Professional Puppy Proofing: How I Prepared My Home for Charlie
Looking for the specific tools I use with Charlie? Check out my Master Gear Page for my top-rated Goldendoodle supplies, from grooming tools to training crates.
Before I brought Charlie home, I spent an entire afternoon doing what I call the "Breeder’s Sweep." Most people think puppy proofing just means putting the trash can under the sink and moving your sneakers. But as a professional, I know that a 13-week-old Mini Goldendoodle is essentially a fluffy land shark with a genius-level IQ for finding trouble.
If you want to prevent expensive vet visits and destroyed furniture, you have to stay one step ahead of them. Here is exactly how I prepped my home for Charlie and the professional standards I recommend to all my new puppy owners.
Get Down on Their Level (The Crawling Test)
The first thing I did was get down on my hands and knees and crawl through every room Charlie would be allowed in. When you see the world from 6 inches off the ground, you notice things you’d never see standing up:
The "Forbidden Spaghetti": Electrical cords behind the TV or next to the nightstand. To a puppy, a live wire looks like a fun chew toy.
Lost Treasures: Small items like hair ties, coins, or dropped pills under the dresser.
The Bottom of the Couch: I checked for loose staples or fabric that Charlie could pull on.
Managing the "Chew Factor"
Goldendoodles are notoriously "mouthy." Charlie, in particular, was very interested in the corners of my baseboards and the legs of my kitchen chairs during his first week.
To combat this, I used two strategies:
Deterrents: I applied a pet-safe bitter spray to the "hot spots" I identified during my crawl.
Redirecting: I made sure that every room had a "safe" chew alternative. If Charlie went for the chair leg, I immediately swapped it for one of the high-durability toys I’ve listed on my Gear Page. Having the right textures (rubber, nylon, and soft plush) available is key to saving your furniture.
The "Zone" System
As I mentioned in earlier posts, I am a firm believer in restricted freedom. Charlie was never allowed to wander the house alone. I used extra-tall tension gates to keep him in the kitchen and living room—areas with hard flooring that are easy to clean.
I avoid the cheap plastic gates that a determined Goldendoodle can knocked over. I’ve linked the heavy-duty, metal walk-through gates I use on my Gear Page. They are more expensive upfront, but they won't fail when your puppy decides to jump on them.
Hidden Household Hazards
There are two things I see owners overlook constantly: Plants and Cleaning Supplies. * Plants: I moved my Sago Palm and Lilies completely out of the house. Many common houseplants are toxic to dogs.
Chemicals: I secured all my cleaning supplies in high cabinets. Even "natural" cleaners can cause stomach upset if a puppy chews through the bottle.
Boundary Training: The Ultimate Proofing
Physical proofing (gates and locks) is only half the battle. The other half is Behavioral Proofing. I started teaching Charlie the "Leave It" command on day one.
While a gate keeps him out of the laundry room, the "Leave It" command keeps him from eating a stray sock that falls on the floor. I consider this command a literal life-saver. I walk you through my step-by-step method for teaching this—and other essential safety boundaries—in the Puppy Foundations module of my Goldendoodle Academy. Spending $45 on training is much cheaper than a surgery to remove a swallowed sock.
Once the house is safe and proofed, you’re ready for the big day. Check out my guide on navigating the First 48 Hours of Your Puppy's Homecoming.
Final Thoughts
Puppy proofing isn't a "one and done" task. As Charlie grows and gets taller, the "trouble zone" moves higher. Stay vigilant, keep your floors clear, and always provide a better option for them to chew on.