Golden Retrievers are known for their friendly, affectionate, and playful nature. As a dog owner, you need to create a safe and comfortable environment for all breeds of dogs, whether it’s in your home, the backyard, or even while traveling in the car. Here you will get some tips to take care of your puppy and how to puppy-proof your home for your dog in each of these spaces.
How to Puppy-Proof Your Home:
Your home should be a safe place for your puppy. Since they are naturally curious and love to explore, it’s important to puppy-proof your home, especially when they’re still young. To make sure your home is puppy-friendly, you need to:
1. Keep the Toilet Lid Closed
Believe it or not, open toilet lids can pose a danger to puppies. Sometimes they can accidentally fall into the toilet. And some puppies also have a habit of drinking toilet water, which could be hazardous to their health. Always keep the toilet lid closed to avoid any potential accidents.
2. Secure Medicine and Cleaning Products
Dogs love to explore every corner of their environment. So, it’s essential to keep hazardous items like medicines and cleaning products far away from them. Store these products in high cabinets or use childproof locks to keep them safe.
3. Lid the Garbage Bins
Garbage bins with unsecured lids can lead to serious problems. They can come there to explore and possibly ingest something harmful. You should opt for trash bins with secure, lidded tops to prevent your dog from rummaging through them.
4. Hide Electrical Cords and Blind Cords
As you know, puppies are very curious and excellent chewers. These curious puppies may chew on anything they can find, including electrical and blind cords. These can be dangerous, both from a safety perspective and as choking hazards. You should tuck cords out of sight, use cord wraps, and secure any loose blind cords out of their reach.
5. Invest in a Pet Gate
A pet gate is a great tool for restricting access to certain areas of the house. Especially when your dog is still a puppy and in the process of house training. Gates can also help keep your dog safe from areas that might be off-limits, such as the kitchen or stairs.
6. Set Limits
The puppies should not be hurt due to their movement on stairs or jumping through heights. Therefore, they should be kept in the safe regions.
7. Batteries are not safe
The puppy tends to chew things, especially during their teething process. They sometimes get detached batteries from toys or remote controls. So it becomes mandated to keep an eye on what they are chewing.
8. Keep your trash under wraps
The trash in the house should be kept covered, as they tend to get attracted to exciting smells from the bin. Raisins, onions, chocolates, and garlic are toxic to dogs and should be kept out of their reach.
9. Secure heavy furniture
The furniture in the house should be heavy so that it should not fall on your pet accidentally. Moreover, spray non-toxic wood repellent to save your wooden furniture.
10. Keep the curtains tied up
Consider less obvious hazards when puppy-proofing a home, such as your curtains. Make sure that low-hanging drapes are fastened, moved to the side, and out of reach because they might become a chewing target for pups and possibly tear them off the wall.
Puppy-Proof Backyard:
The backyard is ideal for your pet dog to play and explore. However, you need to ensure that your backyard is safe and secure for your dog to enjoy.
1. Remove Toxic Plants
Some common backyard plants are toxic to dogs,are known for their curiosity. Before letting your dog roam freely in the backyard, you should make sure that there are no poisonous plants or shrubs. You should do some thorough research on which plants are safe for dogs and remove all the harmful ones.
2. Secure the Area with Fencing
Golden Retrievers, Corgi, husky, and German Shefard are agile and energetic. So, it’s important to have a secure fence around your yard. You should check for gaps where your dog could slip through, and make sure the fence is tall enough to prevent any jumping. Also, if you have any water features like a pool or pond, ensure they are safely gated off to prevent accidental drowning.
3. Maintain a Well-Kept Backyard
Long grass and overgrown shrubs can harbor ticks in your pets. This can lead to serious health issues. Keep your yard neatly trimmed and free of brush, especially while your dog is still a puppy. Regular yard maintenance will not only help keep pests away but will also create a safer environment for your dog to play in.
Puppy Proof Car:
Traveling with your dog can be a fun experience. But you also need to make the safest environment for your puppyin the car. Here are some tips on how to prepare your car for your dog:
1. Remove Chewable Items
Before taking your dog on a ride, make sure there are no items in the car that your puppy might chew on, such as snacks, loose wrappers, or chapstick. You can secure any small items that could become projectiles in the event of a sudden stop.
2. Confine Your Puppy to the Backseat
To keep your dog safe during car rides, it’s best to confine them to one area of the car. Many dog owners use harnesses, car seats, or barriers to restrict their dogs to the backseat. This ensures your dog’s safety and helps prevent distractions while driving.
3. Consider Crating for Safety
For the safest car rides, you can consider using a crate. Crating your dog while traveling ensures they are not only safe but also comfortable. It can help prevent them from moving around too much. This could be distracting or dangerous during the journey. If in any accident, a crate can also protect your dog from injury by keeping them secured in place.
Deciding on a Daily Routine
Just like children, puppies thrive on a fixed routine. A structured daily schedule provides stability, reduces anxiety, and helps with training, making it easier for your pet to adjust to their new home. Establishing a routine early on is key to a well-behaved and happy dog.
1. Feeding Schedule
Having a regular feeding schedule for your puppiess will help them stay healthy and avoid overeating. Until they are about six months puppies, need three meals a day. After that, you can transition to two meals per day. Feeding at the same times every day also helps regulate bathroom breaks, making potty training easier.
2. Scheduled Potty Breaks
If you want your puppy to potty train, it’s important to take your pup outside to potty right after meals and naps every couple of hours during the day. Regular potty breaks will teach your dog where and when it’s appropriate to poop.
3. Playtime and Exercise
Golden Retrievers, labrador, and husky are active breeds and need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. You can incorporate daily playtime into your puppy’s routine, such as walks, fetching, or interactive toys. This will help burn off excess energy and keep them mentally sharp. As your dog matures, the amount of playtime may decrease. But still, they will always need regular exercise to stay healthy.
4. Naps and Bedtime
The puppies need 16 to 18 hours of sleep per day. You need to set a daily routine for naps and bedtime, which will help your puppy rest and recharge. Place their crate in a quiet area where they can relax without distractions. While puppies need to get used to normal household noises, it’s important to provide a calm space where they can sleep peacefully during the day and at night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Creating the best puppy-proof home for your puppyis important to ensure their happiness, safety, and well-being. Whether at home, in the backyard, or in the car, each space offers unique challenges and opportunities for creating a puppy-friendly environment. By taking simple steps like securing hazardous materials, providing proper fencing, and ensuring car safety, you’ll be helping your puppy thrive in their new home.