Dog Safety - Pet Proof Your Home

Dog safety is much like child safety. You wouldn't think twice about baby-proofing your home when a newborn is expected. The same thought should go into pet-proofing your house. Miniature Pinscher owners certainly know what I'm talking about. As we've discussed elsewhere on this site, these dogs are extremely inquisitive. Television remotes disappear only to reappear in various locations days or weeks later. OK so a properly secured remote won't hurt your pet. But there are many househould items that will.

Any dog-proofing should begin with a check of every room your dog has access to. This dog safety check should include looking for, and removing or concealing every object that could be potentially dangerous. You should have a pretty good idea of what type of dangers your dog can get into. Electrical cords for example, are a danger to any dog that enjoys chewing, but are of little concern to a pet that doesn't care much for sharpening his teeth on various household objects.

Most dogs, especially puppies, are like small children, that is, they love to put things in their mouths. Once swallowed, these objects can become lodged anywhere along their digestive tract. And in some cases surgery is the only way to remove it. So for the best dog safety, check to make sure items small enough to be swallowed are kept out of reach. A brief checklist includes coins, paper clips, rubber bands, nails, staples, screws, string, yarn, thread, dental floss, earrings and small jewelry, bells, small balls etc. Also make sure your pet's toys don't have things like eyes that can be pulled off.

Chocolate is another big concern because first of all it's tasty, but it also contains theobromine which can be toxic if he eats enough. How much is tough to determine, because the amount of theobromine varies. Milk chocolate for example will have less theobromine than baker's chocolate. If you're a chocoholic like I am, for the best dog safety keep your stash where your pet can't get it. It can actually be fatal if he eats too much.

Even your dog's tags can be a danger. These tags can get caught on things like heating grates when your pet lies down. Place the tags in a Pet Pocket. This handy little pocket attaches to his collar and lies flat rather than having them dangle. An added benefit is that they won't jingle and wake you up at night if your dog is restless.

To prevent your dog from chewing electrical wires, you can buy plastic shower rod covers to insert the wires into. They can easily be cut to size. Alternatively, there are plastic strips available designed to conceal wires running across the floor and baseboards and even up walls. These concealing strips are available in most hardware stores and can also be cut to size. They're available in a variety of colors as well.

Another method to protect a pet that has a yearning for electrical wires is the new power strip with a brain. These are relatively new on the market. These strips detect insulation aging as well as penetration by things like your dog's teeth. If you pet munches on the chord, it shuts off and prevents shock. These too are available at your local hardware or builder's supply store.

If you use an automatic flushing toilet bowl cleaner, put the seat down. We're talking mostly to men here. You don't want your dog drinking the chemicals. For that matter, you probably don't want your pet drinking toilet water anyway.

Finally, like with children, keep chemical cleaning products out of your dog's reach. And if possible, substitute nontoxic cleaners like vinegar and water mixed with baking soda.

If this page were about baby safety rather than dog safety, many of the tips would be the same. Except maybe the one about toilet water, but who knows. In any case, follow these simple tips to keep your dog safe in your home. It's his home too.

Back to Dog Articles

Back To Miniature Pinscher World Home Page From Dog Safety - Pet Proof Your Home