How to Keep a Puppy Out of Trouble
To keep your puppy out of trouble, give it lots of chew toys to keep it stimulated and engaged. Prevent your puppy from getting bored by playing with it as often as you can. When you leave the house, turn on the television or radio to keep your puppy company and soothe its nerves. Since you can't have your eyes on your puppy 24/7, keep your floors clear to keep it from chewing harmful items. Also, set up gates or puppy pens so your puppy can run around without getting into trouble when you're in another room.
Take the puppy on walks. Like adult dogs, puppies need daily walks, but they should not be walked for long periods. Every day, walk the puppy for about five minutes for every month of age. For example, a three month old puppy will go out for fifteen minutes while a four month old puppy will go out for twenty. Use a puppy harness and leash to walk the puppy to prevent injuries. You may have better luck if you let the puppy get used to the harness first. Place the harness on the puppy twenty minutes before the walk, and let them wander around their home with it on. Play with the puppy. Playing will help wear out your puppy so that they do not engage in destructive behaviors like chewing when they are bored. There are many games you can play with your puppy to keep them active and out of trouble. Take a chewing rope, and hold onto one end. If the dog starts pulling the other end, you can play tug-of-war with them. Throw a ball, and call for the puppy to get it. Your puppy may bring it back to you so that you can throw it again. You can take a favorite toy of theirs and run with it, encouraging them to chase after you. Give the puppy chew toys. It is natural for puppies to chew, and a good chew toy will reduce their urge to mouth your furniture or clothing. It will also teach the puppy how to play alone, which can help reduce separation anxiety. These toys should be made out of durable nylon, plastic, or rubber. Some good chew toys include: KONG toys Rubber bones Chewing ropes Teething sticks Puzzle toys Take the puppy to obedience class. Obedience class will help teach your puppy to respond to commands. You can use these commands to call the puppy back when they are causing mischief. Obedience class also helps socialize the puppy, and your puppy may even find going to class fun and exciting. Local pet stores often run training sessions. You can also ask your vet if they know of a good dog trainer. Introduce the puppy to new environments. To reduce separation anxiety and aggression, it is important that the puppy is introduced to as many new situations and people as possible. These activities will teach your puppy how to act in public while giving them a fun outing at the same time. If you're driving around town, you may decide to bring your puppy along for the ride. Just make sure that you do not leave them alone in a locked car. Many pet stores will let you bring your puppy in with you. You can even let your puppy choose a new toy for themselves. Dog parks are a fun way to introduce your puppy to older dogs, but you should be careful. Supervise your puppy to make sure that they are not being bullied by older dogs. You may want to go during a quieter time of day when there are fewer dogs there. Take the puppy outside often. Puppies cannot hold their bladders as long as older dogs. You will need to keep a regular schedule to take the puppy outside to eliminate. You might take the puppy on a short walk, or you can just let them run out to relieve themselves. Write your puppy breaks into your schedule so that you remember to take them out. Turn on the radio or television when you leave. If your puppy has separation anxiety, leaving a TV or radio on can make them think that someone is nearby. The noise will soothe them and keep them company. Classical music, jazz, talk shows, and news programs are all great to leave on for your puppy. Remove dangerous objects. Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and there are many items that pose choking, poison, or electrical hazards to your puppy. Make sure these items are inaccessible to your puppy at all times. Put them in high cabinets or drawers. Tie up any strings, cords, or wires that you find. Make sure you hide: String Medications Electrical wires Cleaning supplies Batteries Small toys and plastic items Clothing, including as shoes, socks, and underwear Plastic bags Plants Spray taste deterrent on your belongings. To prevent your puppy from chewing furniture, wires, or other objects, use a taste deterrent. This is a spray that you can apply to your belongings. When the puppy tries to chew or mouth the item, it will leave a bad taste in their mouth. You can buy taste deterrent at most pet stores or at your vet. Taste deterrents are often found in flavors like bitter apple or bitter cherry. Check for holes in your fencing. If you have a yard or balcony that your puppy uses, make sure that there is no way your puppy can escape. Check the fencing carefully for any holes. Your puppy may attempt to squeeze through even a small patch, so make sure that you repair any breech that you find. Keep your home clean. The cleaner your home is, the less likely your puppy will find something to chew or swallow. Try to keep your home as neat and tidy as possible. Pick up stray objects and trash from the ground. If you drop food, immediately dispose of it, especially if it is poisonous to dogs. Chocolate, garlic, onions, raisins and grapes are all very dangerous for dogs. Your puppy may choke on food wrappers and plastic left on the ground.  Crate train the puppy. A crate provides your puppy with a private den that they can escape to when they are tired or stressed. It also gives you a safe place to keep the puppy when you are out of the house. Place the crate in a common area of the home, such as the kitchen or living room. Put a blanket and some toys inside to keep the puppy occupied while they are in the crate. Puppies under six months of age should never be left in the crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They cannot control their bladders as easily as older dogs, and they may have an accident. Do not use the crate as punishment. The puppy should find the crate a safe place to go when they want to be alone, not as a scary place they are put when they misbehave. Set up a playpen. Puppy playpens can be purchased online or at a pet store. These are designed to give puppies a small area to run and play without giving them free access to the entire house. It is an easy way to make sure they stay out of trouble when you cannot supervise them. Put some toys inside the pen so that the puppy can play while they are in there. Playpens are useful to confine the puppy while you are home whereas crates may be more useful for when you are out of the house. Block off rooms with baby gates. Baby gates can help block off rooms and keep your puppy confined to a smaller, safer area. You may want to use these gates to keep the puppy away from the stairs, kitchen, and basement or any other areas that may not be puppy friendly. Baby and toddler gates work well for most breeds of dogs, but if you have a larger breed of dog, such as a Great Dane or St. Bernard, you may want to get a specialty pet gate. Supervise the puppy when not restrained. Even when you are home, you should keep an eye on the puppy to make sure that they are not endangering themselves. Try to keep the puppy in the same room as you, and check on them often. If you want to keep the puppy close to you at all times, you might try keeping them on a leash. You can hold the leash or tether it to yourself. Hire a dog sitter. An alternative to confining your puppy is to hire a dog sitter when you are gone for long periods of time. The sitter can play with your puppy, take them on walks, and interact with them. This will give your puppy more to do, and it will reduce the chances of an accident inside of the home. Doggy daycare may also be an option for your puppy. You can leave them at daycare before you go to work and pick them up afterwards. 
Take the puppy on walks. Play with the puppy. Give the puppy chew toys. Take the puppy to obedience class. Introduce the puppy to new environments. Take the puppy outside often. Turn on the radio or television when you leave. Remove dangerous objects. Spray taste deterrent on your belongings. Check for holes in your fencing. Keep your home clean.  Set up a playpen. Block off rooms with baby gates. Supervise the puppy when not restrained. Hire a dog sitter. 