Before you adopt a new pooch, it is vital to dog-proof your house or apartment. We spoke with leading pet experts to find out the best ways to ease the transition of a new dog into your home, and ensure that your pet and your pad both come through unscathed.
Sheila Boneham -- an author, trainer, rescuer and breeder based in North Carolina -- shared with Paw Nation her tips and tricks to make a home safe for any dog that is about to join your family, regardless of its age.
Step 1: We Can Have Lots of Fun (As Long As It's in a Crate)
"Even though older dogs may seem like they're beyond the the puppy phase, they may revert back to bad behavior like chewing or accidents, due to the stress of a move," Boneham said. "The number-one rule is: Crate until you know the dog is reliable, both to safeguard your dog and your possessions. Make the crate a wonderful place to be. Put the most delicious treats in there, a soft bed, and have them go in only for short periods of time initially."
Step 2: There's So Much We Can Do (But If You Break My Stuff, You're Going Back in the Crate)
Pet-proofing is about keeping your home safe for your dog and from your dog. "Fragile things, family heirlooms, irreplaceable photographs: These need to be packed away or put up very high where the dog can't reach them," said Boneham. "Be cautious of things like tablecloths that hang down. To a puppy, that waving piece of fabric can look very tempting, and the next thing you know, your grandmother's china is shattered on the floor.
Step 3: It's Just You and Me (We're the Only Ones Who Can See All the Junk Under My Couch Right Now)
If you're not sure what things may prove tempting to your new pup, Boneham recommends looking at your home as if you were a dog. "It's a good idea to get down on all fours and view the world as they see it. A glass paperweight on a coffee table may look like a ball, and electrical cords and computer cords are everywhere. Dogs and cords are a very dangerous combination; their chewing could harm the cord, electrocute the pet, or start a fire. You'll need to make them inaccessible or protect them." (You can buy protectors, or run them through PVC pipe.)
Step 4: I Can Give You More (More Time in the Crate If You Poop in the Guest Room Again)
Boneham also warns that dogs sometimes think that a rarely-used room -- such as a formal dining room -- is a potty room. You'll need to keep an eye out, and if your dog has an accident, make that room inaccessible to them by using a pet gate.
Step 5: Don't You Know That the Time Has Arrived (To Beware of Toxic Chemicals)
Another common-sense caution: "Anything that can be considered dangerous to a crawling child needs to be absolutely out of reach. Roach, mouse, or other pest killers, mouse traps: All of these need to be locked away. Prescription medications should be put away up high, preferably latched. Dogs like to counter-surf; they can sweep everything onto the floor and get into it, so things like pills, even vitamins, can be very toxic to animals, and should be securely out of their reach. Obviously, sharp things like razors, razorblades, pins and needles need to be put away."
...and Toxic Foods
Boneham also delineated some items that were less commonly known to be unsafe. "Raisins and grapes are extremely toxic to dogs. If ingested, they can shut down their kidneys very quickly. As most people now know, chocolate can be dangerous if eaten by dogs. Tobacco in all forms (cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco) is highly toxic to dogs," Boneham says. Her years of experience have also shown that danger can lurk in very innocuous-looking places: "Be careful with cereal and crackers, anything that comes in a cardboard box with a plastic bag inside. The dog will stick its head in to eat, start to suffocate, and the more they panic, the faster they use up their oxygen."
...and Toxic Plants
As far as toxic houseplants and garden plants, Boneham advises, "Ask your local vet or extension agency, because they'll know what's native to the region. The leaves of spinach and tomato plants, for example, are very toxic to dogs.
It may seem overwhelming, but with proper precautions, it is easy to ensure your home is safe and comfortable for your new pet.
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Acorns are especially toxic. People think their dog/puppy will have fun in the yard playing with nature's toy, but if their dog ingests it they will find themselves at the vet's office rather quickly.
Our doxy's have eatten acorns for decades and have never become sick....maybe it just depends on the dog, and their personal sensitivities
i heard tomatoes and pork are very toxic too.
As a Tech at an animal hospital, I have never seen an animal come into the practice with an acorn toxicity. I'm sure it may be possible, though, and if the pet did eat enough acorns (I'm pretty sure they're not easily digestible), it could cause an impaction in the colon, which would require a trip to the vet.
I DON'T BELIEVE ACORNS ARE BAD FOR DOGS.MY DOG SIMBA EATS THEM ALL THE TIME AND SHE HAS NEVER GOTEN SICK.
Our daschund (sorry, can't spell this!) went under our stove and came out with a box of D-Con mouse poison (the blue pellets) and had eaten almost all of them. If she hadn't brought out the box, she would have died and we wouldn't have known why. The vet was able to give her something so she would vomit the poison, and we had to give her Vitamin K for a month. These pellets are made to taste good so mice will eat them, but they are delicious to dogs, too!
Our mini-doxy was about 8 months old and started throwing up. Went to the vet and by way of ruling out what was and was not good that she was eating, acorns became the cause. Our vet said that eating acorns wasn't bad but would in some dogs cause tummy aches - the acorns are very acidic. She got some tummy meds and ws okay after that. It is acorn time again - Fall and all the nuts are falling from the trees! My husband is out picking acorns but with the huge tree in our neighbor's yard it is a waste of time. She is still eating acorns but has added a little protein to her diet - worm jerky!
So are black walnuts - mostly the outer shell/skin. Macadamia nuts are too.
Onions/onion powder is toxic to them.
And...
avocados
apricot,cherry, peaches, pears and plum pits
mustard seeds
nutmeg
in addition to chocolate - coffee, tea and products containing caffeine
broccoli in larger amounts
yeast based doughs
mushrooms and toadstools
Someone mentioned hydrogen peroxide. Just give the dog a little (depending on size of dog) and then massage its tummy. The dog should throw up pretty quickly.
I unfortunately found out that macadamia nuts can also be very hazardous to dogs. Once ingested, the seemingly innocent nut causes paralysis in the gog for 24-36 hours.
Yes, this is very TRUE!! My Italian Greyhound began to have gran mal seizures and initially we thought it was because the breed itself is prone to epilepsy. Even my Vet was convinced......Until, I noticed that her seizures had completely stopped after a relative and I had a falling out--An Aunt that my dog used to visit frequently for sleepovers. Come to find out, on the long ride to her house, she used to innocently share a few macadamia nuts with my dog as a treat that they both loved! That was 4 years ago and only 2 recent seizures--after my husband shared a couple almonds with my dog. Needless to say, NO MORE NUTS PERIOD!!! They are toxic to the nervous system. People,if you really love your pets heed this warning because I am a medical professional and I have researched this to death. Your pups symptoms may not always be witnessed and they could very well be displaying early signs of neurological damage when you are not present. If you find unusual instances of incontinence it may be from an unwitnessed seizure. Know what your pets are ingesting.......
I have a Chesapeake/Blue Heeler mix male dog. Macadamia nuts are one of my dogs favorite treats. I guess some one forgot to tell him he should be seriously ill from eating them. I believe a lot of these "sensativities" all depends on the dog, just like in humans.
Poinsetta plants are very poisonous to all animals!
Duh! Everyone knows that! Very dangerous....
Poinsettias are not toxic to pets......it's a myth.
My Lab loves tomatoes, lettace, carrots, celery...no problems
my lab loves tomatoes, carrots and lettuce also---I give her a small bite of each occasionally---her first days with us----she cleared 6 garden toms out of a basket but left the cucs!! I called the vet for info --- she did not get sick. I think labs will eat anything if they can get at it !
What she was saying is that the LEAVES of the plants are not good for the babies. I had a Scotty that used to love to go to the garden and pick her own green pepper or tomato and lay out in the yard and eat her snack. My vet siad raw onios is not good for them. The spinish pizza has smaller pieces of the leaves and they are cooked. Maybe that makes a difference.
Strange - all my furbys have eaten my spinach alfredo pizza for years, with absolutely no difficulties.
I knew about the chocolate and raisins/grapes, and certain houseplants.
I DO have to say that sometimes the "so-called" experts are juuuuuuust a bit out there. I've had pets for over fifty years with none of the difficulties that they sometimes harp on and on and on and on about. I think often it's a commen sense issue with new owners.
Beware of silica gel packets, very TOXIC! Our dog died.