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Getting Your Home Ready for a New Puppy
National Puppy Day is coming up on March 23rd, and of course, it's that time of year: puppy season! Spring litters will soon be everywhere, rescues will be looking for homes, and chances are if you've been considering a dog, this is when the hypothetical discussion is likely to become a reality. If you're in the market for a puppy, consider these tips from our real estate agents for getting your home puppy-proofed first.
- Keep trouble out of reach. Look around your house. There are probably many items that aren't safe for puppies. You'll need to get all of those moved out of reach of a puppy, which means putting medications and dangerous chemicals in upper cupboards, picking up throw rugs, and moving poisonous plants out of reach.
- Practice picking up after yourself. You've never been so careful about picking up after yourself until you've had a small child—or a puppy! Puppies will find any item you leave behind, even if it's just your shoes in the mudroom or dirty laundry that didn't quite make it into the hamper. Get into the habit now of keeping things picked up and off the ground as much as possible. Teach your kids to pick up after themselves, too. No more toys left out, or the puppy may claim the toy as his own!
- Cover what can't be picked up. You won't be able to remove everything from the puppy's reach. Cords are one example, so they should be covered or taped to the baseboards to prevent the puppy from chewing on them. Puppies also frequently get into the trash, so if you don't have a pull-out trash can popular in Atlanta homes for sale, you may need to invest in a heavy-duty trash can with a locking lid.
- Provide opportunities for positive reinforcement. Just like children, puppies get into the most trouble when their needs aren't being met. This means making sure that your puppy gets enough exercise and stimulation, such as walks, tug, and fetch in the backyard. It's also important to make sure he has plenty of toys he can chew on to satisfy those normal teething urges.
- Use physical barriers to limit access. Sometimes you can't puppy-proof the entire house. Kids' rooms and playrooms are especially difficult, as they find it the hardest to remember to pick up after themselves. Plus, you may have carpet that you don't want the puppy to have unsupervised access to until he's fully potty trained. When shutting the door isn't an option, you can use baby gates to limit your puppy's access to certain areas and keep him confined to a room or a floor that is fully puppy-proofed. A puppy playpen can also help to confine a very small puppy to a safe area. Be sure to also kennel train your puppy so that you can keep him safely in a kennel when you're not at home.
If you're considering bringing a puppy into the family, you may also be asking yourself if your current home is the best place for a dog. Dogs can make a small home feel even smaller, and of course giving a dog enough exercise is easiest when they have a large backyard to play in. Is your current home or yard too small for a dog? Contact us today, and we'll help you find a house both you and your new puppy will be happy to call home.