Before your adorable new puppy moves through your home like a tornado - leaving destruction, nasty scents and hurt feelings behind - follow the tips below to protect your property and your relationship with this cute little creature.

Protecting personal property

Rule number one is to store anything that you don’t want the puppy to play with in a safe place. Store shoes and laundry in locked closets or storage bins where they can’t be reached. And be aware that zippers, buttons, curtain tassels, blind cords and tablecloths are huge temptations (and possible safety risks) for a puppy, so if possible keep them at a height where he or she can’t reach them.

Make sure the garbage is out of reach

If you have never seen what havoc a puppy can cause with the kitchen garbage, just think of what your Persian carpet will look like when smeared with a mixture of tomato sauce, curry and garlic sauce. Always make sure the garbage can is covered, and store it in a closet or cabinet, or outdoors.

Set up limits

Part of what makes puppies so adorable is their curiosity. If there are parts of the house where you don’t want them to explore, e.g. the baby room or study, there is a simple solution: set up limits such as pens or baby gates. And always make sure to keep the appropriate doors closed.

Protecting your property against pet hair

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Select bedding, pillows, blankets and rugs that won’t easily show pet hair. If you e.g. have a black puppy, consider using darker colors. For a light-colored puppy dark colors is a better option.

Be ready for accidents

However hard you try to prevent them, accidents will happen. The day the puppy arrives, make sure to buy a cleaner that will not only clean the mess left when he or she does their business on your lounge carpet, but that will also disinfect the area and remove any possible odors.

Your homeowners policy will not cover damage that your dog may do to your home so you want to be careful to follow these rules.  If you need help or advise about your Long Island homeowners insurance policy, don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.