A puppy in the house; what should you keep in mind?
How nice, a new puppy in the house! As soon as you have a puppy at home, it brings coziness, atmosphere, love, and attention. Besides being incredibly fun to have a puppy, there are also some important points to consider. Your own schedule will need to change a bit, and of course, you must ensure a safe living environment for the pup. In this blog, you’ll read the do’s and don’ts of puppy-proofing your home.

Making a Home Puppy-Proof
You’ve probably already gathered various items to welcome your little four-legged friend. For example, there’s surely a nice soft dog bed ready, and the pup won’t lack toys. But are you aware that a curious puppy doesn’t yet understand that it should only play with its toys and will most likely explore things to chew on? That’s why it’s extremely important that nothing dangerous is within your puppy’s reach in your home. Below, we share some tips to help you create a safe living environment for your puppy:
Remove Loose Items from the Floor
Dogs explore the world with their mouths. Therefore, it’s important to make sure there are no dangerous items on the floor or anywhere else your puppy can reach. This prevents the pup from chewing on or even swallowing harmful things. Think of cleaning products, medicines, children’s toys, food (read here what dogs can and cannot eat), electrical outlets, and loose (electrical) cables. Also, pay close attention to plants, both inside the house and in the garden. Quite a few plants are toxic to dogs. You can read here which plants are poisonous to dogs.
Install Safety Gates
Place safety gates at stairs or areas where your four-legged friend is not allowed. When doing so, consider the dog’s size and how high it can jump.
Puppy Playpen
Do you have a larger house? Then a puppy playpen can be a great solution. With a playpen, you can section off part of a room. This way, your pup can move freely and safely explore its surroundings with peace of mind, even when you’re not nearby to watch over it.
Right surface
Do you have a smooth (wooden) floor at home? Then lay down a large rug. A puppy's bones and joints are still very vulnerable. When a puppy walks too much on a smooth surface, it can cause problems later in life.
Suitable chew toys and snacks
Dogs love to chew, and puppies are no exception. Therefore, there is a good chance that a pup will sink its teeth into certain objects in the house. Since you probably don't want a pup to start chewing on your furniture, it's wise to bring toys into the house. Make sure to buy toys that are safe for a puppy and do not give a pup toys that could cause choking. Check if the size of the toy is large enough for your dog and assess whether the material is safe. For example, watch out for (too) small balls due to choking hazards or plush toys; a puppy can tear these apart and accidentally eat the filling. So provide strong and safe chew toys, which are also pleasant for puppies during teething. An additional advantage is that a pup who is sufficiently challenged to play with suitable toys is less likely to get bored. This reduces the chance that he will go on a destructive rampage.
If you want to spoil your pup with snacks, make sure they are suitable for puppies. The semi-moist and crunchy snacks from Riverwood are already suitable for puppies from 10 weeks old. The meat strips and the chew snacks from the Butcher Series snack line are suitable for puppies from 4 months old.
Don't forget the garden
If you have a garden, you will probably use it when house-training your puppy. So don't forget to make sure the garden is puppy-proof. Check if the garden is well enclosed so your pup cannot run away. Do you have a pond or other water basin in the garden? Make sure to cover or fence it off so your pup cannot get near it. Also, clear away sticks, old wooden planks, and other obstacles that your puppy could reach and chew on. We just mentioned it briefly, but we can't say it enough: finally, remove toxic plants from the garden.
Welcome dear puppy!
With the above tips, your home should be completely puppy-proof and the enjoyment can begin! We wish you lots of fun, love, and happiness with your little four-legged friend!
Many dogs already enjoy Riverwood every day. Do you want your dog to enjoy our delicious food too and are you curious which variant suits your dog best? Then answer here a few questions about your dog and order an affordable trial package right away.
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Adult dogIn stockDog snacks with fish | reward snacks | Fisherman's Catch - Salmon & Whitefish | 200 grams
Regular price €4,49Regular pricePromotional price €4,49Grain-free Gluten-free Hypoallergenic Natural ingredients No artificial additives -
Adult dogIn stockDog snacks with meat | reward snacks | Farmer's Pride - Duck & Turkey | 200 grams
Regular price €4,49Regular pricePromotional price €4,49Grain-free Gluten-free Hypoallergenic Natural ingredients No artificial additives -
Adult dogIn stockDog snacks with meat | reward snacks | Butcher's Best - Venison & Wild Boar | 200 grams
Regular price €4,49Regular pricePromotional price €4,49Hypoallergenic Natural ingredients Grain-free Gluten-free No artificial additives -
PuppyAdult dogSenior dogIn stockDog snacks with meat | reward snacks | Shepherd's Friend - Lamb & Rabbit | 200 grams
Regular price €4,49Regular pricePromotional price €4,49Grain-free Gluten-free Natural ingredients No artificial additives
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