Recommended Supplies
- baby gates
- cord covers (fabric or metal/plastic)
- child-proofing locks for cupboards
- Bitter Apple/Phooey! (chew-deterrent spray)
- 5-10 appropriate toys (Nylabones, Benebones, Kongs)
- cheap nylon leash (for tethering and/or being able to catch a puppy quickly if they are playing keep-away with an inappropriate item)
General (all rooms)
- Cords - potential electrocution hazard
- Outlets - potential electrocution hazard, consider adding outlet covers
- Curtains - if they are within reach of the puppy, they can be tugged down
- Slippery Floors/Stairs - consider adding rugs or treads
- Trash Bins - foreign body obstruction or toxin ingestion hazard
- Cupboards at dog-level - if any hazardous or food items are stored, consider putting a child-proofing lock in place
- Houseplant - toxin ingestion hazard, place all plants out of reach.
- For more information on household plant safety, click here.
- Items with easily accessible batteries (such as TV remotes) - can cause chemical burns if ingested
- Magnetic items - foreign body hazard, can cause intestinal damage
- Cigarettes/marijuana - toxin ingestion hazard
- Cleaning supplies/household products
- For a list of common household products that may be harmful to your dog, click here.
- Pine-Sol has been known to cause chemical burns; Simple Green is a great alternative
Entryway
- Shoes - common obstruction hazard, consider storing in a closet or container
- Door safety - escape opportunities include storm doors with broken latches that can be easily opened when jumped on
- Purses/bags - containing items may pose foreign body or toxin hazard (tampons, sugar-free gums/mints, pens, chapstick, coins, etc.)
Living Room
- Fireplaces - if in use, make sure a barrier is in place
Dining Room & Kitchen
- Food - don’t leave anything on tables or counters unattended
- Click here for a list of common food items toxic/harmful to dogs
- Corn cobs are another common potential danger (obstruction risk)
- Butter/fat ingestion can result in pancreatitis
- Dishwasher & Sink - food remaining on dishes/knives may be hazardous
Bathrooms
- Medications
- For a list of common medications that can be harmful to your dog, click here.
- Hair ties/pony tail-holders - can cause obstructions if ingested
Bedrooms
- Clothing items (especially socks & undergarments) - can cause obstructions if ingested
Basements
- Stair safety
- Steep stairs, stairs without a back panel, and stairs without treads can potentially be dangerous
- Anti-slip treads can typically be applied as well as removed easily, consider adding these if your stairs are painted or slippery
Yard & Garage
- Toxic plants or weeds
- For a common list of toxic plants, click here.
- Check all fencing for escape opportunities
- Check for gaps under or between panels or chain-link,
- Repair broken or rotting panels
- Consider interior locks on gates - children/family/city employees can leave open
- Pools/ponds - potential drowning hazard, allow supervised access only
- All chemical hazards (pest poison, fertilizer, weed killer, antifreeze, etc.)
- Firepits - supervise access when in use
- Rocks - can cause obstructions if ingested
- Balloons - can cause obstructions if ingested
- Decks - potential escape or fall hazard if spindles on the railing are too far apart, dog’s heads can also get stuck between them if left unsupervised
If there are children in the home...
- Toys (common obstruction risks or choking hazards: nerf darts, stuffed toys, legos)
- Open backpacks (common ingestion of glue, rubber bands, pencils, food wrappers, etc.)
If there are other pets in the home...
- High-value toys/chews/rawhides - can pose a risk in a variety of ways:
- Some rawhide chews have a higher risk of causing obstructions
- Cow shin bones can get stuck on the lower jaws
- Dogs may resource guard these items, increasing the risk of a fight
- Pieces of these items may be a choking hazard
- Nylabones/Benebones are the only chew approved for Can Do Canine program dogs
- Litter boxes - have these in a room that is not accessible to the dog, ingestion of litter can cause an obstruction
- Pet food - feed other pets in a separate area, continued access to another pet’s food can contribute to obesity
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