Back in the day, when we would bring our family dogs home for the first time, it was always about ‘puppy proofing the garden’. No holes in the fence, no sharp tools lying around and god forbid no slug bait within reach.
But when I brought Oddy home to my small Berlin apartment, I wasn’t sure what needed to be done to dog proof my place. He couldn’t run away, he could hardly hide anywhere to chew on a shoe…
So after a year of living with a particularly curious pup and heavy chewer, I compiled the ultimate guide on how to dog proof your apartment. Not knowing what your place might look like, I organised the list by ‘areas of concern’.
How to dog proof your apartment
Areas of concern
Hazardous materials
Keep all hazardous materials that could be ingested out of reach, ideally locked away. With some items on this list, you should consider giving them away like poisonous house plants.
- Cleaning products such as bleach, detergents, and disinfectants
- Medications and vitamins, including over-the-counter and prescription drugs
- Certain plants, including lilies, daffodils, and azaleas
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Batteries
- Personal care items such as perfumes, lotions, and nail polish
- Paint and paint-related products
- Alcohol
- Chocolate and other foods that are toxic to dogs like grapes, raisins, onions, garlic and avocado
Cords and outlets
Cover or remove any electrical cords and outlets to prevent your dog from chewing on them. You can use child-proof covers, that will prevent your dog from accessing the outlets and potentially getting shocked. Another option is switching to as many wireless options as possible or hiding cables behind furniture.
Sharp, breakable and valuable objects
Keep all sharp or breakable objects, such as glass vases or knives, out of reach or behind closed cabinet doors. Oddy has knocked multiple tea mugs off my couch table when playing.
Also consider what ‘out of reach’ means to your pup, I thought my nightstand was a safe distance, until Oddy really wanted to try on my retainer and chewed the whole thing up.
Appliances
Make sure all appliances, such as stoves and ovens, are turned off when not in use to prevent your dog from getting burned or injured. Especially when cooking in the oven, the smell can draw even the smartest dog towards the hot rack.
An extra pair of eyes
Consider getting an extra pair of eyes, in form of a pet camera like a Furbo. If you’re going to be away from your apartment, the gadget will give you some peace of mind. Remember that dogs are curious by nature and they will investigate their environment, so you should be aware of this and keep a close eye on them when they are exploring.
