So a dog is coming to visit? You lucky thing! Or maybe you’re getting a brand new pup of your own! Even better. Years of happiness await you. Dogs are great and scientifically proven to make every facet of life better.
But if you’re new to the kennel club, you might not know how to make your home dog friendly. Without the right preparation, a Borrow My Doggy date or a visit from a dog-owning family could end in disaster for you and the dog! Here’s what to do to make your home dog friendly.
Indoor
- Unplug any electrical cables, extension blocks and fairy lights. Puppies like to chew wires and could get a nasty shock.
- Put anything of choke-able size out of sight. You’d be surprised what a dog will try and eat.
- Hide away all chocolate and grapes! These are well known anti-canine foods and can cause death if eaten by puppers.
- Pack up any vermin traps or poison. Rat poison apparently tastes good to dogs, do careful folks.
- Tie up any choke-hazards like blind pulleys and curtain fasteners.
- Keep your loo seats down – pups might jump in somehow.
- Safely store all razors.
- Make sure your bins can’t be gotten into. Swing-lid bins won’t stop a determined Beagle!
Outdoor (E.g. garden)
- Loads of plants are poisonous to dogs. It’s actually pretty scary. You can find a list here. If your garden has any of these, make suitable provisions, like keeping the dog on a lead in the garden.
- Check the fences for holes – especially if you plan on leaving the dog alone in the garden. Don’t underestimate how good dogs are at escaping!
- Remove all sharp gardening tools, BBQ equipment and fuel
- Be careful if you have been using weed-killer, slug pellets or pesticides – these can poison your dog if ingested.
Happy Dogs
Hey, it’s not all just about physical wellbeing. There’s a lot you can do to make your house a happier place to be for dogs besides making sure they don’t get hurt or make a mess.
- Introduce the dog to everyone while their owner is still there. Most dogs would prefer to be with someone they know well when meeting new people. The same goes for other pets in your house.
- Giving the pup a special place of their own is essential to their happiness – how would you feel if you couldn’t run away to your bedroom and hide under the sheets? Let ‘em know they have their own safe place by setting up a cosy bed with blankets and toys they like.
Now your home is ready for puppy heaven. Enjoy!
