, dog leads, umbrellas and the like should be hung high up on hooks.
Got a plug-in air freshener to add a nice scent as you walk through the door? Remove it immediately. Such man-made chemicals are hazardous to dogs and an electric plug-in is alarmingly easy for a puppy to access.
Bedrooms
Everyone has their own opinions on this, but we will be letting our puppy sleep on the beds, so he’ll have access to the upstairs rooms. If you plan to do the same, think about what’s on the floor. In my son’s room, I’ve installed a ball rack for his footballs and he’s moved his favourite cricket balls to the top of his wardrobe, and put his trainers inside. In my daughter’s room, we put up a long, high shelf for her most prized teddy bears to sit safely on. Again, remember to check for any wires from lamps, alarm clocks and things like electric blankets.
Got things you don’t want your dog to bite? Rub a little natural orange and lemon essential oil on them, as the smell will be off-putting. Just make sure you choose good quality, natural oils (like Neal’s Yard), rather than any chemicals.
The car
There are lots of options for dog crates and guards which fit in the boot, but you can also get special puppy seat boxes to go in the front seat. Choose one that has a seatbelt attachment to go onto their harness. And, even if you usually use a collar, swap to a harness (Reg and Bob do some great options) for the car, as collars can put too much pressure on their necks if you have to stop suddenly.
