How to Dog Proof a House

Face it—you can't be with your dog every waking minute—you may need to leave the house every once in a while. The only trouble with that is many dogs experience separation anxiety—and even the ones who don't—might get into mischief just the same. The following are ways to make being alone safer for your dog—and your home!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Make sure all trash cans have lids. This is often the first thing dogs will make a beeline for when you leave the house or are out of your sight.

2. Close doors or section off areas where you think the dog might be destructive with a baby or dog gate. Sometimes, unfortunately, the only way to know the problem areas is from trial and error.

3. Keep socks out of your dog’s reach. Socks are a favorite chew toy for many pooches. Leave them their own safe chew toys to play with (or some socks that already have holes). You can also put a tennis ball inside a sock, knot it—and voila—a homemade toy that dogs love.

4. 

   Raise blinds high enough to be out of reach. Dogs like to jump on windowsills when you’re gone, and low hanging blinds usually get damaged in the process.

5. Keep plants out of the dog’s reach. Certain ones can be poisonous including ferns, lillies and poinsettia.

6. 

   Keep food out of reach. And remember counters. Dogs will surprise you with how high they will jump for food.

7. Make sure medicine, personal care products, household cleaners, insecticides and other potentially poisonous chemicals are hidden away in cabinets.

8. Keep string, thread, yarn, dental floss and rubber bands away from your dog. If swallowed, these items can cause intestinal blockage. Although not as dangerous, keep napkins, tissues and paper out of reach; dogs love to chew on paper products.

9. Hide, cover, roll up or tape down exposed electrical chords.

10. Make sure glass items and lamps can't be knocked over.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave music or the TV on at a regular volume while you're gone. This has been known to have a calming effect on dogs with separation anxiety. There are even CDs available with music compilations specifically geared toward dogs.
• If your dog likes to scratch or chew on door trim or the edge of the door, nail up two vinyl strips about 2 to 3 inches wide that almost reach as high as the doorknob. Place side by side, one along the trim and the other alongside the edge of the door by the opening. This should cover up the area they would normally scratch. A few nail holes is better than damaged trim--trust me.
• Crate training is a safe option for preventing destructive behavior that could harm your dog, as well as cause damage to your home.