Part of what makes having a new puppy around the house so much fun is their seemingly endless levels of energy and playfulness. It’s that same playfulness and it’s accompanying curiosity that can put your new puppy in harm’s way.

There are a myriad of hazards your puppy faces in and around your house that you should address and be prepared for prior to bringing your new puppy home. Puppy proofing your house can be a very simple process if you are aware of all the hazards to keep an eye out for.

First off, install child-proof latches on all of your cabinets. This should include the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Next, make sure that items that belong in cabinets stay there. Plastic bottles of household cleaner and medications/supplements should be put away at all times. An energetic puppy can chew right through a plastic bottle in no time flat, so don’t take something’s protective packaging for granted.

Plants, both indoors and out, can pose a threat to your new puppies health. While there is a list of plants known to be dangerous to dogs here, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Besides, even if your plants are not dangerous to your puppy, I doubt you want to have it chewing them up.

Some of the things people often overlook are small items around the house. Pocket change, jewelry, paper clips, rubber bands as well as cigarettes and lighters. You may not think of these items as something a puppy would want to eat, but you’d be quite surprised at just how curious pets are.