Puppy-Proofing Your Home: Room-by-Room Safety Checklist

Puppies explore the world mouth-first. What looks like a harmless living room to you is an obstacle course of chewable cables, swallowable objects, and toxic substances to a curious 10-week-old. Puppy-proofing is not optional — it is the foundation of a safe environment where learning can happen.

Kitchen

The kitchen concentrates more puppy hazards per square foot than any other room.

• Trash cans: Use a can with a locking lid or store it inside a cabinet. Chicken bones, chocolate wrappers, and coffee grounds are common kitchen toxins.
• Cleaning supplies: Move all chemicals to upper cabinets or install child-proof locks. Even residue on freshly mopped floors can irritate paws and mouths.
• Food on counters: Grapes, onions, garlic, xylitol (found in sugar-free gum and baking products), and macadamia nuts are all toxic to dogs. Establish a habit of pushing food back from counter edges.
• Appliance cords: Secure or conceal cords from dishwashers, toasters, and blenders. A chewed cord is both a choking and electrocution hazard.

Living Room

• Electrical cords: Bundle and cover cords behind furniture using cord protectors. Puppies find the rubbery texture irresistible.
• Small objects: Remote control batteries, coins, hair ties, and children's toys are swallowing hazards. Get on the floor at puppy eye level and scan for anything within reach.
• Houseplants: Many common plants — lilies, sago palms, pothos, and philodendrons — are toxic to dogs. Check the ASPCA's plant database and relocate or remove dangerous species.
• Furniture gaps: Block spaces behind or under furniture where a puppy could get stuck or find hidden objects.

Bathroom

• Toilet lid: Keep it closed. Toilet water may contain cleaning chemicals, and small puppies risk falling in.
• Medications: A single dropped pill can be lethal for a puppy. Store all medications in closed cabinets and check floors after handling any pills.
• Personal care products: Toothpaste (often contains xylitol), lotions, and essential oils are toxic when ingested. Keep countertops clear.

Bedroom

• Shoes and clothing: Socks are one of the most commonly ingested foreign objects requiring surgical removal. Keep closet doors closed and shoes stored.
• Jewelry and accessories: Small metallic objects are both choking hazards and potential toxins (zinc from coins, lead from older jewelry).
• Bed height: If your puppy jumps off a high bed, growing joints are at risk. Use ramps or block bed access until they are physically mature.

Yard and Outdoor Areas

• Fencing: Walk the entire perimeter and check for gaps, loose boards, or spaces a small puppy could squeeze through. Puppies are remarkably good at finding weak points.
• Garden chemicals: Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and cocoa mulch are toxic. Switch to pet-safe alternatives.
• Toxic plants: Azaleas, oleander, tulip bulbs, and yew are among dozens of outdoor plants poisonous to dogs.
• Pools and ponds: Fence off any water feature. Puppies can fall in and may not be able to climb out.
• Tools and sharp objects: Gardening tools, nails, and broken pots should be stored in a locked shed.

The Prevention Mindset

Puppy-proofing is not a one-time task. As your puppy grows taller, faster, and more resourceful, hazards change. Reassess monthly — the counter they could not reach at 3 months becomes accessible at 5 months. Prevention is always easier, cheaper, and safer than treatment.