Puppies are such wonderful little bundles of joy. If you’re bringing one home in the near future, you’re probably so excited about all the cuddles, funny moments, cute little woofs, hops and kisses that the fluffball is going to bring into your life.

Of course, if your home could talk, it would probably not be quite so excited about the idea of a new puppy. After all, puppies may be small, but without proper planning, they can be quite damaging to carpets, hardwood floors, walls, your brand new shoes, your favorite bedspread, well, you get the point.

So, how can you make sure that your home is 100% ready to welcome a new puppy? In this article, we’re sharing our top tips for puppy-proofing your living space. And, we’ve got the ultimate new puppy checklist so that you know exactly what you need to purchase before bringing the little one home.

First things first, dogify the house

There are things in your home that can be potentially dangerous for a new pup and there are some things in your home that your new dog may destroy. Keep both your pup and your house safe with these easy tips:

• Clear the clutter. Puppies are some of the most curious creatures you can find, and they’ll love to dig through any clutter that you have lying around. This is a perfect opportunity to get rid of anything that you don’t use anymore, or place items in storage that you can reintroduce when your pup is a bit older. You can find an affordable storage unit with Spacer for just this purpose.

• Find a new home for floor-dwelling items. Maybe you’re used to keeping your guitar case next to the couch for easy access, but anything that’s on the floor is going to become a puppy discovery. Invest in some shelves and hooks to keep these items out of reach.

• Be mindful of plants. What looks to you like a nice house plant may look like food for your new puppy. And, while losing some plants to your doggo might just be annoying, there are others that are actually toxic to dogs. You might want to hang plants from the ceiling or move them to a part of the house that is inaccessible to your pup.

Once you’ve made these simple adjustments, it’s time to fill your space with puppy supplies!

The New Puppy Checklist:

• Puppy food and treats. Even before you take your new puppy home, it’s a good idea to reach out to the veterinarian that you’ll be seeing to talk about what the best dog foods are. Make sure to pick something specifically made for puppies.

• Dog gates. This is going to help protect your home from a puppy on the loose. Make sure to invest in sturdy gates that can’t be knocked over by an over-excited puppy (and, let’s be honest, they’re always over-excited!)

• Dog beds. There are some great dog beds out there that will prevent your puppy from trying to make a comfy den out of other materials in your home. Kmart dog beds are affordable and sturdy enough that your pup won’t easily chew through the material.

• House training pads. Eventually, you’ll want to train your pup to go outside all the time, but when they’re young, they physically can’t wait for more than a couple of hours between potty breaks. Protect your carpets and hardwood floors with training pads and make sure to change them often.

• Puppy crate (if you’ll be crate training). There’s some controversy about whether dogs should be crate-trained or not. But, many experts state that crates create a similar feeling of comfort and peace as a natural den, while also keeping your pup out of trouble when you can’t watch them.

• Food and water bowls with tray. At this age – and, for some breeds indefinitely – mealtimes and water breaks can lead to food and water all over the floor. It’s adorable, but not so great for your floors. Fix it with a plastic tray that you can easily wash out.

• Puppy collar, harness, and leash. The collar and harness should be made of soft materials that are adjustable for your growing doggo.

• Grooming Brush. The best way to protect your house from the oncoming fur storm is to practice regular grooming! If you’ve got a long-haired pooch, invest in a metal comb that can reach the bottom coat.

• Plenty of Toys (with proper storage). It’s a good idea to give your puppy supervised play time, but be wary of leaving them alone with toys lying around. You might come home to find a few tufts of cotton and a very sick little toy-eater. So, get a bin that can be latched for storing toys.

• Non-toxic cleaning sprays. There will be messes, that’s unavoidable. Keep your home clean with non-toxic sprays which are much less harsh on your puppy’s sensitive system.

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