Amanda Teixeira
It can also be dangerous for the dog in your own house and garden. Read where there is particular danger and how you can make your home and garden even safer for your dog.
So that the dog is really safe in your own house, in your apartment, and also in your own garden, dog owners should definitely eliminate the following sources of danger.
Dangers in the house and apartment
It can also be dangerous for the dog in your own four walls, especially if it has to stay there alone for a while and is unobserved. You should definitely eliminate these sources of danger:
1. Toxic plants, detergents, medicines, certain foods
Store anything that could be poisonous to the dog in a safe place where the dog cannot come into contact. These primarily include poisonous indoor plants such as cyclamen, hydrangeas and orchids – but also cleaning agents and medicines.
Some common foods can also be dangerous for the dog. These include, for example, chocolate, grapes, stone fruit and raw potatoes.
2. Electricity: power cords, sockets
Caution is also required with electricity. Sockets are an interesting toy, especially for young and playful dogs. It is therefore best to protect sockets with commercially available child safety devices. Cables should be hidden as well as possible so that the dog cannot chew on them.
3. Collar
Even your own collar can be dangerous for the dog in the house. Namely when he gets stuck with it, panics and strangles himself. It is therefore better to remove the collar indoors, especially when the dog is alone or unattended.
4. Grocery bags
Plastic shopping bags can be dangerous for curious dogs if they stick their heads through a handle and then can’t get out of the bag. Therefore, always store plastic bags out of the dog’s reach.
5. Small or sharp objects
Small or sharp objects are also dangerous for the dog. Scissors and knives should always be kept out of the dog’s reach. Even small items lying around such as buttons, pins or paper clips have no place in the dog household. Curious dogs might get the idea of trying the supposed treat.
Dangers for the dog in the garden
If your dog is often alone or unattended in your own garden, you should also take safety precautions there and be aware of certain dangers.
1. Rat poison, weed killer, fertilizer
Extreme caution is required when using pesticides and fertilizers. Neighbors should also be advised not to spread them too close to the property line. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s information before using any product in your garden. Liquid fertilizer in watering cans can also be dangerous for the dog if he wants to drink from the watering can.
2. Small holes in the fence
Check your fence regularly and carefully. Even small holes should be repaired immediately. In addition to the risk that the dog could escape through the hole, there is also the possibility that it will injure itself if it tries to get through the hole in the bridle.
3. Theft
Theft represents a not insignificant danger for dogs in their own garden. Every year several hundred thousand dogs are reported to the police in Germany as stolen. Caution is not only required with pedigree dogs. Dogs should therefore only be in the garden under the supervision and should rather stay in the house when the owner is absent.
4. Inedible plants
In the garden, too, care must be taken to ensure that there are no plants that are inedible for dogs and that the dog could nibble on. Garden plants that are common but poisonous to dogs include: yew, lily of the valley, oleander and thuja.
5. Standing water
Standing water in the dog garden should be covered in the summer months so that the dog cannot drink from it. For example, if the water sits in rain barrels for a long time in summer, it usually contains a lot of bacteria. In addition, it quickly becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes.