Chapter 5: Supplies & Dog-Proofing
Bringing a new dog home is a little like baby-proofing — you're suddenly looking at your living space through entirely different eyes. Things that have never been a problem become potential hazards the moment a curious, stressed, or bored dog starts exploring. A quick walk-through before your dog arrives is one of the best investments of time you can make.
You don't need to overhaul your entire home — focus on the areas where your dog will spend most of their time and work outward from there.
The dog-proofing checklist
Secure electrical cords. Loose cords trailing along floors are irresistible to chewing dogs and genuinely dangerous. Tape them flat against baseboards, bundle them with cord covers, or route them behind furniture where they're out of reach entirely.
Move chemicals and medications up high. Cleaning products, laundry pods, medications, vitamins, and even some essential oils can be toxic or fatal to dogs. Relocate anything like this to a high shelf or inside a latched cabinet — don't rely on a low cabinet door to hold against a determined nose.
Remove toxic plants. A surprising number of common houseplants and garden plants are toxic to dogs, including lilies, philodendrons, pothos, aloe vera, and poinsettias. Do a quick audit of any plants in your dog's accessible areas and move or remove anything that poses a risk. When in doubt, the ASPCA has a comprehensive toxic plant database worth bookmarking.
Secure rugs and remove breakables. Dogs — especially in those first excited or anxious days — move fast and don't always have great spatial awareness. Rugs that slide can cause slips and injuries; breakables left at nose or tail height are accidents waiting to happen. Tuck away anything fragile and use rug grippers or tape down any rugs that move easily.
Set up the crate before they arrive. Having the crate in place from the moment your dog walks in means they can begin exploring and acclimating to it immediately. Place it in a quiet corner of a room where the family spends time — close enough to feel included, far enough from foot traffic to feel like a refuge. Add a soft blanket and leave the door open so they can investigate on their own terms.
Install baby gates. Baby gates are one of the most versatile tools in your dog management toolkit, especially in the early weeks. Use them to block off stairways, rooms that are off-limits, or to create a designated safe zone for your new dog to decompress without full run of the house. They also allow dogs to hear and smell each other through a barrier during the introduction process — low-pressure exposure that does real relationship-building work.
Think in terms of access, not perfection
You don't need a spotless, sterile environment — you need a safe one. The goal is to limit unsupervised access to areas with hazards until your dog has settled in enough for you to understand their habits and tendencies. As you get to know them better, you can gradually expand their freedom in a way that feels right for both of you.
A few minutes of preparation now saves a lot of stress — and potentially a vet visit — later.