Puppy Proofing Your Home
When you bring your new Labrador Retriever puppy home from a Lab breeder, 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. Labrador Retriever puppies are like babies and love to play with everything. This means that things low to the ground will need to be considered. Lab puppies tend to want to put everything into their mouths. Things like electrical wires and cords will need to be secured.
Another concern for your new Labrador Retriever 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 Lab puppy.
Household plants can be very harmful to your Lab. 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 Lab's level and see what they see. This can help you spot any problem areas and issue that you might have otherwise over looked.
The toilet is another issue for a Labrador Retriever puppy. You must always remember to keep the toilet seat lid down. Certain cleaners in the water and in your toilet bowl can be very toxic to animals. Also your Lab puppy could fall in head first and may not be able to get a grip to get out. It is always recommended to keep the seat down.
If you have a balcony or porch, you must not leave your Labrador Retriever 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 Lab puppy could slip through the bars and fall, this could cause serious injuries or even death.
Your new Labrador Retriever puppy will act like a toddler exploring their environment and surroundings. 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 Labrador Retriever puppy.
