Dachshund Puppy Proofing Your Home

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When you bring your new Dachshund puppy home, there tends to be a lot of excitement, but it is very important to remember that your home may not be 100% ready for this new addition. Your new puppy will be quite small in size but will still be able to get himself into trouble. Dachshund puppies are like babies and love to play with everything. This means that things low to the ground will need to be considered. Doxie puppies tend to want to put everything into their mouths. Things like electrical wires and cords will need to be secured. This seems to be their favorite thing to chew on and it is very easy to jump up and grab a cord.

Another concern for your new Dachshund puppy can be cleaners and poisons. Many people have cleaners and bug and rodent killers on low level shelves in their homes. Just like you would for your new toddler who is crawling around, you would want to make sure these items are placed on a higher shelf. This is important because virtually all of these are considered to be poisonous to a dachshund puppy.

Household plants can be very harmful to your puppy. Some plants are very poisonous to animals. Plants such as Aloe Vera, Eucalyptus, and Baby's Breath are very toxic, just to name a few. It is always best to check with your local veterinarian before you bring your puppy home. The vet can tell you which plants you may need to get rid of.

It is best to remove all objects from the floor and lower areas of your home. It is recommended that you get down to your puppy's level and see what they see. This can help you spot any problem areas and issue that you might have otherwise over looked.

If you have large bowl of water, a swimming pool or even a small kiddies pool, you will need to be very careful that your puppy can not reach it or fall into it. It does not take much to inhale even just a little bit of water into their lungs. I remember a lady I met at the my vet's office that was waiting for news about her adult dachshund who loved to splash in the kiddies pool to cool off. She said there was only enough water to cover the bottom of the pool. I regret to say the news was not good and the dog did not make it.

If you have a balcony or porch, you must not leave your puppy unattended. Sometimes puppies tend to get to sneak through the bars or find a little opening. They can slip right through before you even have time to notice they are gone. Also if your balcony is on a higher level this is very important to remember because your puppy could slip through the bars and fall, this could cause serious injuries or even death.

Your new Dachshund puppy will act like a toddler exploring their environment and surroundings. They can go places you would not imagine they can fit. Watch for areas such as under a couch that you would not imagine your puppy could get to the electrical outlet or even behind a refrigerator. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that your puppy is like a small child, anything that could be harmful for a child will probably be harmful to your new puppy.

Also, puppy treats are great for rewarding you puppy of good deeds, such as potty training. If you give your puppy treat, make sure it is broken in small pieces as a puppy can swallow before chewing it good and choke on it. When we give our puppies a treat we only do so under supervision where they can be watched closely. Never do we give them treats and just walk away.

Never leave a small puppy unattended with other adult dogs until they get a little older. While the adult dog may have a great nature and get along with the puppy just great, accidents can still happen especially during anytime of horsing around and playing.

Do not ever leave your puppy outside either unattended. I have heard so many horror stories and can not believe the many people that do this. Take your puppy outside to potty or for play time but always be within reach and watch them closely. I had a previous puppy buyer that had bought a 12 week old longhair dachshund puppy from me during one of our hot 98 degree Texas summers that had been put outside. Several hours later, they found the puppy unresponsive and had to rush it to the vet later to find out he had dehydrated & had a heat stroke. Luckily, they got him there in time and with fluids and veterinarian care the puppy survived. But this was an expensive & horrible lesson for them to learn.

REMEMBER..... NEVER LEAVE YOUR BABY UNATTENDED & KEEP IN A SAFE SECURE AREA AT ALL TIMES!!!

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