Care & how-to
Puppy Proofing Your Home and Yard
Puppy proofing means getting down to your puppy's eye level and removing or securing anything they could chew, swallow, knock over or escape through: electrical cords, medicines, cleaning products, trash, small objects, toxic foods and plants. Then do the same outside, checking fences, pools and lawn treatments. Start with one safe room behind a baby gate and give more freedom as your puppy proves trustworthy.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read2 sources
Start with one safe room
You do not have to make the whole house perfect on day one. Pick one or two rooms, often the kitchen or family room, make them completely safe, and use baby gates or an exercise pen to keep your puppy there. When you cannot supervise, use a crate or pen, since puppies find trouble in seconds.
Get down on your hands and knees and look around. Anything within reach at puppy height, and anything a puppy could pull down by a cord or cloth, counts. Repeat the check as your puppy grows taller and learns to climb.
Compare an octagonal foldable playpen with an eight-panel metal exercise pen as layouts for the supervised space; check the individual pen against your puppy's size and climbing habits.
Kitchen and dining area
Keep human foods out of reach, especially the ones that can poison dogs: chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, macadamia nuts, caffeine, alcohol, raw yeast dough, and anything containing xylitol, such as some sugar-free gum, candy and peanut butter. Do not feed table scraps.
Use a trash can with a locking lid, or keep it behind a cabinet door with a childproof latch. Store pet food in a latching bin so your puppy cannot break in and overeat. Push chairs in so your puppy cannot climb onto counters or the table.
Bathrooms, bedrooms and living areas
Put all medications, vitamins and supplements in closed cabinets; a puppy can chew straight through a childproof cap. Store cleaning products, laundry pods, bleach and antifreeze up high or behind latches, and keep your puppy out of the room while you clean. Keep toilet lids closed.
Unplug, raise or cover electrical and phone cords, which can burn a puppy's mouth or shock them. Tie up blind and curtain cords. Pick up socks, shoes, hair ties, coins, jewelry, batteries, kids' toys and anything small enough to swallow. Keep windows, balcony doors and exterior doors closed or screened.
Houseplants and holiday hazards
Some houseplants and garden plants are toxic to dogs, including sago palms, azaleas and daffodil bulbs. Move plants out of reach or rehome them, and check any plant you are unsure of against the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plants list.
Holidays add new risks: tinsel, ribbon, ornaments, light strings, candy dishes, chocolate gifts under the tree and Thanksgiving leftovers with bones or onions. Secure the Christmas tree so it cannot be pulled over and keep the water in the stand covered.
Yard and garage
Walk the fence line looking for gaps underneath, loose boards and spots a puppy could squeeze or dig through. Fence in-ground pools and hot tubs, since puppies can fall in and be unable to climb out. Remove toxic plants and mushrooms, and keep the grass trimmed to cut down on ticks.
Keep your puppy off lawns recently treated with fertilizer, pesticides or weed killer, and store those products, along with rodent bait, slug pellets and antifreeze, locked away in the garage. Supervise outdoor time, provide shade and water in hot weather, and pick up poop promptly.
Recheck the indoor puppy playpen area as carefully as the yard, and use our puppy essentials guide to plan the rest of the setup.
Have an emergency plan
Save your vet's number, the nearest 24-hour emergency vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 in your phone and on the fridge. A fee may apply for poison helpline calls.
If your puppy eats something toxic or an object such as a sock, call your vet or a poison line right away, even if your puppy seems fine. Do not try to make your puppy vomit unless a vet tells you to, since some substances cause more damage coming back up.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
When should I puppy proof my house?
Before your puppy comes home. Prepare at least one fully safe room and the yard, then extend puppy proofing to other rooms as you give your puppy more freedom.
How do I stop my puppy chewing cords?
Unplug cords you do not need, run others through cord covers or behind furniture, and block access with gates. Give your puppy plenty of safe chew toys and supervise closely.
How long do I need to keep my house puppy proofed?
Most dogs need careful management until they are past the chewing stage, often around 18 months to 2 years, and some hazards such as medicines and toxic foods always need securing.
What should I do if my puppy ate something it shouldn't?
Call your vet or a poison helpline right away with the product name and amount if you know it. Do not wait for symptoms, and do not make your puppy vomit unless told to.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
