20 Dec 2018
Posted by Esther O'Moore Donohoe 
Making your home safe for your dog doesn’t mean putting them in tiny hi-vis vests or doggy hard hats – even though that would look cute. There are plenty of small changes you can make to your house or apartment to make it safer for your furry friends.
Out of sight
Outta sight, outta mind…and mouth. Try and keep anything that could be dangerous if eaten or chewed by your pet up high and out of harm’s way, including chocolate, medicines, garden chemicals, electrical cables and even some flowers (lilies are poisonous to dogs).
You’re fired
Put a fire guard around your fire or stove to prevent against inquisitive dogs getting an injury from flying sparks and singeing their fur.
Bin there, done that
Make sure you’ve got a good lid on your bin and that it stays closed. Dogs love to investigate smells and have a root around.
If they happen to come across some old chicken bones from last night’s dinner, this represents a choking hazard. Pits from fruits and old food skewers which could splinter can also be dangerous for dogs.
Here’s our dog Butch, Head of Home Security, if – like us – you can’t get enough of dogs in clothes!
Sofa, so good
If you’ve invested in a new sofa, look for fabrics that have been treated with stain-resistant, pet friendly chemicals. It might also be a good idea, if you can, not to have carpets – washable floor surfaces are easier to maintain.
Sock it to me
Dogs are known Sock Hunters™. They like to seek them out and carry them around the house like prizes. The same goes for underwear and the contents of your clothes basket.
If your dog likes to chew on whatever they get their paws on, this could cause them to choke so keep dirty clothes off the floor and your laundry basket firmly shut.
Puppy love
Finally, before bringing a new puppy home make sure you’ve done a recce on your house or apartment. Puppies love to chew so if you want to save your shoes have chew toys out for them.
Be sure to keep all electrical cords out of reach of pets and if they are loose, fix them securely to the wall so they can’t drag them. You may want to invest in some baby gates to prevent them from getting into areas they shouldn’t.
Crouch down and get a puppy-eyed view of your room and see where they could wander into and things that could cause them harm. Getting them a crate or corner where they can sleep and rest is also a good idea and gives them a sense of security.
With all that said, dogs are great fun, great companions and great security guards. For extra piece of mind though The AA Home Insurance has lots of great benefits. Click here for an online quote.
