How to Kolby proof your house!

In honor of Kolby’s recent trip to the puppy ER I thought I would do a post on “How to dog proof your house!"

A few weeks ago Kolby found a basket that had been sitting on the counter for MONTHS...Kolby noticed Keith’s new sunglasses and pawed at the basket until it fell off the counter. When it did he found something even better! A bottle of Tylenol. I had left him alone in the kitchen for maybe one minute and when I heard the basket fall I came running into inspect. I found him running with the bottle in his mouth. By the time I got to him he had split the bottle open and was surrounded by pills. The vet suggested I bring him to the ER because Tylenol can be fatal to dogs. The vet made him throw up and luckily didn’t find any pills so we didn’t need to spend the $1,500 on treatment. (Of course this was the day after he found a can of spray paint and somehow spray painted himself and me! Still don't know where he found the can...)

We have been trying to Kolby proof our house since day one and by the time we have kids our house will be 100% safe!

Step One: If you have a cat place their food and litter up high. (Along with step one, marry someone who is crafty and can build a wonderful platform for your kitty.) Kolby can still steal pieces of food that Maggie spills but not much. There is the pooch himself!

Step Two: This one is hard for me! Keep the sink clean. Kolby recently discovered he could reach into the sink and that there is often bits of food stuck to plates waiting to be put in the dishwasher or tupperware to steal. I've found I basically have to keep up with dishes otherwise he helps himself. He ate a crab rangoon last night that was on a plate I had put in there until I cleaned up. He also ate a donut I made off the counter this morning...

Step Three: Keep trash either out of reach or behind a closed door. The trash in the laundry room used to be on Maggie's platform but he figured out how to move the trash can so he could help himself.

Step Four: This goes along with step three. First idea would be to get a trash can with a lid. That bought us a few months until Kolby figured out how to open the lid. Now the trash and recycling has to be stored behind a closed door. It stinks to have to open a door and go down some stairs but it's better than him helping himself. He still gets into it every chance he has. Recently he stole a piece of chicken. My parents don't have a lid on their trash can so he frequently helps himself while visiting. Last time he ate 3 ears of corn. It was fun to clean up the results of that snack.

Step Five: Keep important papers or items up high. These used to be on the fridge but then he grew tall enough to steal items off the fridge. Most of our fridge is now bare except the top portion that he can't reach. We also have moved our mail/clutter basket to above the stove. It isn't fun to have to reach up to put stuff in it but it's Kolby free.

Step Six: Don't put any decorations out. The bottom shelves of our desk and book case are bare. After he ate a few cookbooks and card games I reorganized. Now the only things there are his toys. We have very few knick knacks out...after he tried to eat baby Jesus from my nativity set. Now everything out is kept up high.

Step Seven: Get baby gates! I love this baby gate my parents purchased. Kolby can get over it but he seems to forget. It is perfect for keeping him out but still allowing Maggie to come and go as she pleases. It is a pain to step over but we don't use that side of the house much anyway.

Step Eight: This picture represents something we need to do! Kolby has figured out how to open this latch and let himself in or out as he pleases. We need to replace this someday.

Step Nine: For some reason I can't find my pictures for the last to steps. This one would be keep everything behind a door or in a drawer. We have canvas drawers by our front door for shoes, hats, etc. Kolby can open them if he really puts his mind to it but usually leaves them alone. He has figured out how to get regular drawers open in the bathroom so I'm sure we will be investing in baby locks soon.

Step Ten: Out of sight out of mind. Kolby will steal anything he can see and thinks he shouldn't have. If you come to our house you may have to dig around to find the item you're looking for. The biggest one would be toliet paper. That is a favorite for him to steal so it is kept within reach but out of his line of vision. Works pretty well.

I'm going to add a Step Eleven that says it's impossible to completely dog proof your house! They will always find a way into what they aren't supposed to!

If Keith were writing this blog he would have just one step: don't have a dog...