Dog-Safe Home Checklist

Whether you already have a dog or plan on adding a new buddy soon, making sure your house and property are safe for them is an essential part of pet care. Use our handy guide for checking each part of your home for potential hazards.

Bathrooms

You wouldn’t necessarily expect your pup to spend much time in the bathroom, but this can be one of the most accident-prone areas of your home.

o If you use an automatic toilet bowl cleaner, be sure your dog can’t drink the water or get to the cleaner itself. At the very least keep the lid down as a deterrent.

o Unattended water like bathtubs and toilets are a drowning hazard for puppies and small dogs who can fall in but not get themselves out. Consider keeping shower doors closed and lids down or keeping the bathroom door shut while not in use.

o Perfumes, cosmetics, toiletries, and cleaners should always be kept out of your dog’s reach. The same goes for any medicine cabinet items like vitamins, prescriptions, and creams. For curious pups, perhaps attach baby-proof locks on low cabinets and drawers so they don’t access chemicals or other toxic substances that must be stored at their eye-level.

o One of the biggest bathroom draws for dogs is the trash can. Either keep your trash receptacle out of reach or invest in a secured lid model. The last thing your dog needs to find is disposable razors, sanitary products, and chemical-laden products like toothpaste or ointments.

Bedrooms & Living Rooms

These spaces tend to be where family pets spend most of their time. They are also the most frequented and as a result sometimes littered with the most opportunities for trouble.

o Make sure clothing, especially small articles like socks and underwear, and shoes are picked up off the floor as these can present a choking hazard. They are also easily torn and ingested causing digestive track blockage which requires surgery.

o Small items in general should be kept out of reach. Things like toys, hair pins and ties, coins, jewelry, etc. are commonly chewed and swallowed by dogs. By simply keeping tidy, this is easily avoided.

o Similarly, display breakable knickknacks and decorations where your dog can’t touch them. Ceramic and glass baubles are especially dangerous if damaged. Tiny sharp pieces are easily missed during clean-up. Nobody wants that in their paw or foot. Ouch!

o Rocking, reclining, and other adjustable furniture may pose a risk of crushed paws and tails, or getting trapped around the moving parts. Just be aware of your pet’s presence before sitting down or standing up to avoid accidental injury.

o Stinky things like ashtrays and cat litter boxes can be tempting to dogs. Keep these as far away from your dogs as possible. Nicotine is highly toxic to dogs and even a small amount of residual nicotine in cigarette ash can be fatal. Similarly, consuming cat litter can cause severe intestinal distress. If consumed over time it can even be fatal.

Office & Storage Spaces

o Home offices are full of temptations for pups inclined to chewing. Electrical cords to computers, phones, and appliances are usually plugged in right at dog height and can lead to electrocution. Keep cords behind furniture your dog can’t get under or behind, or secure wires with an organizer box.

o Just like the bathroom, office trash cans pose their own dangers with things like staples, paper, and packaging that can be swallowed. Keep garbage containers up high, stored away, or covered.

o One simple way of keeping your dogs out of cabinets containing cleaning products or other harmful items is installing child locks. These are inexpensive, easy to find, and come in a variety of designs.

Kitchen

For the food motivated, this is a favorite room in the home. But it doesn’t come without its risks.

o Keep knives and other sharp utensils in drawers or storage blocks where curious pups can’t jump on the counter and accidentally cut themselves.

o The same goes for food. Do not leave food or drinks out where motivated dogs can reach them. Caffeinated drinks and sugar-free beverages that use artificial sweeteners are particularly dangerous for dogs. Many common ingredients in foods are toxic to dogs as well. It only takes one lucky effort to get into something that can make your dog extremely ill. For a list of common dog-unfriendly ingredients, check out our article on toxic foods here.

o Again, easily accessible trash cans pose risks. This is especially true in the kitchen as they contain scraps of toxic ingredients like tea bags and coffee grounds, produce peels and pits, and plastic packaging.

Garage

Apart from vehicles moving in and out, the garage poses some potential risk factors. One being sharp objects like gardening equipment, tools, machinery, etc. Consider installing shelving units and/or pegboard for storing these supplies out of your pet’s way. It’s also a great way to keep organized. Win-win!

Yard and Garden

o If your property is fenced, check the latches on your gates to make sure they aren’t unlocked or loose. If a pet bumped it or pawed at the lock, would the gate come open? It’s also wise to check for any holes in and under the fence. Even small rabbit holes are enough of a start for a large dog to dig their way out.

o Do you garden? If so, are you growing anything toxic to your dog? Do you have trees that produce choking or poison concerns (walnuts, fruit trees, etc.)? It may be a good idea to border your garden or the area around certain trees with chicken wire or other fencing to keep your dog out.

o Another common outdoor hazard is exposure to insecticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals. There are several pet-friendly options on the market now. If you can’t prevent your pet from coming into contact with these kinds of treatments, look into safer alternatives

o Swimming pools, ponds, fountains, and other water features pose great concern. Never leave your dog unsupervised around water. If you can, use a cover while you’re not around to prevent accidents.

Indoor/Outdoor

o If your dog tends to dash outside, having baby gates around doors is a simple solution. It also reduces the risk of guests getting jumped on by excited dogs as they enter. Gates are also a smart safety feature at the top and/or bottom of stairs.

o Keep any toxic plants like orchids, philodendron, many varieties of ferns, baby jade, aloe, etc. out of reach.

o Fireplaces, grills/barbecues/pizza ovens, firepits, ovens and stoves, candles and candle warmers, etc. should have some kind of barrier between them and any pets in home.

o Check to ensure any air vents in and around your home are grated or otherwise inaccessible to your dog.

Even the best-behaved dogs can find themselves in spots of trouble. Doing an occasional sweep of your home and property, looking for potential hazards is a simple way of keeping you and furry family members safe and healthy. With a few easy tweaks, you can both enjoy peace of mind.