Think like a puppy
Get down on your hands and knees and look at your home from nose height. Anything chewable, swallowable or climbable is fair game. Labs are famous for eating socks, toys, corn cobs and more, and some of those end up in surgery. Prevention is far easier.
Create a puppy zone
For the first weeks, limit your puppy to one or two easily cleaned rooms with baby gates or an exercise pen. It makes supervision and potty training simpler, and you can expand their space as they earn trust. Put the crate, water, safe toys and a washable bed in this zone.
Living room and bedrooms
- Hide or tape down electrical cords, or use cord covers
- Move shoes, socks, underwear and remotes out of reach
- Remove small decor, candles and breakables from low shelves
- Check for loose batteries, coins and hair ties
- Secure blind cords and curtain tassels
Kitchen and trash
- Use a trash can with a locking lid, or keep it in a closed cabinet
- Keep food off counters; Labs counter-surf
- Put child locks on low cabinets with cleaners and chemicals
- Know the toxic foods: chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, xylitol (in sugar-free gum and some peanut butters) and alcohol
Bathroom and laundry
- Close toilet lids and keep medicines in cabinets
- Keep laundry in a hamper with a lid
- Store detergents and dryer sheets up high
Plants
Some common houseplants and garden plants are toxic to dogs, including sago palms, lilies, oleander, azaleas and tulip bulbs. Check the ASPCA's toxic plant list and move or remove anything risky. Mulch, especially cocoa mulch, can be dangerous too.
Garage and yard
- Store antifreeze, fertilizer, pesticides and rodent bait where dogs cannot reach, and clean up spills immediately
- Check the fence for gaps and gates that latch
- Cover or fence off pools; Labs love water but need a way out
- Keep an eye on mushrooms, acorns and compost bins
- Provide shade and fresh water outside
Give them something better to chew
Puppy-proofing works best when you offer an alternative. Keep a basket of durable chew toys in the puppy zone, and rotate them every few days. When your puppy chews something forbidden, calmly swap it for a toy and praise.
What to do in an emergency
Keep your vet's number, the nearest 24-hour animal hospital and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control number (888-426-4435) handy. If your puppy eats something dangerous, call right away; do not wait for symptoms and do not induce vomiting unless instructed.
Supervise, supervise, supervise
No amount of proofing replaces watching your puppy. When you cannot watch, use the crate or pen. Use our new puppy checklist to stock up, and read about the first week home and sleep schedule.
The first-day walk-through
The day before pickup, do a final sweep. Crawl through each room, check for cords, small objects, plants and trash. Set up the crate and pen, gates and a potty area. Lock away medications, cleaning products, and the stuff you would hate to see chewed. A prepared house makes the first night much calmer for everyone, including you.
Common objects Labs swallow
- Socks, underwear and pantyhose
- Toy pieces, balls and stuffing
- Corn cobs, peach pits and bones
- Rocks, sticks and mulch
- Hair ties, rubber bands and string
Signs of a blockage include repeated vomiting, loss of appetite, a painful belly and lethargy. Call your vet right away if you suspect your puppy swallowed something.
Teaching house rules early
Decide which rooms and furniture are open to your puppy, and stay consistent. If couches are off limits, redirect from day one. Puppies cannot read your mind, so give them clear, kind rules. Teach "leave it," "drop it" and "off" as soon as possible; they are practical and may even be lifesaving.
Supervising kids and guests
Tell visitors the house rules: do not feed the puppy, do not let the puppy jump or run through doors, and close gates behind you. Remind children to keep toys, snacks and school supplies off the floor. A shared routine keeps everyone safe and keeps your puppy from learning bad habits.
Questions? Talk to a real person
We are happy to share what has worked in our own home with our own Labs. Call or text (919) 899-8917, browse our available puppies, or send us a note. There's no cost and no pressure in asking.