Many new pups (and older dogs too) are injured or permanently harmed because their owners are not aware of puppy habits, the stages they naturally go through, or how curious they may be. If you take a few minutes for a good look at your home through the eyes of a puppy, you may notice many seemingly harmless household items that could cause real disasters. Here is a checklist of some things to look for as you take that precautionary walk through your house.

1. Keep medication bottles and cleaning solutions out of the puppy's way. Child proof containers are not enough where persistent puppies are concerned. I learned the hard way (by not closing the door under the kitchen sink tightly) that even a seemingly nasty tasting SOS scouring pad can be enticing to a pup.

2. Secure electric cords to the baseboards or lift them up onto your end tables and such to make them inaccessible. They make perfect chew toys but can cause harmful electric shock burns and even death.

3. NEVER, NEVER leave a slip collar (a.k.a. training or "choke" collar) on a puppy, or even an older dog. This device should be reserved for walks and training sessions ONLY. Many of us know of several dogs who have broken teeth, caught themselves on a food dish holder, become dangerously entangled with another dog, or become stuck by the collar and strangled to death. You should always be present and in control of your puppy while he is wearing a slip collar.

4. Don't leave cigarette butts in ash trays where the puppy can get in to them. If eaten, cigarettes can lead to nicotine poisoning.

5. Never allow burning candles to be accessible to pups. The brightness of the flame will attract them.

6. Keep anti-freeze out of reach and be sure to clean up drippings thoroughly. For some reason, dogs are strongly attracted to the sweet scent and taste. Anti-freeze is highly toxic.

7. Don't leave needles or pins out where a puppy can get to them. They often swallow them. (Rubber bands and paper clips, cellophane wrappers and small plastic baggies can also be attractive hazards).

8. Dispose of chicken or turkey bones in a puppy-proof manner. Puppies like these bones and WILL get into plastic garbage bags or search through the trash to get to them.

9. Keep cellar doors and upper story windows closed. A curious puppy is as vulnerable to falling as a young child.

10. Keep Holiday & Christmas decorations above the dog's reach level. Crushed glass Christmas balls can be swallowed or result in nasty cuts both external and internal. Plastic berries can cause a fatal blockage.

11. Only use pesticides with caution, and be very careful of combinations of chemical fertilizers and insecticides. Puppies not only inhale the toxic combinations but can absorb them into their bodies through the pads of their feet. Hanging strips, ant or roach bait, traps and other exposed toxins must be kept out of reach.

12. Do not use flea collars (which are basically ineffective anyway), flea dips or other such preparations until your puppy is at least 16 weeks old. They can be toxic to a youngster or may cause skin irritations or burns. Read labels closely and know the effects of any product you use, or check with your vet about possible side effects of chemical products.

13. Keep your puppy away from toxic plants. The rhododendron, Japanese yew, lily of the valley as well as peach and cherry pits can all cause problems if eaten, and a puppy will be curious enough to give them a nibble.

14. Take a look at objects which may sit on low tables or shelves. Not only do you not want to see them destroyed, you also wouldn't want your puppy to get into anything which may hurt him. After your pup has grown up a bit and you have trained him not to touch anything on these tables or shelves, objects can be replaced.

15. Check family cat toys and children's playthings for small or sharp come apart pieces that could be swallowed or cause a nasty poke.

Lastly, don't invite other people's pets into your house or take your puppy to public places where other dogs may have been (eg. parks, training classes, etc.) UNTIL YOUR PUPPY IS FULLY VACCINATED. Puppy resistance to infection is lower than an adult dog's until about 16 weeks. They cannot retain full potential antibodies from vaccinations until that time. We even carry puppies in to and out of the vet's office to avoid picking up anything on the waiting room floor. A vet's office, after all, no matter how well it is disinfected, sees a lot of traffic in SICK dogs.