| Dogs have been "man's best friend" for | | | | dieffenbachia |
| thousands of years. Since dogs watch over | | | | |
| their owners, it's only right that dog-loving | | | | mistletoe |
| humans keep their pets safe in return. And | | | | |
| now, dogs need our extra attention more than | | | | philodendron |
| ever. With a little thought, you can easily | | | | |
| create a safe home for your precious pups.As | | | | elephant ear |
| you know, dogs have a keen curiosity. Take a | | | | |
| look at your home from your puppy's | | | | caladium |
| perspective and you'll likely find all sorts | | | | |
| of interesting items to check out. You may | | | | boxwood |
| not realize that dogs first sniff, then mouth | | | | |
| things to inspect them. So it's especially | | | | holly berry |
| important that you keep the following out of | | | | |
| your dog's reach: | | | | azaleas |
| | | | |
| insect traps | | | | chinaberry trees |
| | | | |
| phone and electric cords | | | | oleander |
| | | | |
| ashtrays and cigarettes | | | | wisteria |
| | | | |
| open doors and windows | | | | hydrangeaOther ways to protect your pup |
| | | | include keeping him or her safely confined to |
| rubber bands | | | | your home. Wandering dogs are more likely to |
| | | | be injured by vehicles or meet up with unkind |
| housecleaning chemicals | | | | people.Make sure your yard is fenced and the |
| | | | fencing is tall enough and strong enough to |
| candles | | | | keep your dog from roaming. Many dogs try to |
| | | | dig out under the fence, so it's crucial you |
| Christmas tree ornaments | | | | regularly check for gaps around the fence |
| | | | perimeter. Teach everyone in your family to |
| uncovered trash cans | | | | carefully close doors and keep gates |
| | | | latched.Additionally, it's important that |
| medications | | | | your pet wears a collar with an |
| | | | identification tag at all times, in the event |
| foodstuffs like: chocolate and grapes | | | | he or she gets lost. In fact, most cities |
| | | | require that all dogs wear a collar and tag. |
| plastic bags | | | | This way, it's more likely your dog will be |
| | | | returned home safely to you. You may also |
| batteries | | | | consider microchipping, where a small |
| | | | silicone chip containing your contact |
| anti-freeze | | | | information is painlessly inserted under the |
| | | | dog's skin. Most animal shelters |
| valuable items, like jewelry, photos, and | | | | |
| books | | | | and veterinarians automatically scan lost |
| | | | pets in search of a microchip. However, an |
| Don't forget the great outdoors when | | | | identification tag will be useful if your |
| inspecting your dog's area. Dogs, especially | | | | puppy is found by an average citizen.If you |
| puppies, find plants fun playthings. They | | | | reside in an area prone to natural disasters, |
| love to dig in the dirt or pull branches off | | | | keep an emergency pet supply kit handy. |
| shrubs. Because of this, make sure the | | | | Include a week's worth of food and water, as |
| plants in and around your home aren't a | | | | well as any medication your dog needs. Don't |
| health risk to your dog. The following | | | | forget a photo of your pet too, in case |
| common house and garden plants are toxic to | | | | you're separated at any time.The author, |
| dogs: | | | | Jennifer McVey, is owner of your guide to |
| | | | pet identification advice about GPS, ID tags, |
| English ivy | | | | microchips, and more. |
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