Ah,
Shih Tzu puppies.so adorable, filled with boundless energy
and curious about any-and-everything
around them. Taking
the appropriate steps
to puppy-proof your
home will go
a long way
in protecting
these little ones from harm. Your
precautions will also safeguard your belongings from
possible damage.
Try
to imagine life from
a Shih
Tzu puppys point
of view. You might
be saying, well how can
I do that?
Go to each
room of your house. Get down
on your
hands and knees. Take
a good look at
what your Shih
Tzu puppy might be enticed by. Remember, they
are new
to your home. Shih Tzu
puppies are somewhat like toddlers. Shih Tzu puppies will eventually
explore their surroundings. Some Shih Tzu puppies will start right away investigating this new place. Other Shih Tzu puppies may take awhile to
settle in. Eventually all Shih Tzu puppies will be
exploring their new home. They will roam around like a toddler putting things
in their mouth and poling around in nooks and crannies.
It is your responsibility to check out what there may be in your
home that
could possibly harm
the new Shih Tzu
puppy. You are also looking around
for those items
of yours you
do not want
the new Shih Tzu puppy to explore.
Cabinets
Watch out for
cleaning supplies and personal care items that are stored in low
storage areas like kitchen and under-sink
bathroom cabinets. The ingredients in these
products are extremely harmful and can even cause death. If
the cabinet doors can be easily opened by the mouths and paws of Shih Tzu puppies, try to
store these items in some other place. Another option is to
purchase plastic child-proof cabinet locks that can be
temporarily attached to the handles
or knobs. These safety locks can usually be
found online
or in local pet
supply (or baby) stores.
Electrical Cords
How tantalizing is
an electrical cord especially when it's looping down from a table or desk?
"I can
jump at it, pull
on it, wrestle with it and even gnaw
on it. Shih Tzu puppies will most likely perform all these tasks with an
electrical cord. The
dangers here are obvious: a falling lamp or electrocution can cause serious injury or worse. Wrap up loose hanging electrical cords or at least block
access to them. And for cords that need to run across the
floor, use rubber or plastic cord/cable runners that can be purchased at an office supply outlet or home improvement store. If you dont mind plastering a nail in the wall, you can also do this, and hang the cord up out of Shih Tzu
puppys eyesight.
Plants
Household plants are attractive to most Shih Tzu
puppies. A lot of household plants are poison to Shih Tzu and dogs in general. Ingesting a bite or two can cause nausea, vomiting and in some
cases death. It is probably an excellent idea to re-position your plants
so that they are out of
reach. You dont want your Shih Tzu poisoned or made ill by your beautiful plants. Neither do you want your beautiful plants destroyed by the curiosity of a Shih Tzu puppy.
Small Objects Around the House
Be alert to small items around the house that can be swallowed.
Items in this category would be coins, jewelry, sewing supplies, batteries, medication and miniature knick-knacks
left on low surfaces. Sometimes worse than swallowing these small items is that the Shih Tzu puppy may choke to death. Don't forget to block access to trash receptacles in the kitchen, your home office and even the bathroom. Shih Tzu puppies love pushing on a trash can
until it falls
over and then wow all that is inside is within reach. This is
so amusing to a Shih Tzu puppy; however, it is a disaster to the Shih Tzu puppys
owner. Take heed now
before you bring home your adorable little Shih Tzu puppy and block access to trash bins.
Toilet
To an adventurous Shih Tzu puppy, the challenge of climbing up, up and over the rim of your toilet is a tail-wagging delight. Unfortunately, falling head first
into this
big, slippery bowl of water is not so delightful especially for a smaller-sized pup.
Simple solution: make it a house rule to keep the bathroom door closed at all times.
Puppy-proofing your home before your wonderful little Shih Tzu buddy arrives may seem like a hassle, but
providing the safest environment possible is a necessity. After all, your lovable, four-legged bundle of joy is
worth it.
Connie Limon. I
raise Shih Tzu puppies. Please visit us online at:
http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com Sign up for
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