How to Doggie-Proof Your Home

Is your home as safe as it can be for your canine friend? Here are a few simple things you can do to doggie-proof your home without engaging professional help.

1. Kitchens & Bathrooms

Use child-proof latches to keep paws from prying open cabinets
Place medications, cleaners, chemicals, and laundry supplies on high shelves
Keep dustbins covered or inside a latched cabinet
Check for small spaces, nooks, or holes that your pooch might sneak into and block them out. Common hideouts are holes inside cabinets and spaces behind washer/dryer units
Keep food out of reach by keeping them in child-proofed cabinets or above ground
Keep the toilet lid closed to prevent drowning or drinking of harmful cleaning chemicals

2. Living Room

Place wires from lights, DVD players, televisions, consoles and telephones out of your dog’s reach.
Put away toys, cards, torches, pencils, pens etc away from your dog’s reach
Put away knick-knacks until your dog has the coordination not to knock them over
Check all those places where your vacuum cleaner doesn’t fit, but your puppy does, for dangerous items, like string
Move common house plants that may be poisonous out of reach. Don’t forget hanging plants that can be jumped onto from nearby surfaces
Make sure all heating/air vents have covers
Put away all sewing and craft notions, especially thread.

3. Garage

Move all chemicals to high shelves or behind secure doors
Put away any heavy industrial grade chemical you might have- be it pesticide, detergent or heavy water- one small dose might even be lethal to your pet.
Ensure that no sharp objects or small tools are strewn on the floor if your dog has access to the garage.
Keep all hoses and faucets out of reach.

4. BEDROOMS

Keep laundry and shoes behind closed doors (drawstrings and buttons can cause major problems if swallowed)
Keep any medications, lotions, or cosmetics off accessible surfaces (like the bedside table)
Move electrical and phone wires out of reach of chewing
Be careful that you don’t close your kitten in closets or dresser drawers