Bringing a Rottweiler Puppy Home: Puppy Proof Your Home
Rottweiler puppies are naturally curious about their environment. They want to explore everything around them. This checklist is a good starting point to Puppy proof your home and get ready for bringing home that new Rottweiler puppy and keeping them safe (and you frustration free).
First, I would like to point out that puppy proofing does not replace supervision of your Rottweiler puppy. Know where your puppy is at all times, and if you are in a position where you cannot be actively watching them, your puppy should be in their crate (their safe space).
Also keep in mind that Rottweiler puppies explore the world with their mouths and are at that age that they are teething. Those little baby shark teeth can make serious damage quickly! Be prepared to constantly redirect them from chewing on your fingers, clothes, shoes, furniture, children’s toys etc to an appropriate dog toy, bone or chew. With consistency, they will learn what is and what is not acceptable to chew on.
Puppy Proof Your Kitchen
Install Child Proof Latches on the Lower Cabinets. Especially the cabinet under the sink. This is a common place for storing cleaning supplies that can be toxic to your puppy.
Secure All Appliance Cables. Double check that countertop appliance cables are not within reach for your puppy. Check your refrigerator and other large appliance cables to make sure they are not accessible or have protective casing installed around the cables.
Protect Exposed Piping. If you have any exposed plumbing or gas pipes, install protection around the pipes to keep your puppy from destroying the pipes. Don’t forget to check your refrigerator coolant piping, refrigerant is toxic.
Keep the Dishwasher door closed when you are not loading or unloading dishes.
Keep the Pantry Cupboard Closed. Add a Child Proof Latch if necessary. You don’t want a rearranged pantry or your puppy to consume toxic foods or items.
Store All Food out of Reach. Some human foods are toxic to dogs and others can cause upset stomachs or irregular bowl movements. Furthermore, you do not want your adult dog helping themselves to your food. Good luck hosting family dinners with a dog that counter surfs the kitchen.
Push All Items to the Back of the Countertop. A Rottweiler puppy can easily reach counter surfing height before they have been fully trained. Keeping items out of sight from the puppy will keep their curious mind at ease.
Puppy Proof Your Bathrooms
Limit Access to the Bathroom Altogether. There is no reason for your puppy to be in the bathroom alone. Keep the bathroom door shut to avoid temptation.
Install Child Proof Latches on Lower Cabinets. Just like in the kitchen, if you have lower cabinets, keep your puppy safe by installing latches so they cannot access the contents of the cabinets.
Lock up Personal Hygiene Products. Ensure that any make-up, shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, deodorant, toothpaste, feminine hygene products etc., are all locked up in the bathroom cabinets and not sitting on the side of the bath, the bath tray, or the shower floor.
Prevent Access to Cleaning Products. Cleaning Products are commonly stored in the bathroom. Make sure these toxic products are not accessible to your Rottweiler puppy.
Secure Toilet Brush Holder and Plunger. Make sure these items are locked up in a cabinet or secured behind a gate or fencing so your puppy cannot get to these items. Especially if you keep bleach in your toilet brush holder.
Store Razors out of Reach. Whether you have an electric razor or a normal one, you do not want your puppy trying to chew it! So, keep it high on the shower caddy or locked away in the bathroom cabinets.
Never Leave Medicine Out. Rottweiler puppies will happily surf bathroom vanities as well as kitchen counters. Make sure all medicines are locked up and out of reach for your puppy.
Keep the Toilet Lid Down. Nobody likes kisses from a puppy that just drank toilet water but you also need to be aware that a puppy can get stuck in the toilet bowl so keep that lid down.
Puppy Proof Your Bedrooms
Pack Everything Away. Handbags, shoes, slippers, clothes etc. These are all items that smell like you and will draw your Rottweiler puppy to investigate (with their teeth).
Install Child Proof Latches on the Closets and Bedside Table Cupboards. Sometimes, just packing things away is not enough. Closet doors can be a fun challenge for your smart Rottweiler puppy, so consider installing child proof latches to keep them out.
Keep Your Phone Charger in a Drawer. Get in the habit of putting your phone charger in your bedside drawer everyday. Remove the temptation for your puppy to chew on this and potentially get shocked if it is still plugged in to an electrical wall outlet.
Unplug Bedside Lamps and Other Bedroom Appliances. While your puppy is learning, it is best to unplug everything when you are not using them and loop the cords onto a high surface, out of puppy reach.
Store Jewelry out of Reach. Your Rottweiler puppy could choke on jewelry or sharp items can perforate their gastrointestinal tracts. It is best to keep these items out of reach.
Puppy Proof Your Living Room
Limit Access to the Living Room. Your Rottweiler puppy doesn’t need access to the living room unless you are in there. Baby gates can be extremely helpful to keep puppies in or out of an area in the house.
Put Away Knickknacks and Remotes. Anything you do not want your puppy to chew on should be secured out of reach.
Protect Your Books and Family Heirlooms. Empty off the bottom rows of book shelves or open display cases. Replace open cases with ones that have doors or move them into another room that the puppy will not be allowed.
Secure Your Entertainment System. Make sure your setup is tidy and that all wires are tucked away. Those that cannot be tucked away out of reach should be encased for protection.
Pack Away Lamps or Hide the Cords. You may have to pack up your lamps until your puppy is a bit older so they don’t chew on them, chew the cords, or knock them over. This will be temporary until your puppy learns what is and is not okay to play with.
Minimize the Number of Throw Pillows. Throw Pillows are perfect little stuffed toys that your Rottweiler puppy will enjoy de-stuffing. Minimize the temptation by putting them away for the Puppy stages.
Put Your House Plants up Higher. You do not want to clean up a knocked over house plant that your puppy decides to play in. It can be quite the muddy mess. Furthermore, take the time to research your plants to find out if any of them are toxic to dogs. You may want to remove these all together from your house.
Puppy Proof Your Children’s Play Area
Hide Small Toys out of Reach. Store small toys in toy boxes or up higher. For the most part, if it is a choking hazard for your puppy, then it is a choking hazard for your child who is too young to open the toy box or reach the spot where they are stored.
Secure Arts and Crafts Materials. Put away any crayons, pencils, pens, markers, paint, paper etc so the puppy cannot reach them.
Teach Your Children About What Is Safe for the Puppy. One of the best things that you can do is explain to your children what you are trying to achieve by puppy proofing their play area.
Puppy Proof Outside Your Home
Store All Chemicals and Tools in the Garage or Shed. All of the garden, yard and pool chemicals, tools, like shovels, hedge trimmers, potting soil, bags of compost, etc., should be out of reach and out if sight. Make sure that you keep the shed or garage locked at all times so the puppy cannot wander in unattended.
Contain Dangerous Plants. Research the plants you have in your yard to determine which ones are toxic to dogs. Decide if you want to remove the toxic plants or place dog proof fencing around them. Either way, take measures to keep your puppy safe from ingesting these dangerous plants. List of Toxic Plants
Cover Your Pool and/or Pond. Accidental drownings happen far more often than they should. Puppies do not know that the pool or pond is dangerous until they fall in, and then it may be too late for them to benefit from that lesson. Install a safety net or put up dog proof fencing around your pool and/or pond to keep your puppy out.
Secure the Fence Line. Puppies manage to squeeze themselves through the smallest of spaces. Before you bring your Rottweiler puppy home, you should make sure that the bars or slats of your fencing are close enough together to prevent escaping. Ensure that gates have appropriate latching and that all family members are diligent in keeping gates closed.
Remember, taking the time to puppy proof your home is not a replacement for supervising your puppy. If you are unable to actively watch your puppy, put them in their crate for some down time.
Puppy proofing your home will not be forever, just long enough for your puppy to learn the rules of the house. Don’t forget to spend time playing with your puppy and praising them for being good. Have fun and remember, they do grow up!
