Have You Puppy Proofed Your Home Lately?
If you have an adorable little puppy running around the house, the last thing you want to see is an accident. Accidents do happen and you should be prepared. It is best if you practice safety prevention, rather than waiting for something to happen to your puppy.
It takes one thing to go unnoticed and can cause a great deal of pain to your puppy. These little animals are full curiosity. Everything they see and smell looks like a great adventure and from their point of view, it’s all open territory. They see no danger and move forward to check things out. This is why you want to take the following safety prevention measures to “puppy-proof” your house.
1. The first thing you should do is look around every room of your home and dispose of small items that your puppy may swallow. Puppies tend to try and swallow anything that they can get a hold of.
Unfortunately, not all small items will safely pass through the dog’s intestines which can prove to be fatal. Other times, your puppy’s system will try to gag and cough up the object, which can go on for a long period of time. If your dog does not get the object out, then the intestine becomes blocked and can rupture.
2. The second important home safety precaution is to hide or elevate your electrical cords and wires. Every home has wires and cords that must be in each room, but if left hanging there, dangling like a treat, your puppy is guaranteed to be tempted to play with it.
If it chews on these electrical items, your puppy is going to get hurt. The damage caused by gnawing through to the inside wiring of these cords can cause a mild shock or worse, third-degree burns. In many cases, the electrocution can be so severe that it may cause your puppy to die from the shock. It is best to elevate all of the wiring that you can and use heavy-duty tape to cover up the other cords that have to be on the floor area
3. Last but not least, keep your home free from dangerous poisons and toxins that your puppy can ingest. Remember, our pets use their mouth’s for virtually all investigations and because they are extremely curious, toxic items can be easily ingested with one lick. Such household poisons can include anti-freeze, rat poison, garbage, lead and even chocolate.
Dog Fences Keeping Your Puppy Happy Outdoors
If you have the luxury of owning a backyard on your property, then your puppy or adult dog deserves the freedom of being able to roam outdoors in the yard without the risk of wandering off. Of course this entails creating a fenced enclosure so that it can run free and spend plenty of time outside.
The type of fenced area you choose can be that of a full yard enclosure like most common homes have, or if there is no fence and the yard is open, you can create a smaller fence with four sides and a small gate. This type of fenced setup will allow your dog to take advantage of its freedom, while at the same time benefiting from your company when you are outside. Of course, dogs have the most fun when you play outdoor games with them.
The Cons Of A Fenced Enclosure
Although the benefits of allowing your dog to roam free with fenced borders outside far outweighs the cons, there are a few downsides which you should be aware of. For example, you may be tempted to leave your dog outside in the secured fenced area for a long period of time if you have to leave the house. This can cause your dog to panic and experience high anxiety levels of stress.
This stress can lead small puppies and dogs to attempt to escape by either climbing the fence, or digging through the ground. Never underestimate how far your dog is willing to go when it feels alone and abandoned. Of course with time and proper conditioning, most dogs can be trusted when left alone. However, you should use caution with small puppies and never leave them alone for too long a time.
Electrical Fences
Electrical fences are definitely popular among many dog owners. You’ll have to decide for yourself if you feel it’s right to keep your dog outside with barriers that can shock it if crossed. Although the dog cannot see these borders, it keeps them enclosed in an area by an underground wire which will shock the animal if it passes over it, due to a specific battery operated collar around its neck.
Electrical dog fences are known to do a great job at keeping a dog or puppy secure, but there are some safety measures you need to adhere to due to the nature of the product. Puppies that are too young should not be confined with an electrical fence. Your dog must be no younger than six months old. These fences will not prevent other animals from coming into the enclosed area. This could prove dangerous to your dog. All in all, just use a little common sense with proper training and your dog should have no problems with an electrical fence.
