How To Make Sure Your Dog Is In A Safe Environment

October 19, 2008 by Richard Cross

As dog owners it is our responsibility to make sure our dogs are always in a safe environment. All houses have the dangers for a dog, but it’s important you do your best to minimise any risk. Below are some things you should consider to make sure your dog lives in a safe environment.

All dogs – especially when they’re puppies – have a lot of energy which can get them into some dangerous situations sometimes! Try to think of your puppy as a human toddler – very inquisitive and full of energy.

Potential Hazards Outdoors

When your dog is a puppy it should never be left outside unsupervised. Always make sure that you have a securely fenced off area for your dog to go in – you never know when a dog could get the urge to roam.
If you have even a small pond it should be fenced off before the dog or puppy is allowed outside.
Small, sharp objects can be a major danger to dogs as they tend to try and eat most things! Before you let your dog out for the first time you should check around the garden for anything that might be harmful.

Potential Indoor Hazards

Like you would for small children, keep all medicines out of reach and secure.
Be careful when your dog goes under the table when you’re eating. Apart from it being a nuisance, it’s very easy to forget the dog is there and lean back on the chair, only to come back down right on the dog.
Make sure all small objects are kept well away from the dog at all times.
Make sure the house is secure when you can’t see the dog. That means windows, doors and even cat flaps.
Don’t feed your dog any human food unless you are absolutely sure it is safe for the dog to do so.
If you have to leave your dog unsupervised for any length of time make sure it is in a secure place.
Stairs can be dangerous, so make sure they are properly closed off with a gate. Especially when your pet is still a puppy.

These are just some of the potential hazards in the average home, but if you really want to make a secure and safe environment for your dog you need to regularly check for any new dangers.