Puppy Proof Your Home

I watched my sister baby proof her apartment. At the age of 16-month old, my nephew, Russell has begun to climb the shelves and reach for objects placed on high places. He still puts objects, especially his toys, into his mouth. So, we keep a watchful eye on him.

Such a scenario draws resemblance to that of puppy proofing a home. Your ultimate aim is to make your home safe and free from hazards for your puppy. The idea is to view your home from a puppy's perspective and use common sense to identify potential hazards.

1. Make electrical cords inaccessible. A puppy that chews on them could die from an electric shock.

2. Keep chemicals out of reach. Example: cleaning liquid, toilet bowl cleaner, pesticides, etc.

3. Keep sharp or small objects out of reach. Examples: needles, pins, coins, jewellery, knife, etc.

4. Keep medications out of reach. Child proof plastic containers are not sufficiently safe as your puppy could easily sink its teeth into the contents.

5. Know which house plants are toxic to your puppy. Either put them out of reach or don't buy them. When in doubt, check with your veterinarian.

6. Dispose of your trash properly. Make sure trash cans are closed tightly or kept out of reach from your puppy. Poultry bones are sharp and can be fatal if swallowed.

7. Steps are potentially dangerous to your puppy. You can block a staircase with baby gate until your puppy is old and strong enough to climb the steps. As Maltese is a fragile and small dog, it can become injured.

8. If you do not want your puppy to enter any room, you must keep the door shut at all times.

Puppy Proof Your Home

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