Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Getting Started

5 easy ways to puppy-proof your apartment

By

Nothing is cuter than a puppy, but even the most adorable puppy can be an unholy terror in an apartment. If you’re planning to make your apartment a new puppy’s forever home, you can help minimize the damage your furry new roommate can cause. Here are a few simple steps you can take to puppy-proof your apartment.

Keep electrical cords, phone and laptop chargers, and any potentially dangerous items out of your puppy’s reach

Black and Tan puppy.As your puppy enters the teething stage, anything is fair game. One of the best ways to puppy-proof your apartment is to make sure your puppy can’t gnaw on your laptop charger or any other cords connected to a source of electricity, as they can cause a nasty shock. Make sure any small items are up and off the floor.

Recommended Videos

Anything that can break into tiny pieces your puppy could choke on are potential hazards, so keep them in a storage bin out of your puppy’s reach. Another thing to keep in mind are houseplants, as many are toxic to your puppy. Jade plants, aloe vera, and elephant ear plants are all beautiful, but they’re also poisonous to your pooch.

If you don’t want to give up houseplants, money trees, ferns, bamboo, and Areca and ponytail palms are all puppy-safe options.

Try confining your puppy to one area

Keeping your puppy out of trouble while you’re away sounds like a daunting task, but there’s an easy, affordable fix. You can buy an inexpensive baby gate and keep your puppy in your bathroom or kitchen while you’re at work. Because most kitchens and bathrooms have tile or vinyl flooring, cleaning up any messes when you get home is a breeze. Just make sure your puppy can’t open any cabinets before you leave them alone.

Replace tempting objects with your puppy’s favorite toys

Puppies love to play and chew, but they’ll be much less likely to chew on your furniture and shoes if they have a plethora of toys at their disposal. If your puppy is teething, try putting their favorite chew toys in the freezer before you leave for work. The cooling effect will help soothe your puppy’s irritated gums, and they’ll be distracted enough by the presence of their toys to leave your furniture alone while you’re gone.

Because your clothes smell like you, your puppy may be particularly attracted to your dirty laundry. Make sure to pick up your laundry off the floor and place it securely in a basket so your puppy doesn’t shred your favorite socks. It’s much better for your clothes, and it’s much safer for your puppy to chew on toys designed for dogs, as there’s an increased risk of choking if your puppy swallows a piece of fabric.

Don’t leave foods or medicines out while your puppy is unattended

If it smells appetizing, it should be put away when your puppy is home alone. This is especially true of foods containing known toxins like chocolate, caffeine, garlic, onions, and raisins. High-fat foods like nuts and seeds can also cause digestive issues, so make sure they’re properly sealed and stored in an out-of-reach location.

You should also take special precautions to make sure all of your vitamins and medications are stored in a drawer or cabinet where your puppy can’t reach them. If you leave your puppy in your bathroom while you’re away, be sure to put up your skincare items so your puppy doesn’t pull them down off the bathroom counter.

Deter your puppy from chewing on things with an anti-chewing spray 

Tan puppy sleeping in bowlNo-chew sprays are made from nontoxic-but-nasty ingredients that deter your dog from biting your belongings. If your puppy is determined to eat your phone charger, you can give it a spritz with a no-chew spray to deter your puppy from nibbling. While each brand uses its own unique formula, most no-chew sprays use citrus as the main repellant. Puppies hate the bitter taste, but one little bite won’t make them sick.

If your dog loves to chew on your sofa or your favorite pair of sneakers, look for a fabric-safe option that won’t leave stains. Using a no-chew spray is a safe, effective way to train your puppy not to chew on things from the get-go.

Sharing your apartment with a new puppy is a joy, but it can also test your patience. If you want to live in harmony with the world’s most precious roommate, puppy-proofing your apartment will help keep your belongings safe and free of bite marks — and it will help keep your pooch out of trouble, too.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mary Johnson
Mary Johnson
Contributor
Mary Johnson is a writer and photographer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her work has been published in PawTracks and…
Off-leash dog training is easy if you follow these 5 tips
These tips will make this process smoother
Puppy learning to heel

We’re going out on a limb here, but it’s safe to say that if you’ve ever caught the look on a dog’s face when he’s running off leash at the dog park, you’ve caught a glimpse of what pure bliss looks like.

As a pet parent, it’s only natural to want to see that expression more often. And, without disparaging the leashed walk around the neighborhood, your dog would probably tell you he’d prefer being off leash more often. Is that possible, given local leash laws and all the mischief your untethered pet can get himself into? Perhaps, if he is well trained.

Read more
Do puppies sleep a lot? These are the perfectly normal sleeping habits of a healthy pup
Puppies sleep a lot, but here's when it's normal and when to be concerned
Puppy sleeping on lap of human with mustard yellow sweater

Generally, puppies require abundant sleep — some will snooze up to 20 hours per day. Every pup is different, though and as they get older, the number of sleep hours decreases. By about 16 weeks of age, most dog breeds will be able to sleep through the night.

Sleep is an essential element of human and canine development. As anyone who has had a new puppy can tell you, it can be tough at first to get them into a good sleeping routine. Still, you'll want to make sure you and your new dog are rested and fit for all that life has to offer you. Here is everything you need to know about when your new puppy should be sleeping through the night and the answer to the question, "Do puppies sleep a lot?"

Read more
Best guard dogs: These 7 breeds will protect you with their life
These dog breeds are some of the best personal guards you'll find
An Akita sitting on the bed

Most dogs are loyal and loving animals. That’s why we know them as humans’ best friends. They’d do anything for us. For some dogs, “anything” means protecting us with their lives. And these breeds make the best guard dogs. For many of them, it’s instinctual. They’ve evolved to protect the family they love. You’ll notice these pups keeping a watchful eye on your property. They may bark to alert you when your company arrives or the mail gets delivered.
Remember, guard animals mean well. They aren’t trying to be vicious, but instead, they want to keep you and your home safe and sound. Some prospective pet parents want this quality in a dog. If that’s you, consider these breeds that make the best guard dogs.

What is the easiest guard dog to train?
There's a whole group of beasties that are often referred to as the guardian breeds — many of them make this list. Those animals with a predisposition toward defending and alerting will likely also learn their duties quickly. However, you'll also need a pup who has been properly socialized. Remember, you only want your guard to go into protection mode when there's a serious threat, not every time the mailman stops by.

Read more