Page 294 - The Complete Dog Breed Book Choose the Perfect Dog for You, New Edition (DK)

294 C ARE AND TR AINING

PREPARING FOR ARRIVAL

Forward thinking and early preparation will help make your puppy’s
introduction to his new home as stress free as possible. Before the
newest member of the family arrives, check that the home environment—
both indoors and outdoors—is safe for a young, inquisitive dog. Ensure,
too, that you have all the basic equipment needed for his daily care and
development, including his collar, bed, and toys. A puppy is life-changing

Puppy-proofing your home out of reach may just be accidents waiting to happen; a laundry
Start your safety checks by walking around your home and basket is easy to knock over, and its contents can create hours
yard and trying to see everything as your puppy would see of fun for a destructive puppy. Consider keeping some doors
it. What looks like a tempting object to chew? Is that table closed or using a stair gate to limit the areas that your dog
in a prime position to be knocked over? Is there a small gap in can access. Excitable dogs can suffer back and leg injuries
the fence that he could squeeze through if he tried? Take from slips and falls on smooth or polished floors. Put down
preventive action now to avoid trouble later. nonslip mats; if they are machine washable, it will be easy
to deal with dirt and stains.
Safety indoors
Making your home safe for a dog is similar to making it safe Safety outdoors
for children. Dogs investigate a new object by chewing it, so Look for gaps in fences and underneath gates, even if you
place anything potentially hazardous well out of a puppy’s plan to supervise your dog outside. Puppies can disappear
reach. Toxic household chemicals are an obvious danger, but through the smallest holes and thickest hedges if they think
your puppy could be poisoned by many other things, such as there is something interesting on the other side. Keep yard
certain pot plants and some human foods, including chocolate. chemicals out of the way. Slug pellets and other pesticides
Remind children not to leave small toys lying around for your can look like tasty treats but may be harmful if eaten. Do not
puppy to pick up and choke on. Watch out for electrical wires, let your puppy chew garden plants—many are poisonous.
remote controls, and anything else near the floor and small Avoid leaning tools or wheelbarrows against fences where a
enough for a puppy to gnaw. Objects that you may think are boisterous puppy could knock them over and cause injury.

HAZARDS FOR YOUR DOG TO AVOID TOP TIPS
■ Book a vet appointment
to complete your puppy’s
vaccinations soon after you
bring him home.
■ Microchipping your dog
improves the likelihood of
finding him if he gets lost and is
compulsory in some countries.
■ Pet insurance can provide
peace of mind in an emergency.
■ Ask your breeder for a
towel or blanket that smells
familiar to your puppy. It will
help reassure him for the first
TOXIC HARMFUL UNSTABLE GAPS UNDER SLUG
PLANTS CHEMICALS OBJECTS GATE PELLETS few nights.

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