Puppy-Proofing Your Home Before Homecoming

A little preparation before your puppy arrives turns a chaotic first week into a calm one. Puppy-proofing is mostly about seeing your home the way a curious, low-to-the-ground explorer will.

Small-breed puppies are fast, low and endlessly curious. Get down to their eye level, room by room, and remove the temptations before they find them. Here is the checklist we give every family.

Room by room

Living areas

• Tuck away cords and chargers, which are perfect chew height for a small puppy.
• Move houseplants up. Several common ones are toxic to dogs.
• Clear low shelves of anything small enough to swallow.
• Add sofa and bed ramps, especially for a Dachshund, before day one.

Kitchen and bathroom

• Use childproof latches on cupboards with cleaning products or medication.
• Secure the trash behind a door or with a locking lid.
• Keep human food out of reach. Chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic and xylitol are all dangerous.

The setup shopping list

• A correctly sized crate and a soft, washable bed.
• Food and water bowls, and the exact food your puppy is already eating.
• A flat collar with an ID tag, plus a harness and a light leash.
• Safe chew toys in a range of textures.
• Enzyme cleaner for the inevitable accidents.
• Puppy pads or a clear route to the outdoor potty spot.

The garden

If you have a yard, walk the fence line for gaps a small puppy could squeeze through, and check for toxic plants and gaps under gates. A determined Dachshund, in particular, will find any weakness in a fence.