Puppy Proofing Your Home 2025: Vet’s Checklist for Safety & Sanity 🏡🐶

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

Welcoming a curious puppy into your home brings joy—and responsibility. Like puppy-proofing for safety is essential for preventing accidents, building confidence, and creating calm routines. With this vet-approved checklist,

1. 🗑️ Secure Trash, Recyclables & Personal Bags

• Use locking or lidded bins kept in cabinets or blocked off.
• Store handbags, backpacks, and gym bags out of reach—these can contain toxic items like xylitol gum or medications.

2. 🔌 Manage Electrical Cords & Blind Cords

• Bundle and hide cords using covers—chew prevention and shock avoidance.
• Secure blind cords to prevent strangulation risks.

3. 🚫 Store Chemicals, Cleaning Supplies & Medications

• Keep household chemicals, human and pet meds, and cleaners locked or high-up.
• Avoid spill risks—do not administer meds near floor level.

4. 🌿 Remove Toxic Plants & Dangerous Lawn Products

• Identify and remove houseplants like sago palm, philodendron, and lilies.
• Use pet-safe lawn products and avoid rodent bait, pesticides.

5. 🪑 Remove Choking & Ingestion Hazards

• Pick up small objects: batteries, coins, magnets, and remote parts.
• Keep shoes, socks, craft supplies off the floor—they tempt teething puppies.

6. 🚧 Block Off Unsafe Areas

• Use baby gates or pens to restrict access to stairs, kitchens, and garages.
• Cover balcony rails and secure pool barriers for outdoor viewing only.

7. 🏡 Secure Outdoor & Yard Hazards

• Check yard fencing, bury wire to prevent escape.
• Avoid fertilisers with bone meal; keep pool areas gated.

8. 🧳 Create Safe Zones and Retreat Spaces

• Set up a crate or pen as a puppy’s den—linked to potty training and rest.
• Define low-traffic areas for calm downtime with Purrz diffusers to ease anxiety.

9. 🧸 Provide Appropriate Chews & Enrichment

• Offer a variety of chew toys for teething and exploration.
• Use interactive tools like Woopf sniff mats to redirect chewing to safe items.

10. 👀 Supervision & Training Strategies

• Never leave a young puppy completely unsupervised.
• Train “leave it” and “drop it” early to reinforce boundaries.
• Monitor via camera when not directly present.

11. 📋 Maintenance Checklist & Re‑Review

1. Weekly rounds: scan floors for dropped items, toxic plants, trash bits.
2. Monthly check: secure new items, tuck away cords, re-lock cabinets.
3. Update with developmental stages: puppy grows—reach changes, so update proofing.

12. 🛠 Tools & Supplies You’ll Need

• Locking trash cans & childproof cabinet latches.
• Cord covers, outlet protectors, and blind cord wind-ups.
• Baby gates, pens, and crates sized for a pup.
• Chew toys (teething and enrichment), no-chew spray.
  

14. 🚨 Emergency Scenarios & What to Do

• If ingestion of a toxic substance: contact your vet or Poison Control immediately.
• Chew leading to electrical shock: unplug, check pet, call vet.
• Fall from height: check for injuries, limit movement, call vet.

15. ✅ Final Takeaways

• Removing hazards on the floor and at puppy level is essential.
• Barriers and retreat zones support training and safety.
• Appropriate chews and enrichment prevent destructive behavior.
• Supervision and routine re-checks make all the difference.