Best Ways to Prepare Home for a Puppy

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Are you bringing home a four-legged furry family member? Then check out the best ways to make sure to prepare home for a puppy the right way.

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Adopting a four-legged fur baby is full of excitement, joy, laughter, and fun.

However, puppies tend to be mischievous and it’s important to prepare your home for a puppy the right way.

My husband and I are dog people.

In fact, for many years my husband was a K9 officer and Paco (below) was his partner. 

A high-energy Belgian Malinois, Paco had one speed – FAST! 

Although Paco was a police K9 he lived with me and my husband full time. 

After many years on patrol, he retired from police work to live out his golden years with us eating Puperoni and watching Animal Planet.

When we noticed Paco was slowing down from his whirlwind-fast speed we knew he needed a friend.

Enter rescue puppy, Mirage. At only a few months old Mirage was a handful!

Paco did his fair share of showing her the ropes around the house, but we learned early on that puppies can and will get into just about anything!

To keep our new puppy, Mirage safe we made sure to take extra steps to prepare our home.

With all the years of puppy parenting, we’ve learned a thing or two and would love to share it with all of you.

So, let’s get into all the ways you can prepare your home for a puppy, too.

1. Keep a Puppy Safe by Securing All Electric Cords

In today’s world, we must charge so many different devices.

Laptops, cell phones, tablets, headphones – there’s a cord for everything! Add in cords for TVs, alarm clocks, and everything else – that’s a lot of temptation for a puppy. 

The first thing Mirage got into was my laptop cord.

We puppy-proofed our cords immediately after. 

• Wrap PVC piping around cords
• Use zip ties to secure cords and attach them to the wall
• Hide cords under furniture

2. Grab a New Puppy Proof Trashcan

Have you ever come home to find your dog had nosed through the trash?

There’s garbage strewn all over the place…. cleaning that up is not fun!

From a puppy’s perspective, there’s nothing more tempting than exploring the smells of garbage.

The trashcan is a treasure trove of goodies galore just waiting for them to open. 

Eliminate the puppy temptation with a locking trash can.

We upgraded to a locking trash can when Mirage was a pup, and its handy locking feature eliminates her ability to open the lid. 

3. Puppy Proof Cleaning Supplies with Genius Locks

Although cleaning supplies keep our homes fresh and sanitary – many chemicals are toxic to animals.

It’s very important to secure any cabinet that stores cleaning supplies. 

Consider adding a latching system to low-level cabinets.

4. Find and Hide All Choking Hazards for Puppies

It’s easy to forget about the little everyday items floating around your house.

A penny on the bedroom floor, rubber bands in the office, hair ties in the bathroom – these can all be choking hazards to animals. 

Make sure to do a thorough check of each room of the home to ensure items are not lying about. 

5. Put Away Toxic Foods for Puppy Safety

There’s nothing better than a chocolate bar after dinner to satiate that sweet tooth.

But that same yummy chocolate is toxic to pets. 

Make sure to secure all food in a cabinet.

If the cabinet is low and accessible to the animal – consider securing it with a latching system.

Here are a few foods to secure:

• Chocolate
• Corn on the cob
• Avocado
• Artificial sweetener containing Xylitol
• Alcohol
• Macadamia nuts
• Onions
• Grapes 

6. Keep Sharp Objects Clear of New Puppies

Did your mother ever tell you not to run with scissors?

It’s because they are super sharp. 

Make sure to find a safe place to keep all scissors, knives, and any sharp objects away from pets.

7. Remove Poisonous Plants from Home and Yard

Plants and flowers create beauty and elegance in any home.

However, many plants and flowers are highly toxic to animals. 

Here are a few plants to secure:

• Lilies
• Hyacinths 
• Tulips
• Daffodils
• Azalea
• Crocus 
• Peace lily 
• Easter orchid, lily, cactus
• Daylily
• Poinsettia 

8. Keep Grass Trimmed for Ultimate Puppy Protection

The lawn is my dog’s favorite place to hang out.

She just loves to chill, run, and roll around all day in the backyard.

I’m pretty sure when I’m late for work, she enjoys sniffing absolutely every single blade of grass before doing her business. 

With as much time as dogs enjoy spending in the yard, it’s important to keep the grass trimmed.

If your grass is too high, this can be a breeding ground for nasty insects like ticks. 

Ticks can cause:

• Lyme disease
• Paralysis
• Anemia 

To help protect your puppy against fleas, ticks, and mosquitos, consider adding K9 Advantix ii to the mix.

We’ve used it on both our pups and love it.

9. Puppy Proof to Protect Your Furniture

I know there are many pet parents who don’t allow their pups on the furniture.

Below you’ll see a picture that shows I am NOT one of those pet parents.

I love to snuggle up on the couch with Mirage after a long day.

What I don’t love is the bathroom accidents that can happen with a puppy.

My waterproof sofa cover has been wonderful. It secures to the couch and is anti-slip creating a comfortable area for both me and my pup.

10. Protect Your Mattress from the Puppy with a Great Protector

Similarly, to protect your furniture if your pet shares your bed, it’s important to protect this area as well.

I use a waterproof mattress protector.

11. Upgrade Your Flooring to Help Puppy Proof Your Home the Right Way

When selecting flooring – I’ve been told there are two camps.

Those that hate carpet and those that love it. 

I prefer a mix throughout my house.

In my living room and bedroom, I enjoy super plush carpeting. 

We upgraded to a stain-resistant carpet in these rooms.

The stain-resistant carpet gives us the peace of mind of knowing if Mirage has an accident, it will clean more easily.

If you have hardwood floors or need a spot on carpeting for your puppy, a puppy mat can help protect your flooring.

12. Install a Doggy Gate for Puppy Protection

If you have areas you would like to keep off limits to your new fur baby, consider adding a doggy gate. 

These gates help secure areas of the home that are off-limits to animals.

This also teaches the pup these areas are a no-go.

When we adopted Mirage, we invested in a portable doggy gate.

This has been great since we can take it along on outings. 

I often bring it to my parent’s house and create a barrier for the deck so Mirage can roam safely around the deck.

13. Fence in Your Yard to Secure Your Puppy

Providing a safe place to roam, a fenced-in yard can be a perfect upgrade for your pet. 

A fence is on my house wish list. 

If you’ve read my blog, you know my husband and I moved recently.

We really want to fence our yard to provide a safe place for Mirage to relax, roam, and exercise.

14. Secure Pool Areas for Ultimate Puppy Safety

Backyard pools are a great place for summer fun in the sun.

However, they can be very dangerous for a dog, especially a curious puppy. 

Make sure to secure all pools and ladders from your animals to prevent accidents.

15. Secure the Toilet from Puppy Problems

Puppies are just plain curious.

Everything is new and exciting – this includes the toilet. 

Consider keeping the bathroom door closed to prevent your puppy from using the toilet as a giant water bowl.

They really don’t know the difference between the porcelain throne and their water bowl.

However, if that isn’t possible, add a toilet locking system until the puppy is trained.

16. Keep Your New Puppy Busy at Home

As we’ve covered, there are so many essential items for your new puppy.

In addition, be sure to keep your new puppy engaged and stimulated with the right toys and activities.

It’s important to provide a variety of pet safe items such as chew toys, interactive puzzles, and plush toys.

Additionally, subscribing to a pet subscription box like BarkBox can be a fantastic way to regularly introduce new and exciting toys and treats to your new puppy’s routine.

With BarkBox you can customize your dog’s box for their individual needs and that includes allergy-safe treats and toys.

Moreover, you can pick the right plan for you.

BarkBox offers 6- or 12-month subscriptions, shipped to your specifications.

Your new puppy won’t have to wait long as most boxes arrive within 5 days.

Then, your new puppy will enjoy their BarkBox every month where they’ll get themed toys, treats and lots of dog excitement.

Bonus! If your dog isn’t 100% happy with their BarkBox, the company will work with you to make it right.

Final Thoughts

I hope these tried-and-true tips from my own puppy-raising days have helped you prepare your home for a new puppy or dog.

For fun, because I love them, here’s another picture of Mirage and Paco, the best of friends, Scooby and Scrappy Doo. 

We miss Paco – he crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2015.

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Your turn!

Are you thinking of bringing home a four-legged family member soon? Do you have any tips to prepare home for a puppy?

Let me know in the comments!

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