Do You Need To Puppy Proof Your Home
Article by Janet Combs
It is extremely important for the safety and well being of your new puppy that you prepare for his homecoming by “puppy proofing” your house. You should get on your puppy’s level – on your hands and knees. Crawl around each room to see what your puppy could get into. Look for such items as electrical cords, poisonous plants, dangerous items that your puppy could chew or swallow, and anything else that could hurt your puppy.
Favorite things to chew on are throw rugs, toys and newspapers (or the mail)! If you don’t want to have it destroyed, get it out of pup’s way. And remember that anything swallowed that cannot pass through the pup’s system will require surgery to removeIt is best to purchase gates to secure your pup in a room that provides a safe environment. Select the room where you can watch him all the time. If you are not watching your puppy, put him into his crate or safe area. You must follow this procedure until your puppy has finished his teething stage and is 100% house broken for at least 2 weeks or more. Yes, that can mean several months.If there are items that you do NOT want to move and your puppy is finding very chewable, you can spray them with a chew repellant. Chew repellants can be purchased at most pet stores or from a catalog. There are a number of products on the market and some work better than others. A firm “NO” when pup starts to chew is also a good idea and the start of obedience training. Garbage and trash receptacles in the kitchen and waste paper baskets in bedroom and bath are a hazard. Baby locks can work to prevent access to under counter cabinets and open waste containers should be placed high in rooms where the pup will have access to them. Keeping the puppy in a confined area is the best idea. Among the greatest hazards to a pup are the exits from your home! Bichons are very fast and often not very obedient until trained so doors should be carefully closed and children must be taught not to hold the door open or the pup will escape. A fenced yard is a requirement before some breeders will place a pup. Add the words “Sit” and “Stay” to your early home training and require the pup to be in position before opening the door, once he has learned these commands.Carefully walk your entire fence line. Look for loose or broken boards that may provide an escape route for your puppy. Make sure there are no gaps under the fence providing escape from your yard. Even a small space of 2-4 inches can allow a young dog to get free. Check to see that each gate latches securely every time. Then make sure all gates are secured and your children, gardeners, or anyone else with access to your backyard knows to close and latch each gate every time they enter or leave your property.
This is extremely important for the safety and protection of your new puppy. If you are still unsure about your fence and gates being able to confine your puppy, never let the puppy out in your backyard without being on a leash and being supervised. You can set up a large safe play area by putting two exercise pens together and placing the pens either on your patio, lawn or a combination of both areas. Even in pens and fenced yards, supervision is important because some Bichons are great climbers or like my male Bichon, an escape artist.
About the Author
Do your words tell your Bichon Frise you love them?Take a little extra time each day as little as 10-15 minutes per day. Do some “one on one” bonding with your Bichon Frise.
Frequent advertiser on TWC during the 80s and early 90s, this Troy-Bilt commercial talks about the “Troy-Bilt Way of Home Gardening” catalog.
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