A new puppy brings a lot of joy, and a lot of curiosity. Puppies explore with their mouths, squeeze into small spaces and find the one cord you forgot to tuck away. Puppy-proofing your home before your new dog arrives helps prevent accidents, protects your belongings and makes the first weeks calmer for everyone.
If you are bringing a puppy home during the holidays, it is even more important to plan ahead. Decorations, guests, rich food and a busy schedule can be a lot for a young dog. This room-by-room checklist will help you get ready.
Get down to puppy level
The easiest way to puppy-proof is to look at your home from your puppy’s height. Kneel or sit on the floor in each room and look for anything chewable, swallowable or reachable. Cords, shoe laces, socks, children’s toys, plants and anything left on low shelves are all fair game to a curious puppy.
Remember that puppies grow quickly. A spot that is out of reach in week one may not be by week six, so check again as your puppy gets bigger.
Kitchen
- Keep trash in a cabinet or use a can with a secure lid.
- Store food, especially chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions and anything sweetened with xylitol, well out of reach.
- Use childproof latches on low cabinets that hold cleaning products.
- Push countertop food back from the edge and never leave food unattended at puppy height.
If you think your puppy has eaten something harmful, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control line right away rather than waiting to see what happens.
Living room
- Tuck electrical cords behind furniture or cover them with cord protectors.
- Move remote controls, phone chargers, coins and small objects off low tables.
- Check that houseplants are safe for dogs, and move any that are not out of reach or out of the house.
- Put away blankets with loose threads or fringe that a puppy might chew and swallow.
Consider using a baby gate to keep your puppy in a safe area while you are not able to supervise directly.
Bedrooms and bathrooms
Bedrooms are full of tempting things like socks, shoes, hair ties and jewelry. Keep closet doors closed and laundry in a hamper with a lid. In the bathroom, keep the toilet lid down, store medications in a closed cabinet and keep razors, cotton swabs and dental floss in a drawer or a lidded trash can.
Garage and yard
Garages often hold the most dangerous items in the house, including antifreeze, pesticides, rodent bait, fertilizers and tools. Keep your puppy out of the garage, or store all chemicals on high shelves or in locked cabinets. Clean up any spills right away.
Outside, walk the fence line and look for gaps or places your puppy could squeeze through or dig under. Remove or fence off plants that are unsafe for dogs and pick up anything small enough to swallow.
Photo: “Callie the golden retriever puppy.jpg” by MichaelMcPhee, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Holiday extras
If your puppy is arriving during the holidays, add a few extra steps. Keep a Christmas tree secured so it cannot tip, and place breakable or edible ornaments higher up. Keep tinsel, ribbon and gift wrap off the floor. Ask guests to keep bags and coats off the floor and remind them not to share food. Our guide to Christmas tree and holiday decor pet safety covers this in more detail.
Set up a puppy zone
A puppy zone gives your new dog a safe, comfortable place to rest and stay out of trouble. A crate or exercise pen in a quiet corner, a comfortable bed, a water bowl and a few safe chew toys are a good start. Make the space pleasant with treats and quiet time, and never use it as punishment.
Plan for potty breaks, too. Young puppies need to go out often, especially after waking up, eating and playing. Pick an outdoor potty spot and take your puppy there on a leash each time.
Give your puppy good things to chew
Puppies need to chew, especially while they are teething. Offer a few safe, puppy-appropriate chew toys and swap them in when your puppy starts chewing on something they should not. Avoid toys that are small enough to swallow or hard enough to damage young teeth. Our guide to the best dog toys by chew style explains how to choose the right toys.
A lick mat with a thin layer of dog-safe food can also help a puppy settle during nail trims, grooming or short periods alone.
Start gentle handling and training early
Puppy-proofing is only part of the job. Short, positive training sessions teach your puppy how to live in your home. Start with name recognition, sit, gentle handling of paws and ears and calmly going into the crate. Small, tasty training treats help keep sessions fun. For a foundation of positive training, see our dog obedience training guide.
First vet visit
Schedule a vet visit soon after your puppy comes home. Your veterinarian can check your puppy’s health, set up a vaccination and parasite prevention schedule and answer questions about food, growth and training. Bring any records you received from the breeder, shelter or rescue.
Quick puppy-proofing checklist
- Cords hidden or covered
- Trash secured
- Toxic foods, medications and chemicals out of reach
- Houseplants checked for safety
- Shoes, socks and small objects put away
- Baby gates or a pen set up
- Crate or puppy zone ready
- Safe chew toys on hand
- Vet appointment scheduled
Frequently asked questions
When should I start puppy-proofing?
Before your puppy comes home. It is much easier to prepare ahead of time than to clean up after an accident.
How long do I need to keep my home puppy-proofed?
Most puppies need close supervision for many months. As your dog matures and learns house rules, you can slowly give them more freedom.
Is it OK to give a puppy as a holiday gift?
A puppy is a long-term commitment, so it is best when the whole household has agreed and is ready. If you do bring one home over the holidays, keep the first days as calm and routine as possible.
What if my puppy keeps chewing furniture?
Make sure they have plenty of appealing chew toys, supervise closely and redirect them to a toy each time. Chewing often eases as puppies finish teething, but some dogs keep enjoying it, so plan for safe chews long term.
Shop the gear
- Lighthouse eMat Enrichment Lick Mat: a suction-cup lick mat for slow, calm licking
- Chicken Chips for Dogs: single-ingredient chicken treats you can break into small training rewards
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Top image: “Frederick Morgan – The penitent puppy.jpg” by Frederick Morgan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.