Before you bring your puppy home, thoroughly check the house for "dog's eye view" hazards. (Doing this on your hands and knees feels silly, but it works!)

    A baby gate is excellent for restricing your puppy's access to certain rooms or stairways.

    Your dog's toys must be too large for him to swallow or to get stuck in his throat. Check them regularly as he gets older, replacing outgrown toys with bigger ones.

    Many puppies find wires irresistible - and fatal. Keep telephone and electrical wires out of the way and unplug and unnecessary ones when not in use.

    Water barrels and garden ponds must be safely covered to make them inaccessible to your pup. He could drown if not.

    Be aware of dangling wires or leashes hanging from hooks or door knobs where a pup could jump up and get his head and neck tangled in them. He could choke to death while you are out - it has happened!

    Check your garden for "escape hatches" in fences and gates, or for sharp objects like stakes. Some plants will cause stomach upset and bowel irritation if chewed; consult a garden center, nursery, or library for varities to watch out for.

    Put house plants out of reach - some are very irritating if chewed, such as Diffenbachsia (Dumb Cane), where the sap causes numbness in the tongue and throat.

    Make sure all cleaning materials are safely stored away - nearly all contain some sort of toxic substance.

    Many everyday objects can be hazardous - plastic bags, rubber bands, string, paper clips and pens are potential dangers. Put them away. Be wary of children's toys, jewelry (earrings especially), sewing materials, etc... Many an anxious hour is spent waiting to see if pup passes the tiddlywinks/earrings/buttons/dinky toy wheels etc you thought he swallowed yesterday.

    If you leave shoes in the floor, a pup will chew them. Don't try giving him an old shoe; he cannot tell the difference bewtween it and your new $150 running shoes! Instead, make sure to provide suitable chew toys.

    Books - keep well out of reach of pup! Books can be costly to replace - especially if they are not your own.
    If your puppy is a determined chewer, treat immovable hazards or furniture with a "Stop Chew" repellent spray, which works by making things taste nasty. Various brands are available in pet shops, and if one fails, another may not.

    Guard all fires, stoves, cookers etc. Ban the dog from the kitchen when you are cooking; paws can get under foot or tails can be trodden on with nasty consequences for both dog and human.

    If you have a tile or linoleum floor where the pup's water bowl is kept, put the bowl on a tray, mat or towel. Water splashed onto this kind of flooring makes it dangerously slippery, especially for anyone carrying hot pans (not to mention messy).

    When you bring him home, your puppy may never have heard a vacuum cleaner, washing machine, or TV, especially if his litter was housed outside. Introduce him to these gradually. If he seems frightened don't make a lot of fuss - he may mistake your comforting tone for praise, and think his fear is the way to you want him to behave. Be sympathetic but firm.

    The best age to socialize your puppy is from 8 to 20 weeks. Take advantage of this time to acquaint him (gradually!) with as many different experiences as possible. Make sure that his vaccinations are up to date, however. Consult your vet.

    Children move and act more unpredictably than adults. All dogs meet children at some point, so it is helpful to get him used to them while he is young. If children or grandchildren might be added to the family later on in his lifetime this is especially important. (It may seem unlikely, but add fifteen years to the family's present ages and think hard!) Neighbours' children often like to visit a new puppy, or you may be able to take him to socialization classes at