Before your new puppy gets home we highly encourage you to puppy proof your house. Puppies are just like babies. They are experiencing life for the first time, so they are curious and sometimes can be a bit reckless. It’s your duty as a new puppy parent to provide a safe environment for them.

A simple way to put it: if you would take away from a toddler, you should probably keep it away from a puppy.

Remember puppies have a high amounts of energy, so the more proactive you are in avoiding harmful situations the better.

Here are some basic tips in how to puppy proofing your home:

• Close off stairwells with a baby gate.
• If you have a pool make sure to lock the entrance. Bulldogs are normally not good swimmers.
• Hide all medication and/or cleaning supplies. Puppies like chewing off just about anything and some products like bleach and antifreeze could be fatal if digested.
• Keep their dog safe. Bulldogs love to eat! If you leave their bag of food accessible to them chances are that your puppy will try his/her best to eat more and overeating can cause digestive problems.
• Some plants could be toxic for dogs. Check online if your plants are safe for your new puppy. Some of the most common plants found indoor are azalea, Calla lily, dieffenbachia, and philodendron.
• Keep garbage cans up high where the puppy can’t reach it.
• Remove any small decorations away your puppy as they can choke on them.
• Hide anything hooks or fishing lines.
• Keep an eye out for electrical cords. Some puppies are known to love to chew on them and this could lead an electrical shock. Try to hide them as much as possible and tie up loose cords.
• Be sure to purchase several size-appropriate toys for your puppy to chew on. Avoid rawhides as these can cause choking and are hazardous to puppies, plus they do not digest well. Remember, the more safe toys you provide for your puppy to chew on, the less likely he/she will chew on other things like shoes, furniture, and electrical cords.
• Avoid leaving doors open as puppies are fast runners.
• Don’t feed your puppy table scraps. Some common human foods are toxic to dogs, such as onions, chocolate, etc.  
• If you have a cat, make sure to clean the litter box as puppies can eat the cat’s poop, which is harmful to them.