Just because you have a teething puppy doesn’t mean you can’t have nice things. Here’s how to puppy proof your house until the fur baby grows up.
Remember that scene in Turner and Hooch when Scott Turner comes home to find his house demolished? And Hooch sits in his bed in full slobbering glory wondering what the big deal is?
That situation is all too common. Especially with puppies.
Pet proofing your home comes down to training your pet the right way. If you establish healthy pet habits, you can keep your home in good working order.
Here are our best tips for how to puppy proof your house.
Establish a Routine
You’ve brought your newest ‘fur baby’ home. Now what?
As the puppy trainer, need to take it on yourself to create a routine. At first, she’ll need lots of attention and she’ll need to go outside often. Work these into your routine.
If you create a solid schedule, then she’s less likely to go nuts and chew up your brand new shoes. Consistency is the key to successfully training a puppy into a new routine.
Get a Steady Supply of Chew Toys
Rawhide, dog biscuits, Nerf toys, and rubber bones. It’s important to have an ample number of chew toys around.
Chew toys keep your dog from chewing on other stuff, like your shoes or your bedframe.
Make sure the chew toys are all over the house. And make sure your dog knows that it’s okay to chew on a toy but not on your slippers. It takes time and consistency to teach this.
Never Leave Your Dog Alone
Well, at least not when you’re in the house too. Constant supervision keeps your stuff safe from your puppy’s tiny teeth.
The best way to puppy proof your house is to teach her when its wrong to chew on something. And you can’t do that if you’re not near her when it happens.
To do this, keep her on a leash at all times. That way she’s right by you everywhere you go.
Create a Designated Space for Your Puppy
We understand that you can’t be with your puppy all the time. You have to leave your house at some point!
Create a space that’s safe for your puppy to be in while you’re gone. The laundry room or a spare bathroom work great for this.
Put down puppy pads, food, water, and plenty of chew toys. If you’ve got a dog crate, that works too. Or use a physical barrier like a baby gate.
The important part is that you don’t let the puppy roam your home when you’re not there. That’s how you keep your good tennis balls out of her mouth.
Play, Play, Play
Almost every bad puppy behavior comes about because of boredom. Puppies have a lot of energy. So make sure you play with your puppy enough.
When you’re gone all day, take an extra 20 minutes to play with your dog when you get home. This will take care of a whole bunch of behavioral problems.
Playing keeps them mentally and physically stimulated. They’ll be easier to train and less likely to make a mess if they’re worn out from playing.
Clean Up
Anything you don’t want chewed up needs to be put up. Whether you live in a mansion or a tiny house, find a place to put the stuff you care about.
It will take time to get your dog trained on what she can and can’t chew. Go through your home and clean up anything that’s in her reach.
If you leave your $500 pair of heels by the door where she has easy access to them, then you’ve got nobody else to blame when she chews them.
Don’t Forget About the Yard
Puppy proofing your yard is important too. Check out this pet fencing guide for ideas on how to keep your puppy in your yard.
This way your puppy is safe and satisfied when you’re not outside with them.
How to Puppy Proof Your House Like a Pro
One of the most important things to remember is that consistency pays off. Puppy proofing is all a matter of training your dog to treat your home like its own.
Put stuff away, play with your dog often, and keep plenty of chew toys around. You’ll know how to puppy proof your house like a pro!
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