How to puppy-proof your home: a room-by-room safety checklist

Puppies learn about the world by sniffing, chewing and tasting. That is normal, but it means a puppy can find danger in places you wouldn't expect. Blue Cross recommends puppy-proofing your home and garden before your puppy arrives, so you're not racing to catch up once they're home.

A good way to start is to get down to puppy height and look around each room.

Why puppy-proofing matters

The Kennel Club advises keeping puppies closely supervised, or in a dog-proof area, until they are reliably toilet trained and past the chewing stage at about 6 months old. Vets regularly treat dogs that have swallowed things they shouldn't, and young dogs are most at risk.

Living areas: cables, small objects and climbing

• Cables: Blue Cross warns that wires and cables are a real risk. Never leave your puppy alone in a room with live cables. PDSA suggests cable covers, or blocking access with furniture.
• Small objects: Battersea advises tidying away anything small enough to swallow. PDSA says dogs swallow socks, underwear, children's toys, dummies and bouncy balls, all of which can cause blockages.
• Batteries: PDSA warns that a swallowed battery can burn the mouth, throat and stomach.
• Vapes and e-cigarettes: these contain nicotine, which PDSA says is highly toxic to pets even in small amounts.
• Climbing: keep chairs away from tables and worktops so your puppy can't climb up.
• Floors: Battersea suggests rugs or mats on slippery floors to prevent injuries.

Kitchen: food and bins

Keep all food out of reach. PDSA and Battersea list these as harmful to dogs:

Other nuts aren't toxic in the same way, but PDSA says their high fat content can cause stomach upsets and pancreatitis.

Use a bin with a secure lid that can't be knocked over. PDSA warns that bins hold mouldy food, foil and skewers, which can be toxic or damage the gut.

Bathroom and cleaning cupboard: medicines and chemicals

• Medicines: many human medicines are poisonous to dogs, including ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin. Dogs Trust advises locking medicines away and taking care with handbags and pockets.
• Vitamins and supplements: PDSA notes that human vitamins can contain doses and ingredients that are toxic to pets, including vitamin D.
• Cleaning products: bleach, dishwasher tablets, detergents and drain cleaners can all poison dogs. Dogs Trust suggests child locks on cupboards.
• Other items: Dogs Trust also lists wallpaper paste, cannabis and antifreeze as dangerous.

Only give your puppy medicines your vet has prescribed for them.

Stairs, windows and doors

• Stairs: the Kennel Club strongly recommends keeping puppies away from stairs and steep drops, as running up and down can damage their growth plates. Lift your puppy in and out of the car for the same reason.
• Stair gates: Blue Cross and Battersea suggest gates for stairs and rooms that are off-limits.
• Windows and balconies: close low windows and block access to balconies. PDSA warns that open windows high up are especially dangerous.

Give your puppy a safe space

Blue Cross suggests a crate as a safe place for your puppy when you can't supervise them. Battersea lists a crate or puppy pen, a bed and blankets, and puppy-safe chew toys among the essentials to buy before your puppy arrives. It suggests rotating chew toys to keep them interesting, and mixing up play to prevent unwanted nibbling on furniture.

House plants

Some popular house plants are toxic to dogs, including aloe vera, dumbcane, peace lilies, poinsettia, sago palm and yucca. Keep plants and cut flowers well out of reach.

The garden

• Check fences and gates. Blue Cross reminds owners that puppies love to dig as well as climb. If you're not sure your garden is escape-proof, the Kennel Club suggests taking your puppy out on a lead.
• Remove or fence off toxic plants, such as daffodils, foxgloves, azaleas, lilies, yew and wisteria.
• Lock away slug pellets and weed killer.
• Use a compost bin with a secure lid, as composting food can be very dangerous.
• Stay with your puppy outside. The Kennel Club warns that unsupervised puppies may chew dangerous plants, and can drown in a garden pond or pool.

What to do if your puppy eats something harmful

Call your vet straight away, even if your puppy seems fine. PDSA says never to wait and see if a problem develops. Don't try to make your puppy sick at home, as that isn't always safe. Watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, tummy pain, low energy or loss of appetite, which can be signs of a gut blockage.