Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
How to Get Your Home Ready for a Dog. Pet-proofing your house won't just protect your possessions
from becoming chew toys—it could save your dog's life. You will need A dog crate A dog
who's ready to move in And dog manuals Pet repellent Electrical cord covers Baby gates
and a dog bed or towels for bedding. Step 1. Get rid of any electrical cords within
your dog's reach. Dogs love to chew, and power cords can seriously hurt them. You can purchase
a pet repellent spray or electrical cord covers to discourage chewing. Either way, it's important
to make sure that cords are not left unprotected. Step 2. A variety of common flowers and plants
can make your dog seriously ill if eaten. Before taking your dog home, remove all dangerous
plants from your house! Books and websites about dog care offer lists of plants that
can be hazardous to dogs. Step 3. Your dog might love having the run of your yard, but
make sure to keep him out of the garden. If you are using an electric fence or dog run
to keep your pet in the yard, make sure that garden areas are out of his reach. Step 4.
Go easy on the lawn treatments—any kind of yard chemicals such as pesticides or fertilizers
can make your dog sick, especially with repeated exposure. Step 5. Cover your garbage, especially
in kitchen and bathroom areas. Use trash containers with secure lids, or keep your trash in a
closed cabinet. And while you're at it, make a habit of putting the toilet lid down so
your dog drinks from his clean water bowl. If your dog is especially adventurous, you
may want to use a cabinet lock to keep him out of the garbage. Step 6. Some common foods
can be poisonous or nauseating to dogs. Be especially careful to prevent your pooch from
eating foods containing onions, garlic, fruit, or chocolate. Don't give your dog meat scraps
with bones attached—the bones can splinter and hurt your dog. Step 7. Keep your house
clean. Plastic wrappers, hairclips, needles, coins, small toys, and plastic bags are among
the many household items that could harm your dog when they are left in his reach. Step
8. Watch out for chemicals. Keep bathroom and garage doors closed, and secure all cleaners
and medications. Consider purchasing baby gates to keep your dog from wandering into
areas of your house that are off-limits. Step 9. Purchase your pup a dog crate with a cozy
dog bed (or a pile of towels) in it. This will give your dog a place where he can sleep
at night and rest undisturbed during the day. Step 10. Splurge on a few toys for Fido, but
make sure that they don't have any small pieces he could accidentally swallow. Did you know
Chewing on safe dog toys is actually good for your pet's health—they can help to keep
teeth clean and relieve the pain that puppies feel while teething.