Keeping my little Shih Tzu, Teddy, away from chocolate and other potentially harmful foods and chemicals (like multi purpose cleaner, toilet bowl bleach, etc.) is always one of my top priorities. My girlfriend and I had a scare earlier this year when I was cleaning our apartment and I accidentally left the bottom cabinet, where we keep all of our cleaning supplies, slightly open; it was enough for him to nudge his way through and explore what we had in there. Fortunately, he didn't ingest anything but it was still quit a scare for us and I felt it was necessary to make better precautions and protect our hairy little companion. Here is what I have done since then to better protect Teddy:

1. Prior to the accident we used brands like Clorox, Pledge, Windex, etc. I have recently threw all of those products in the trash because, alarmingly, they can be harmful to both animals and humans. The ingredients in most cleaning supplies can be toxic. Secondly, companies like Proctor & Gamble callously use animals to conduct tests on their products. I do not want anything associated with that in my home, let alone use it when Teddy and my girlfriend are near me. DO YOUR RESEARCH: Even though the market is saturated with toxic cleaning supplies that are the bi product of animal testing, I was still able to come across the great line of Method cleaning supplies. Most of their products are inexpensive and 100% safe around animals and humans. So, if you find yourself in a worse case scenario and your beloved pet accidentally comes in contact with any of Methods cleaning supplies, it is not life threatening. This is what their website states: "If swallowed by a pet, it is not life threatening. Simply give your animal a healthy serving of milk or water to dilute. If a large quantity is ingested, such as the majority of a bottle by a 60-pound dog, and your pet will not drink milk or water, consult your veterinarian." Even though their products are safe, the whole purpose is to prevent them from coming into contact with stuff their not suppose to, right? Please read on...

2. Dogs are naturally very adventurous and curious beings. KEEP THEM BUSY. Buy them new toys regularly and give them a new one every week or so to keep them excited. Hide their old toys and put them away so when they get tired of their new toy you can always bring out the older ones to chew on! Keeping your little explorer busy may prevent him/her in trying to open bottom cabinets and chewing on things their not suppose to.

3. TAKE YOUR HAIRY COMPANION ON A WALK, DAILY. Teddy is extremely energetic and if he doesn't get enough exercise each day then that will increase the chances of him doing things and getting into places he's not suppose to. If your dog is like Teddy, then you very well know that he/she has a tendency to get bored easily. I usually take him on 2-3 15 minute walks a day so he can stretch his legs out and smell the plants. Usually he is pretty tired by the time we get home and wants to take a quick nap to recuperate. Take this time to get your cleaning done while your doggy is resting. Odds are that they will be too tired to jump on tables while you are cleaning them or try to snatch a spray bottle out of your hand! After you have finished your cleaning and they have not caused any trouble, reward them with a doggy treat to reinforce their good behavior. (If they are still energetic when you get home then you may want to consider a longer walk or giving them a toy to play with)

4. If you have followed my few easy steps to keeping your little companion safe and they are still trying to open the bottom cabinets in the bathroom and running off with multi purpose spray bottles, then perhaps some tough love is what might help. TELL THEM "NO" IN A FIRM, BUT NOT LOUD VOICE. Animals have feelings too. They get scared of loud noises or when they feel they are being threatened. Please, recognize the difference in being "firm" with your dog and "screaming." If he/she complies and leaves the bottom cabinet in the bathroom or drops the bottle of cleaner then reward them with a treat.

5. Lastly, being a responsible pet owner is a given. If your dog continues to try to open the bottom cabinet in the bathroom (or wherever you keep your cleaning supplies) consider putting a child proof latch on the cabinet or moving the cleaning supplies to a higher cabinet that is out of reach. If you follow these steps adamantly then you should have no problem keeping your best friend out of harms way.

I hope you and your dog benefit from my advice. Thanks for reading.

Posted by: Zachary Locke | October 7, 2009 03:12 PM

Always be aware of where your dog is and he/she's surroundings. Make sure there is nothing in your home or backyard that can cause them harm. If the worst should happen make sure you have the vets number readily available and know the fastest route to get there. Get to know your dogs personality it is the best way to communicate with them and figure out what the problem is.

Posted by: Mandy | October 7, 2009 03:16 PM

We placed child safety locks on the cabnets, fridge, and any other place they can reach (they're both smaller dogs) our house is very doggy safe!

Posted by: DeAnna | October 7, 2009 04:15 PM

We have a very inquisitive and slightly crazy siberian husky! I worked at a veterinarian clinic for a brief period and it was so sad how many pets were brought in from incidents that seemed easily avoidable, or being better prepared.
The first thing that I make sure, is to have my local vet or emergency number on speed dial both for my home area and when I travel. Same for when friends with pets are away with us, I make sure we all have a number handy. Twice friends have called me in a panic knowing I could immediately give them an emergency number to call.
My phone doubles as a GPS so I have the address along with the number, so I always have the fastest route.
I also keep myself and those around my dog informed on foods and plants that can be toxic (no grapes are not a good treat even if it seems like your dog loves them!).
I also make sure to have bottles of water in the car that are specifically for the dog should there be an emergency and blankets and food.
In the household we use 'green' products that aren't toxic should there be a cupboard not shut tight. Not to mention, these are products not tested on animals, so its a win for more than just my own dog. :)

Posted by: Christin | October 7, 2009 04:23 PM

My Siberian Husky Sapphire got into a bottle of ibuprofen when she was 14 weeks old (she is 5 in February) was a terrible time.
She had actually climbed and got into a higher cupboard in the span of less than 5 minutes. Well thank the stars she made it through
(gave her syrup of ipecac) she spent the night at the emergency vet and then a week and a half at my local vet.

I have always put together a basic emergency kit and I keep all meds very high and make sure there is nothing to climb on.
When friends visit they know to zip up their bag and put is somewhere she cant get into it. Although shes very good now, I still watch her closely.
I also have pet insurance, vet bills can be so expensive and devastating if/when they get sick so any of my friends that are getting a pet I always recommend pet insurance and give the the ASPCA "101 Things you didnt know could harm your pet"

Posted by: Julianne | October 7, 2009 04:33 PM

Even if you have no human infants or toddlers at home, babyproof your house: lock all cabinets and drawers, keep medicines locked in the medicine cabinet or safe, throw out all expired medication, and lock up forbidden treats such as chocolate. Never give your dog grapes or raisens as treats, they are poisonous to dogs. Never allow a dog to eat cat food or a cat to eat dog food. Take a C.P.R course, and then learn how to perform it on animals (I had to learn this while working as a veterinary assistant). Take a first aid course and learn how to apply it to animals, and learn how to loop anything at hand such as a belt, scarf, tie, leash, or a towel to muzzle a dog before first aid treatment.

Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | October 7, 2009 05:10 PM

i just got my baby yorkshire terrier on the 18 of september so i dont know much about the whole safety thing i read alot though. she can't reach any cabinets or jump actually. i give her only dog food cause i know some human food isn't good for dogs.

Posted by: glaucia gregorio | October 7, 2009 05:40 PM

All of these are excellent ideas! I, too, switched every one of my cleaning products to the METHOD line. Reading more and more about how toxic household cleaners are poison really scared me. My shih tzu Ike always licks things up off the floor! I have latches on my cupboard to keep him from getting in there, even though he's a very good boy and has never done that, thank god. I also keep a list of his medications, dosage, etc magneted on my fridge, with a magnet from the animal ER. It has their number on it, so it's right there! I also have the numbers of his regular vet and that phone on there, as well as programmed in my phone.

Posted by: Andrea Tidwell | October 7, 2009 05:50 PM

I have a Lab name Buffy she likes to get into things she shouldn't get into. I got a white board and started writing down all the things to avoiding like chocolate, bones of any kind all things that are not good for dogs. Then I started writing down emergency contact numbers day and night ones for the vet and I make sure I don't have any thing to hurt my dog and I make sure no brings any thing harmful like junk food and I make sure my white board is in a spot where my friends and family can see. So far I had to take Buffy to the vet for chicken bones that she had caught in her throat and that scared me in the five years that I had her that is why I thought of the white board idea I have a few things in my first aid kit like hydrogen peroxide for cuts, baster, activated charcoal and band aids and tensor bandages. Buffy likes digging into things, I have a container full of safe dog toys inside of my house and outside that Buffy can play with, me and Buffy made a game out of it by throwing her toys all over the place inside or out side, me and her go around picking up her toys after shes done playing with them and putting them in the dog toy box its almost like a big game to her but I wouldn't change a thing about her shes my baby now I have to teach her not to carry the cat around the yard even tho the cat seems to like it that's all I can say about Buffy.

Posted by: beverly olthuis | October 7, 2009 05:51 PM

My 2-year-old Jack Russell mix is one of the nosiest, most curious dogs ever! He's interested in EVERYTHING and wants to believe that everything is edible, so I'm just always very cautious when we're out walking so he doesn't pick up garbage off the street and eat it. Likewise, at home I never leave food/medicine/whatever where he can reach it, and I take out the garbage frequently so he won't get into it.

Posted by: Kelli | October 7, 2009 06:08 PM

My oldest, Bella, had Parvo when i got her and i was told to let her die. I refused and demanded they do everything to help her. They wouldn't unless i paid them an advanced payment of $2000 first! So i did. She recovered, then relapsed and finally after 4 weeks she survived.

To keep my dogs safe i never leave them unattended inside or out. I never leave them outside for any reason. People, like my neighbors, leave their dogs outside 12 hours a day every day! That's sick and cruel.

I always use a harness instead of a collar when walking them or going somewhere. Harnesses give total control and don't choke your dog as collars do. They are also microchipped and soon will have GPS collars.

I check my backyard everyday for anything toxic such as berries or mushrooms so they don't eat them.

I know doggie CPR and also keep peroxide and large bandages/wraps in the house at all times. Also, having Benadryl is very important in case your dog suddenly has an allergic reaction to something.

And finally, people SOCIALIZE your dogs!!!

Posted by: joanna perry | October 7, 2009 06:20 PM

I have a Miniature Blue Dapple Dachshund named Beauregard Clancy Vick. When we got him he fit in my palm and mostly never left my arms. As he got bigger he loved to get into everything. The first serious incident we had with him was when he got into one of our child proofed cabinets and ate Rat poison... We called our vet imediatley and she said give him hydrogen peroxide stright away... So after he had expelled everything in his little stomach things went back to normal. Until it was christmas of that same year 5 months later; everything was under the tree and looked amazing... I was asleep and he snuck out of my room and into the living room...
He manged to find my gift from my cousin who is travling all over europe, he tears through all the paper and the box and goes right for the 95% pure cocoa bar from switerland and it was fairly good sized so he only got half through it by the time my father came out to make coffee... He discoverd beau guilty and chocolate pawed... My father woke me up imediately and we got out the hydrigen proxide again... Since then he has been fine only got into the trash once or twice but we always have to keep a big bottle of hydrogen peroxide around just in case... And we always have to make sure everything is far out of his little reach...

Posted by: Veronica Vick | October 7, 2009 06:35 PM

Hi. well I have 3 pets, 2 chihuahuas and one cat. I live in the Houston area and each year we go thru those unstoppable hurricane seasons. Last year as everyone was getting ready for ike ( which turned out to be worse than what we imagined), I saw on the news how Galveston Island was being evacuated and because of the no pet rule, a little boy had to get off the bus and put his little dog down and the boy got back on the bus, so only God knows if the dog made it. That made me remember as opposed as what everyone thinks, not ALL dogs are great swimmers, or even swim for that matter, so besides having canned food, water and life savers... I decided I was not going to watch my puppies drown. So I remember my nephew had those floaties they put on each arms to learn how to swim. So put one of those on each dog around their bellies. So remember people just because you can survive a natural disaster doesn't mean that your pets can. We take them in to our houses like our own very children so we have to prepare for them as well.

Posted by: Sarah Salas | October 7, 2009 06:58 PM

my husband and have five furry
rescue babies (four pups and one miss meow...) we also have one beautiful baby girl who will be 24 weeks old on sunday...needless to say our house is SUPER baby/pup proof!!! the fridge and all cabinets have locks...all doors have the "knob blocks" on them...we have blind cord wraps to avoid any accidental hangings (GOD FORBID!!!) there are two first aid kits in the house (for humans...) and all medications are kept in a locked cabinet in the kitchen...our pup/kitty emergency medications are located in a seperate locked cabinet...fire estinguishers are in the kitchen and basement...we have smoke alarms in every room of the house and in the basement...the pups are never outside unattended and the yard is free from any hazards...we have never used a pestiside in our garden to ensure a safe environment for both animal and human...purses, back packs, and coats are kept in a closed office inside of a closed closet...you never know what you may have in your pockets and purses that could be harmful to a baby or an animal...in all my family and i try very hard to keep our home safe for the pups, kitty, and baby at all cost...

Posted by: nicole licklider | October 7, 2009 08:07 PM

I'm not a lover of collars at the best of times & leave my dog's collar off at home when we're home but put it back on if she is staying out in the fenced yard while we are out just in case the gate is opened inadvertently, even though she has never left when this happened once before. The collar of course has all her info on it. I take all standard precautions with my dog as to diet but do give her a cod liver oil capsule with her daily meal (helps her coat) & the only bone she gets is the raw round knuckle marrow bones. She loves to catch her soft frisbee (don't think the hard plastic ones can be that great on the teeth. There is nothing injurious she can get into in the house & she will never get a raisin, grape, onion or chocolate. I think all this and a whole lot of love make her a happy dog!

Posted by: Marg Durrance | October 7, 2009 10:47 PM

With four cats that are getting older and with one extra daring, this emergency kit can be extra handy and useful. I would love to have this at home!

Posted by: AAG | October 8, 2009 07:38 AM

Thank you for the opportunity to win.

Posted by: Monica Lancaster | October 8, 2009 03:31 PM

keeping away chemicals from reach and nose !! and safer ways to clean. Be aware of where he is, not feed chicken bones that could get stuck in throats, keep on leash when walking, keep active with the walks--fins when he is bored he is more apt to chew or nose around..thanks for the opp--always great to have emergency kit !

Posted by: Kendra | October 8, 2009 05:40 PM

not leaving food where she can get it.

Posted by: Shannon Baas | October 8, 2009 06:49 PM

Keeping hydropgen peroxide around is a must- I've had to use it more than once, and rush it up to neighbours when their crazy dogs got into things they shouldn't.

Posted by: Holly Bowers | October 8, 2009 09:10 PM

We have a min pin named Brutis and a chihuahua named Lilly. They are our babies. My husband kids and I treat them like they are 2 year olds. We leave nothing within reach of them. We are very careful of what we clean with. With pest control items ect many chemicals can be toxic to our puppies, We have the pet poison control number posted on the fridge. We have the vets numbers posted as well . We have first aide supplies aspirin, and pepto bismol (only with a vets ok). The best advice I can offer to keep your babies safe is treat them like a toddler. Baby proof your home to insure a long happy and safe life J

Posted by: staci Decoteau | October 8, 2009 10:24 PM

I had to baby proof my house more for my jack russel then I did my son or daughter.
Everything is up high, chemicals are locked up and the cabnets have locks. ( she can get in)

Posted by: Michelle Draveski | October 8, 2009 10:25 PM

With having two english bull terriers we have to be super careful, even things you would never think an animal would even try to eat they will have gone before you can blink. Obedience training and keeping them busy works wonders.

Posted by: elizabeth p | October 8, 2009 10:39 PM

I have stickers on my windows alerting the fire department that there are pets inside.

Posted by: Diane Murphy | October 9, 2009 05:52 AM

I would love to win this pet emergency kit, just in case any of my two dogs or two kittens get hurt

Posted by: samantha stolworthy | October 9, 2009 02:16 PM

Our new Puppy comes home in November. We are busy puppy proofing! Thanks for the chance.

Posted by: Monique Rizzo | October 9, 2009 02:37 PM

I would love to win this for my dogs. I have two large dogs and go camping/travel a lot with them. This would come in handy.

Posted by: Tina J | October 9, 2009 10:22 PM

Last week my baby Astro got hurt running at night time into a fence.I was inn shock. I didn't know what to do. It was too late for the regular vet to be open. There was know way I could get him into a cab. He doesn't like car rides. I called every animal lover I know to ask them what I should do.He almost knocked himself out, and was bleeding a little. I was going to put blood stopper on his cuts. Thankfully I read the directions before I put it on. It says do not put on nose.He was cut right under his nose, and kept on licking his wound. So finally I gave him a bucket of ice and the swelling and bleeding went down.

Posted by: Carmen Ortiz | October 9, 2009 10:33 PM

I have a five month old Cavalier Kibg Charles Spaniel. He is my baby and as a baby he loves getting into everything. Now he goes to puppy training classes and us actually a recent "graduate" and is moving onto advanced class. One thing he learnt in puppy class which is truly life saving is "leave it". I started with big things like shoes and when I saw he was getting near one I yelled LEAVE IT and when he did I gave him a treat. Now even when something small like a pill falls on the floor I can say leave it and he does.

Posted by: Elora | October 10, 2009 08:21 AM

We always keep them close and on the leash so they do not get into eating something they are not supposed to

Posted by: scarlette | October 10, 2009 09:58 AM

I've done my best to "puppy proof" my house like people do when they have babies. I make sure there's no way for her to get into anything dangerous and that I don't leave things lying around.

Posted by: Emmi | October 10, 2009 05:01 PM

We don't really have to do anything specific to keep Sox safe because the only thing he gets into is the trash if we forget to put it up at night.

Posted by: DJ | October 10, 2009 08:13 PM

I put a gate on the desk so that I can check that the yard is clear of strays and wild animals before I send my dogs out.

Posted by: Queen of the Click | October 11, 2009 11:31 AM

I never allow my dogs out of my sight when outside, even while in our fenced yard.

Posted by: Storm | October 13, 2009 03:40 AM

my cockateal got tangled in a fly trap, hanging in our kitchen.at first i was running around like crazy saying omg what do i do.i was all alone.so i finally calmed down a little bit.i got our house scrissors and cut most of our birds left wing.after that the bird would face the back of the cage so noone could see her left wing,then once it heales she faced the front of the cage.

Posted by: angela shafer | October 14, 2009 06:39 AM

They are never allowed outdoors without a human. Our neighborhood is too busy, and there are too many out of control children around.

Posted by: Marjorie Whitney | October 14, 2009 11:40 AM

I use baby gates to keep my dogs out of places they should not go. I keep all chemiicals locked up or on top shelves. There are no cords left out in the open for them to chew on either.

Posted by: Kelly Ann T. | October 14, 2009 06:39 PM

Cubbieduke is always eating something and is always in to everything.. one time he ate my pantyhose.

Posted by: Bev Maloy | October 18, 2009 07:01 PM

Even though we have a secure, fenced in yard, my dogs are never outside without me standing in the yard with them. One of my little guys has severe food allergies and cannot eat ANYTHING other than his dog food. I make sure I let everyone entering the home is aware of this, even if I don't think they're going to sneak him anything. When going in public, I carry him (he's only 8 lbs) so that he doesn't accidently eat something off the ground that is hazardous.

Posted by: Kimberly | October 19, 2009 02:46 PM

A kit such as this could save your pets' life.

Posted by: Rebecca Green | October 20, 2009 10:36 AM

One of the best and safest things to do other than being aware of your animal's surroundings is training. A trained pet is more likely to stay calm. Training keeps pets' minds active and decreases their need for destructive behavior. But of course, always be alert and watch where you put harmful products.

Posted by: claudia navarrete | October 20, 2009 11:35 AM

We always come and go through the garage so the dogs can't dart by us and out the door.

Posted by: MaryAnn Sides | October 20, 2009 12:36 PM

We keep a safety lock on the gate and always watch them when they're in the yard.

Posted by: Mary K ORoyt-Sides | October 20, 2009 12:37 PM

While having my 2 dogs, my daughters 2 dogs, my 2 cats and a foster puppy 98% of the time, I could really use this!

Posted by: Barbara Fox | October 20, 2009 01:50 PM

I keep all chip bags in a drawer or the fridge until they are emptied or recycled to keep the pets' heads out of them. I have to watch Buddy & Miguel when they're out in the yard, because Buddy will try to jump the fence, and Miguel will try to go under it.

Posted by: Carla | October 20, 2009 03:08 PM

We have 1 dog,

Posted by: JoAnn L. | October 20, 2009 08:24 PM

For those of you who have Dogs, inperticuly putbill mixes. They tend to get into horrific full blown fights. Regaurless of them being spayed or not. Now we have to keep them apart or they will try to kill each other. NOT by my standards is this fun to watch not even for a minute. It becomes a solid blood fest, not just of the dogs but my blood too. Ouch. The last fight took 2 of us to pull them apart. You don't yank them apart you hold each of them by there collars until one gives up and the other will eventuly lets go. Then you separate them as soon as possible. OF Course now comes the clean up part, don't worry about the house, clean the house later. Worry about looking at the worst of the 2. Then get a warm to hot clean rag and proceed to access the damage that's been done, wipe the cuts clean of dirt and blood. Be careful they can bite you because of the pain. Then get Hydrogen Peroxcide and wipe the cuts out with cotton or q-tips. Now some cuts can still bleed so they have to be watched, you can use a septic stick on them to help calm down the bleeding. NOW- If it's a very severe cut and you can see into the muscle, don't try and play vet, get them to the nearest vet hospital asap. Small cuts you can handle. Once those cuts are cleaned out and stopped bleeding (you may have to change the bandages or band-aids more then 2 or 3 times before it subsides). Then use a glob of neosporin w/ pain relief on each and every open spot on the body. Everyday 4x a day and at night before they retire to there bed. Mostly put it on just before they go outside in order to keep the flys out of the cuts. Because the flys will eat and lay eggs into cuts, then you will have a more severe life theatening problem ahead of you which may result in putting the dog down. So please , please keep this in mind. Keep clean bandages on your dogs each day. They walk and lay all over the dirt , carpet ,floor, and grass. That can lead to an infection. The neosporin will take that infection away if you do what I sugested to do. Unfortunatly my 2 pitbull mixs age 2 and 3 can't be in the same room together anymore. PS. Be really really careful when separating a dogfight of your own dogs. They won't hear you at all and My daughter and I have the bite marks to prove it. It was a simple mistake for them to have bitten us, this was during 2 separate fights. I also lost a thumb nail. Not a big beal anymore , because We are all healed up and so are the dogs. The aggressor still hasn't learned her lesson, she trys the same on our male Great Dane who puts her in her place, so she's left with a cut up nose almost everyday. PS put the neosporin on the nose when they are asleep because they like to lick it off.

Best of Luck.
Cleyella Crew

Posted by: Cleyella Crew | October 21, 2009 01:11 AM

My doggies are kept safe from anything toxic or hazardous to them. They are treated as family in my home. I also ave a first aid doggy supply.

Posted by: dawn | October 21, 2009 01:42 AM

my 2 dogs and cat will need this

Posted by: Jennifer gersch | October 21, 2009 05:12 AM

We keep our dog away from hazards like strings, small objects, etc so that he doesn't accidentally swallow them

Posted by: R Hicks | October 21, 2009 08:53 AM

I have stickers in my windows in case of fire the fireman will know my lil chico is in the house.

Posted by: Keisha negron | October 21, 2009 10:10 AM

i am very careful not to let my doggie get into anything that could hurt her.

Posted by: susan smoaks | October 21, 2009 10:56 AM

I keep my dog inside. When I take him out, he wears a harness and stays within two feet of me.

Posted by: Kayce Crews | October 21, 2009 10:59 AM

Annual vet visits :)

Posted by: Gianna | October 21, 2009 03:37 PM

I make sure all the time that cleaners and toiletries are pet friendly.

Posted by: Sand | October 21, 2009 10:09 PM

Our yard is fenced in to keep the dogs within.

Posted by: Renee Weiner | October 21, 2009 10:27 PM

I keep poisons up high, so he can't reach them.

Posted by: Donna K | October 22, 2009 02:11 AM