If you’re moving apartments with your new bundle of joy, your puppy, there are certain things you’ll need to do before, and even after you move in to prepare. Surprised? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.
“Many puppy owners don’t quite realize that moving into a new apartment or house with a puppy isn’t the same as moving in sans puppy,” says Angela Stringfellow from Pup Life Today. “To make you apartment both safe for your puppy, and for your belongings, you’ll have to make certain modifications.”
Yes, there’s no way about getting around the minor and major changes you’ll need to make with your apartment, as well as your own indoor habits. Doing so will ensure your apartment is as puppy safe as it can be. If you don’t know where to start, follow these 3 top tips.
Stow Away All Food
Dogs – especially when they’re young pups – are curious creatures. So you shouldn’t put it past them to take a nibble – or gulp – of any food you leave around! As such, it’s vital to be cautious when it comes to the food you leave around the house. That open packet of chips on the couch? Pack it away. Your half-eaten chocolate bar on the counter? Finish it off and throw out the wrapper.
Get into the habit of putting away your food, dishes, and wrappers as soon as you’re done. Not only will you help ensure your puppy doesn’t consume anything it shouldn’t, you’ll be helping keep your new apartment spick and span!
The reason we stress the importance of stowing away all food is that dogs are particularly susceptible to getting sick if they eat something that doesn’t rest well in their stomach. In extreme cases, they can even become violently ill. To learn about which foods in particular you should keep away from your puppy, read over this list.
Lock Away Any Cleaning Products
Similar to some household plants, cleaning products can prove dangerous if accidentally ingested or touched by your puppy. You may not think you’d be as careless to leave dangerous cleaning products within reach of your puppy, but it’s far more common than you may first think. For example, you may leave your kitchen spray on the counter, or bleach next to the toilet.
Especially when you’re doing a big clean of a new apartment, or are in the midst of a big spring clean, you’re more likely to leave a few cleaning products here and there around the house. You may even keep some open – making them all-to-easy to access. These are all big no-nos when it comes to making your home environment safe for your puppy.
The first modification you should make is to securely pack away all of your cleaning products. Use a lock to not leave anything to chance. Next, you should get rid of any cleaning products that are particularly dangerous for your pup. You can either replace them with products with less-harsh chemicals, or even try out some DIY cleaning products. Finally, you should start being more vigilant about cleaning up any accidental spills you make, and screwing the cap on tightly after you’ve used any products.
Shut & Close Off No-Go Areas
This modification is one of the biggest you’ll need to make. While in your pre-puppy life, you may have left doors, cabinets, and any other openings open without a care, you’ll need to stop doing so in your new puppy-filled life.
Puppies love to explore and tuck themselves into places you know they shouldn’t go. The thing is, just like small children, puppies don’t know where is a “right” and “wrong” place to head into. Places you wouldn’t even imagine them going into – like your washer or dryer – are just another adventure for them.
The modification to make here is to lock off any no-go zones like any rooms in your house you can’t properly monitor. This provides a two-fold benefit while they’re not yet toilet trained, as there will be less areas you’ll need to clean up their messes. Also make sure to close any cabinet doors and your washer and dryer doors to prevent any injuries. Basically, just close off access to anything and anywhere they could get stuck, lost, or buried in.
