Safety Around Dogs: Safety at home

  • If you have a chewer, then electrical leads should be kept out of reach or protected with a cover. Don’t leave anything out that you don’t want him to chew.
  • If you have an open fire, always use a fire guard.
  • Be aware of hot radiators
  • Don’t leave anything sharp lying around – dogs have been known to swallow needles and knives!
  • Don’t leave large windows open upstairs as your dog may jump out and injure himself. Don’t leave dogs unattended on balconies.
  • Keep nasty kitchen, bathroom and garden use chemicals safely locked away out of reach - also prescription drugs and any others meant for human use.
  • Try to keep the dog out of the kitchen when cooking. He could get under your feet and trip you when you’re carrying a hot pan.  Be careful of ceramic/halogen hobs.
  • • Don’t leave chocolate where he can reach it – and be especially careful around Easter and Christmas when you get all those presents. It is toxic and too much could kill him. Grapes and raisins are also toxic and can prove fatal. Onions cause anaemia – so don’t feed to your dog in any form. See our poisonous substances section for more about potentially dangerous foods and plants.
  • Make sure that potentially toxic plants are out of reach or removed completely. These include African violet, Amaryllis bulbs, Poinsettia and the Swiss cheese plant.
  • • Make sure your dog can't eat any small (children's or dogs') toys. Do not buy toys that are too big or small for him, or of a material that can be chewed up too easily. Only buy toys that are specifically designed for a pet's use. If his toys are being damaged by chewing take them away before he chews bits off.
  • Don’t let him have access to the bathroom if you’ve left a hot bath running. He could jump in and get scalded.
  • Make sure everyone in the family knows about pet First Aid, such as where the First Aid Kit is kept, and how to contact the vet.
  • Don’t leave the toilet seat up if you use a ‘cleaning block’ in the cistern or attached to the rim. He may drink out of the toilet and become very sick.