Making your home safe for your Basset Puppy

Puppies are curious and will get into anything and everything! Safeguard your new puppy as you would a toddler.

1. Block off access to all stairs , balconies and decks from which a puppy could fall. swimming pools should be fenced. For the first year, don't let your Basset puppy climb stairs or jump off sofas , beds, ect. His joints are still forming and may become injured. it is recommended that puppies do not go up stairs until they are at lease 6 months old.

2. Keep anything toxic such as household cleaners, detergents, etc. away from your puppy. In a garage area, clean up any gasoline spills and be especially careful of antifreeze, which can kill. Dogs seem to love its smell and taste.

3. Keep phone cords, electrical cords and outlets away from your puppy and block access to spaces behind TV's.  refrigerators, ect. Remove sharp objects and thins that could fall on your puppy.

4. Don't allow access to poisonous plants such as azaleas, poison ivy, mistletoe , holly, philodendron, and Morning Glories, among others

5. Never leave small objects or children's toys, which a puppy could swallow, lying on the floor. A puppy will pick almost anything up in its mouth. Even a coin which falls to the floor can be potentially harmful if you puppy swallows it.

6. Eliminate the possibility of your puppy getting its head caught in any type of tight spot which could lead to strangulation. These could be things like railings, trellises or fences. Don't chain your puppy outside unattended.

7. Eliminate exposure to toxic fumes, lead-based paints and rat poisons.

8. Be sure all doors in your house close securely and that visitors are aware of the importance of closing doors. Many a puppy has been killed by a car when someone forgot to close a door securely.

Puppy Proof Outdoor Areas

Do not leave your puppy outside unsupervised. To prevent your puppy from wandering, you will need to either build an outdoor kennel or provide secure fencing that your puppy cannot jump over or dig under.

Provide your puppy a separate area of your yard to use as his bathroom area. use fencing, or other means to trap him out of areas where children may play, especially sand boxes.

Some outdoor plants ant trees can be toxic to dogs. common ones include potato (all green parts), morning glory, foxglove, lily of the valley, and oak (buds and acorns). Many bulb plants, such as daffodils, are also poisonous, cocoa bean mulch can be toxic to dogs. some dogs chew and swallow landscaping stone, which  can cause dangerous intestinal blockage.

Make sure all gasoline ,oil, paint, lawn fertilizers, insecticides, and auto supplies are placed into secure containers, out of reach. Be especially careful with antifreeze and rat poison, both of which taste good to dogs and both of which can be deadly if ingested.

Pools, ponds, and hot  tubs should be covered or fenced off. Drainpipes can also pose problems. Basset do not swim

Fire rings, barbecues, and other heat or fire sources pose the potential of causing burns.

Keep all food and other garbage in securely closed containers. used coffee grounds can contain harmful amounts of caffeine, and decomposing food may contain toxic molds. Keep compost in a secure bin.

Walk around your property and look for other areas or items that could be a hazard to your puppy, such as broken glass, exposed rails, or other sharp objects plan how you will restrict your puppy's access to these areas.