If you’ve got a new dog, or you’re about to get a puppy for the first time, chances are you have a lot on your mind. Getting a dog is a huge commitment – we all know that pups deserve all the love we can give them, along with a kind and stable home. A dog isn’t a possession that can just be given away, and your home is the only one that that dog will know, so it has to be a good one. It’s important, then, to make sure that your home will be as safe as possible for your new pet. Here are things to check…
Is Your Back Yard Secure?
First of all, it’s very important to ensure that your back yard is a good environment for your dog to roam safely about in. You should be able to leave it in there without any worries or stress about its safety. That means that your wood fence installation needs to be in good condition and high enough that your dog can’t jump over it, and that they go into the earth deep enough that your dog won’t be able to burrow underneath it.
Are All Toxic Substances Hidden Away?
You need to make sure that all toxic substances that could harm your dog are hidden away. Just because you know not to drink bleach doesn’t mean that your dog will! Keep all cleaning products safely away in locked cupboards, along with toxic substances like nail polish remover. Remember that there are a lot of seemingly innocent foods that are poisonous to dogs like avocado and chocolate, so keep them hidden away in high cupboards,
Are You Neat And Tidy?
You need to ensure that you keep your home neat and tidy, to ensure that your dog doesn’t come across anything on the floor that it shouldn’t and swallow it. This could prove to be a very costly trip to the emergency vet for you, with possibly tragic consequences. Make sure that your kids put away all toys with small parts that could be chewed or choked on. You should also make sure for your own sake that you put your shoes and larger objects away in cupboards so your pup can’t get to them. Your favorite boots might not look so great with tooth marks in them.
Train Your Dog Well
It’s important that you train your dog well for its own safety. A pet with good recall can be let off its leash safely, whereas you might feel more concerned about dogs that won’t immediately come back to you. Make sure you take your dog to obedience classes. Not only will it learn to be a good pet, and you will learn to be a good dog owner, but it will also get socialised with other dogs so it won’t have any violent reactions to them in the future. You also need to ensure that your dog walks well on its leash – there could be terrible consequences if it tugs free of your hand and runs into the road. Although training your dog might seem boring, it’s for the good of your pup.