There’s nothing quite like bringing a new pet home, however small. Even a new fish for your aquarium can be lovely. But of course, nothing quite beats bringing home a furry friend, perhaps a cat or a dog. As cats tend to require less training than dogs do, we’ll focus on the latter for now.
Puppies are notoriously excitable and curious. They’re also learning to be housetrained, which we all had to struggle with at one point or another. That being said, even a relatively well-behaved dog can have accidents from time to time, requiring care, attention and preparation before things get hectic.
Of course, it’s important to combine this with training, especially as your puppy grows (it happens more quickly than you had anticipated) and isn’t quite sure how to handle the weight and momentum of their own body yet.
So, how should you protect your household against that new, excited and growing puppy? It’s not always clear. Well, in this post we aim to help you with that, and potentially give you a better path forward:
Leave Newspaper Where You Can, But Prepare To Clean Carpets
Most puppy (and kitty) owners know about leaving newspaper down, but carpets need special attention too. Paper training works well until your puppy gets excited and misses the target as they are almost guaranteed to do. Keep some enzyme cleaner ready, and remember that deep cleaning your carpets every few months helps prevent lingering odors that might encourage repeat accidents as your puppy thinks this is the space for that kind of business. Paper training takes time, and accidents will happen even with the most attentive owner, so don’t take it as a failure of your own. Over time your routine and willingness to take them out, and a little gentle reprimanding where appropriate, will help them learn the ropes.
Put Border Fences In Places
Small fences or gates around your home give puppies clear boundaries while they learn where to go and why. Sometimes a simple baby gate at the stairs or blocking off certain rooms helps guide them to appropriate play areas, and can prevent them from causing hygiene issues - such as if your baby is laying on the floor under a blanket mobile. Garden fencing might need checking too, as puppies can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps when they're feeling adventurous. These barriers can move around as your puppy grows and learns where they should and shouldn't go.
Protect Or Repair Furniture & Upholstery
Puppies love to chew, and your furniture might end up bearing the brunt of this natural behavior. Some people get lucky with a quick sofa repair when needed, but prevention is good to plan for as well. Old blankets over favorite spots, plenty of appropriate chew toys, and gentle redirection when they start nibbling furniture legs all help protect your belongings. Also remember that moving precious items to another room for a few months gives everyone peace of mind while your puppy learns what they can and can't chew on. It might save you some cash, too.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily protect your household against a new, excited and growing puppy.