Puppy-Proofing Your Home, Room by Room

Get down to puppy level

Literally. Sit on the floor in each room and look for anything small, dangling, chewable or swallowable. That's what your puppy will find first.

Kitchen

• Trash can with a locking lid or inside a cabinet.
• Food off the counter edges, especially anything with grapes, chocolate, onions or xylitol (see our toxic foods list).
• Child locks on low cabinets with cleaners.
• Dog food in an airtight bin they can't tip over.

Living room

• Cords and chargers bundled and out of reach.
• Remote controls, kids' toys and socks put away.
• Check houseplants: lilies, sago palm, pothos and others can be toxic.
• A toy basket so chewing has a 'yes' option.

Bedroom & bathroom

• Shoes, hair ties and laundry in closed bins.
• Medications and vitamins in a drawer, never on a nightstand.
• Toilet lid down; razors and cotton swabs out of reach.

Garage & yard

• Antifreeze, fertilizers, rodent and slug bait locked up.
• Walk the fence line for gaps and digging spots.
• Pool covered or fenced.
• Check for mushrooms after rain.

The easiest fix

A gate or exercise pen. A small, safe area you've proofed well beats trying to proof the whole house at once.