You gave it a lot of thought and checked with your landlord before finally deciding there was no time like the present to take this next step in your life and get a puppy. The joy, the companionship, the cuteness factor, not to mention pups are great conversation starters – what wasn’t to love? Then 24 hours after you brought your bundle of joy home, reality set in when you learned your pup’s precious and Instagram-friendly face belied a keen instinct for quick, effective and total destruction.
Don’t lose your cool and blame your friends for not warning you. Take action with these quick and easy puppy-proofing techniques to preserve your apartment, furniture and sanity:
- Invest in baby gates and designate a dog space, preferably one without carpeting where it’s easier to clean up messes
- Invest in covers for your outlets (which puppies can lick) and hide wires in PVC or other type of chew-proof tube
- Leave plenty of toys and chews while you’re away
- Spray furniture with no-chew spray
- Keep your kitchen clean and put away ALL food
- Lock up cabinets with childproof latches, including those where you store cleaners and other toxic liquids
- Secure lamps, bookshelves and decorations that your puppy can pull or knock down
- Hide your trashcans in closets or under securely locked lids
- Put shampoos, soap, tissues and medication out of reach or inside a cabinet or drawer
- Safeguard shoes, slippers and clothing behind closed closet doors
- Store ingestible items (like jewelry) in containers or drawers
- Keep plants on a shelf or counter if possible
When coupled with obedience training and regular exercise (especially for bigger dogs), these puppy-proofing tips should get you and your apartment through the puppy phase in one piece. Good luck!