GSD Puppies – Things to Look Out For

GSD Puppies – Things to Look Out For

In our last post focusing on the topic of German Shepherd dog puppies, or GSD puppies for short, we went over some essential tips required in the process of taking care of your GSD puppies. Today, we would like to go over each area of your home and point out some of the things that you and your family should be wary of while having puppies at home. These tips will enable you to prevent your GSD puppies from causing havoc in your home and at the same time, provide a safe environment for your puppies. If you could see loose electrical wires, dangling cords or chewy shoes on the floor, your puppy will see it too, and you certainly do not want a dangerous environment for your puppy to grow up in. In many ways, taking care of your GSD puppies will require the same amount of attention as taking care of an infant.

Below are different areas within your home as well as certain important things you should look out for:

Kitchen

  • Be sure to put away all knives, utensils and sharp objects in drawers.
  • If there is a visible trash can in the kitchen, make sure it has a tight fitting lid.
  • All household cleaners should be hidden from your puppies. Make sure the cupboards or drawers in which these are kept in are closed securely.

Bathroom

  • Similar to the kitchen, be sure to keep all household cleaners, medicines, vitamins, shampoos, bath products, perfumes, and other personal products in cupboards that close securely.
  • If there is a visible trash can in the bathroom, make sure it has a tight fitting lid.
  • Avoid using toilet bowl cleaners that release chemicals into the bowl every time it is flushed.
  • The toilet bowl lid should be kept down or closed when not in use.
  • Do NOT use at potpourri or any solid air fresheners. Throw or give them away. These can be poisonous to your GSD puppies.

Bedroom

  • Securely put away all items that are potentially dangerous. Things such as medicines, perfumes and makeup should not be left outside of cupboards and drawers.
  • Put all jewelry, barrettes and hairpins in secure boxes so they can’t be reached.
  • Pick up or put away socks, shoes or other items that can be chewed on.
  • Living Room / Dining Area / General Living Spaces

    • Put all houseplants out of reach.
    • Securely put away items such as cigarettes, pens, pencils, sewing supplies and laundry products away which can potentially be harmful.
    • Move breakable items such as plates, mugs and glasses away from low tables and shelves.
    • Pick up items that are chewable such as cell phones, socks, sandals, shoes, utensils, toys and books.
    • Tape up or cover electrical cords.
    • Tie up dangling cords from curtains, blinds and the telephone.

    Garage

    • All gardening supplies and pool chemicals should be stored such that they are out of reach.
    • Clean up any spills from any oil or car fluids by hosing them down for at least 10 minutes.
    • Sweep the floor for nails and other small, sharp objects.

    Backyard

    • Make sure the kids put away their toys when they’ve finished played.

    Note: I remembered always playing soccer in my family home’s yard when I was younger and I would never put away my soccer ball after each session. Soon after, I realized that my dog was biting and playing with the soccer ball, and as a result, damaged the outmost layer of the ball. While this eventually made my dog a “soccer dog” which was awesome, it is something that you should keep in mind, especially if you have items which are expensive in the yard.

    • Secure all cords on backyard lights and other appliances.
    • Ensure that there are no gaps or holes in your backyard fence. Be sure to fix them if there are any.
    • Make sure there are no plants that are toxic to dogs. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, has a list of plants that are toxic to dogs such as Alocasia, Aloe, Devils Ivy and Desert Rose.

    In general, you want to keep items and objects which are harmful out of your puppies’ reach. Before taking action in these areas, it is also important to consider which areas your GSD puppies will have access to. Some families that I know of do not allow their dogs to enter certain areas within their home, such as the kitchen and bathrooms. If such is the case, be sure that the doors to these areas are always closed, restricting access to your puppies. If there are no doors that can restrict your puppies to a certain area, consider getting pet gates, which has been discussed in detail in the last post.

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