Try to imagine life from a Shih Tzu puppy’s point of view. You might be saying, well how can I do that? Go to each room of your house. Get down on your hands and knees. Take a good look at what your Shih Tzu puppy might be enticed by. Remember, they are new to your home. Shih Tzu puppies are somewhat like toddlers. Shih Tzu puppies will eventually explore their surroundings. Some Shih Tzu puppies will start right away investigating this new place. Other Shih Tzu puppies may take awhile to settle in. Eventually all Shih Tzu puppies will be exploring their new home. They will roam around like a toddler putting things in their mouth and poling around in nooks and crannies. It is your responsibility to check out what there may be in your home that could possibly harm the new Shih Tzu puppy. You are also looking around for those items of yours you do not want the new Shih Tzu puppy to explore.

Cabinets

Watch out for cleaning supplies and personal care items that are stored in low storage areas like kitchen and under-sink bathroom cabinets. The ingredients in these products are extremely harmful and can even cause death. If the cabinet doors can be easily opened by the mouths and paws of Shih Tzu puppies, try to store these items in some other place. Another option is to purchase plastic child-proof cabinet locks that can be temporarily attached to the handles or knobs. These safety locks can usually be found online or in local pet supply (or baby) stores.

Electrical Cords

How tantalizing is an electrical cord especially when it’s looping down from a table or desk? “I can jump at it, pull on it, wrestle with it and even gnaw on it.” Shih Tzu puppies will most likely perform all these tasks with an electrical cord. The dangers here are obvious: a falling lamp or electrocution can cause serious injury or worse. Wrap up loose hanging electrical cords or at least block access to them. And for cords that need to run across the floor, use rubber or plastic cord/cable runners that can be purchased at an office supply outlet or home improvement store. If you don’t mind plastering a nail in the wall, you can also do this, and hang the cord up out of Shih Tzu puppy’s eyesight.

Plants

Household plants are attractive to most Shih Tzu puppies. A lot of household plants are poison to Shih Tzu and dogs in general. Ingesting a bite or two can cause nausea, vomiting and in some cases death. It is probably an excellent idea to re-position your plants so that they are out of reach. You don’t want your Shih Tzu poisoned or made ill by your beautiful plants. Neither do you want your beautiful plants destroyed by the curiosity of a Shih Tzu puppy.

Small Objects Around the House

Be alert to small items around the house that can be swallowed. Items in this category would be coins, jewelry, sewing supplies, batteries, medication and miniature knick-knacks left on low surfaces. Sometimes worse than swallowing these small items is that the Shih Tzu puppy may choke to death. Don’t forget to block access to trash receptacles in the kitchen, your home office and even the bathroom. Shih Tzu puppies love pushing on a trash can until it falls over and then “wow” all that is inside is within reach. This is so amusing to a Shih Tzu puppy; however, it is a disaster to the Shih Tzu puppy’s owner. Take heed now before you bring home your adorable little Shih Tzu puppy and block access to trash bins.

Toilet

To an adventurous Shih Tzu puppy, the challenge of climbing up, up and over the rim of your toilet is a tail-wagging delight. Unfortunately, falling head first into this big, slippery bowl of water is not so delightful especially for a smaller-sized pup. Simple solution: make it a house rule to keep the bathroom door closed at all times.

Puppy-proofing your home before your wonderful little Shih Tzu buddy arrives may seem like a hassle, but providing the safest environment possible is a necessity. After all, your lovable, four-legged bundle of joy is worth it.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

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Purchasing a pet gate for most areas of the house takes some thought about a lot of different aspects each particular gate has to offer. With over a dozen styles of gates it isn’t necessarily as clear cut as you would like it to be.

If you just want to block off a room from a pet there are at least 5 particular styles that can accomplish what you need to do. Extension gates, pressure mounted gates, free standing, walk-thru and extra wide gates will all serve a particular need that you may have.

But, what about that staircase? What’s so special about that area that I need to consider it differently than the other locations in the house? The #1 consideration is the safety of you and your pet.

Staircases pose a special set of circumstances for the following reasons.

1)      A gate designed for a staircase needs a very firm mounting area. Because of the usage it will get it should be mounted with screws into a door frame or a stud. A pressure mounted gate for example could easily be nudged out of position since there is no mounted hardware. Around a staircase this won’t work.

2)      Having any type of “obstruction” including a gate around the stairs could increase the risk of a fall or trip hazard. Gates in any area, since they are low to the ground need to be watched. How about at night. You need to be able to keep it out of the way so you don’t fall over it. Here’s where you need to consider another feature besides it being a stairway gate. A tall stair gate might be the way to go. No matter what the case here though, proper lighting and the utmost safety concerns for keeping a gate out of harms ways at night should be your first priority.

3)      You don’t want to use 2 hands to open a gate. You should always be able to grab the handrail. Make sure the gate you buy offer a one hand operation for the locking mechanism.

4)      Very few staircase Posts (Newell Post) are flat offering a good mounting surface for hardware. The system you purchase should be able to accommodate the type of post on your handrail. There are several so select the proper one for you.

5)      Most Posts are set back and not straight across from a doorway so they need to be mounted at an angle which requires the proper mounting hardware. This situation would require a “angle mount hardware kit”. They are readily available so make sure you get a gate that would have one as part of the system or that you can buy.

6)      Gates for stairways need to have a method to firmly “lock” them in place. You don’t want the gate to loosely sit there. Again it could be a trip hazard without the proper locking mount.

7)      They should have a childproof latch. This criteria speaks for itself when children are or can be present.

8)      The gate hinge should have the ability to swing in, out or both ways so you can set it up to work properly at your stairs. This is accomplished with a “swing control hinge”. You need these options to make sure that you can match the gate operation to the location of stairs in your house.

9)      Gates cannot swing out over the stairs. This could cause someone to fall down the flight of stairs. If it did this can cause you to fall. As you open the gate and it swung forward you wouldn’t be able to control yourself from falling. It should only swing open over the landing.

10)  When not being used, the gate should easily be removed for storage.

Because they are designed for these areas they are much safer to use in any type of situation where stairs are involved. They take all these items and more into consideration so that no one’s safety is compromised. So if you need a gate for a stairway, get one specifically made for that purpose. You’ll be glad you did.

 

Technorati Tags: Before, Doing, Gate, Know, Safety's, Sake, Stairway

There are several attributes of baby gates that should kept in mind before buying them. The most distinguished ones to be considered are the height, fixation category, latch system. The baby gates installed close to steps hold a much bigger responsibility than that by the baby gates placed in other locations.

Though the peak of the gate that equals that of the baby is just the right choice, the gate may be trespassed simply as the baby grows over a time period. Though pressure mounting baby gates are cheaper (stating off at 30$) than the permanent counterparts, they cannot be thought about for placement near the vital area of steps.

Wooden baby gates for steps available in both light and dark oak stain with handrails accessorize the decor of your house. The attribute of fixation system of the baby gate needs to be considered when the location of the location of baby gate is close to the steps. Property of latch system that has to get chosen majorly depends on the age of your kid.

Source of this article: Attributes of Baby Gates to be Considered Before Buying Them

A toddler/baby would find it tough to even open a latch that’s similar to one at the doors your place. However, for the kids aging two years can simply open such latches and gain access to the areas outside the baby gates, for the kids belonging to this group, it would be preferable to use a baby gate with latch system that can only be functioned from a distant location with the assistance of a RC or a control button placed on a far off wall of the house at a height beyond the reach of kids.

It is always recommended to perform a research in the market about the reputation of the company you’re looking forward to buy the gate from. Majorly all the Pressure mounted gates are straightforward to fasten to the walls of halls and kitchen doors are now fabricated with high-strength, flexible material like Plexiglas that may expand up to fifty inches.

You can find more information about baby gates at http://baby-gates-for-stairs.blogspot.com, where you can read about baby gates for stairs.

Technorati Tags: Attributes, Baby, Before, Buying, Considered, Gates, Them

(By Joe Cinova)

 

If you’re asking this simple question, you probably already have a reason you’re searching for a pet gate. The list of possibilities is endless I’m sure. They got into something they shouldn’t have, they chewed up a particular piece of furniture, when someone comes to the door they jump on them or you just don’t want them in a certain area of the house.

 You might think this is an easy task and for some of us it probably is. But for a lot of people it’s not so straightforward without a little forethought before running out and buying a pet gate. Let’s take a look at some of the items to consider before making that purchase.

 Let me tell you a little story. I have two Miniature Pinschers or Min Pins for short. The “girls” were only about 10 months old at the time. It was Christmas Eve 2006. My wife and I went to church that evening and “locked” the girls up before we left.

 Since Min Pins are so active and they were barely a couple of pounds in weight, we used a 4 sided metal pet gate to contain them in the kitchen. It was quite large compared to the girls with plenty of room for their potty paper and water bowl.

 We got home about an hour and a half later. We went into the kitchen and the “girls” were GONE! Yep they were gone. I looked at my wife and we both ran looking thru the house. We had 2 floors so I ran upstairs. As I was half way up the stairs I looked up and saw the girls with their tiny little heads sticking thru the railing.

 I was shocked and scared they might fall since they had never gone upstairs before since they were too small to climb up. I called my wife and we brought them back to their makeshift pen and put them back inside. We thought that maybe we both forgot to lock them up.

I started to make something to eat and then it happened. I watched in amazement as these tiny, little, several pound pups went to the corner of the pen where it was at a right angle, and proceeded to climb up like spidermen, get to the top and jump out. The pen was 3 foot high! We couldn’t stop laughing when they look at us like “what’s the big deal”? It was a great moment we’ll never forget, but it taught us a big lesson.

 Sorry for getting off track but it proves that you need to be a little more educated than thinking you just buy a pet gate to contain your little friends. Let’s take a look at what we should consider.

How big is your dog? Are they aggressive? Where do you want to keep them confined? What material of construction should you use? How much should you or can you afford to spend? How should the gate be made? Meaning you should consider the gaps or slats it has, screws etc. Ease of installation. Does it have a door to open so you can get thru or do you have to climb over it. Does it have a latch? Is it easy to use? Is it easy to store when not in use?

 

How does this list break down into practical information? Let’s look at each item.

 If you have a big dog, a flimsy little pet gate isn’t going to do a great job of keeping them confined. An aggressive dog will either break the gate or jump over it. Something to consider when you buy one. Where you keep them confined will determine what kind of gate you need. Are you blocking a door, a wide space or a staircase? This needs to be taken into account. Is your dog a chewer? If you buy a plastic pet gate not only will they chew thru it but they may swallow parts that can hurt them. Keep this in mind. A metal gate is the strongest but not very attractive. The alternative may be a combination of metal and finished wood. Although more costly it will probably be just what you are looking for. Spending a lot of money doesn’t guarantee a good gate for you pet. Conversely getting a less expensive gate doesn’t mean it wouldn’t do a great job. All things need to be weighed out carefully to help make the best choice. Remembering my little story, look at the pet gate closely. Can your pet climb it and get over it? Are there items or protrusions that may hurt your pet? Can they get a paw or their head stuck in a slat or corner of the gate? Be wary of these little incidentals. Depending on the pet gate you buy will dictate the method of installation. There are three types you can buy; pressure locking, free-standing and mechanically attached with screws to mount to a doorframe. Again, each has their benefits and their downside. Taking each into consideration will help make your decision the right one. Especially if you’re older, climbing over these gates can be a real pain and downright dangerous. Consider getting one with a door you can open. Sometimes latches on pet gates can cause problems. Even pressure mounted gates have a “latch” and are difficult to operate. Make sure you get the one suitable for you. Finally, what about storing them when you want them out of the way. If they are bolted up, free standing gates it may be tough to get them stored away easily. If you have the room it’s not a problem.

 

Let’s recap. Be certain to get one to fit the opening, easy to install for your capability, protects your pet, won’t allow them to escape the area, is of the right quality for your needs, is durable and accomplishes what you set out to achieve in the first place. If you love your pets they way we love ours a little extra consideration makes all the difference in the world.

 Thank for reading!

copyright Cinova LLC – 2009

Technorati Tags: Before, Buying, Consider, Gate, Items

There are several attributes of baby gates that should remembered before purchasing them. The most prominent ones to be considered are the height, fixation category, latch system. Baby gates intended for placement near to the staircase should be resolutely attached on to the walls with screws, as the babies have a tendency to lean against the baby gates or climb them. The baby gates installed close to steps hold a much bigger responsibility than that by the baby gates placed in other locations.

The figures in the ticket also depend on other attributes possessed by a baby gate such as the material used up in the making of baby gate and extensions or panels added to the gate to extend the surface area that must be covered by the baby gate.

While baby proofing your place you have to surely never compromise when thinking about the design and color properties of the baby gate. Wooden baby gates for stairs available in both light and dark oak stain with handrails accessorize the decor of your house. The attribute of fixation system of the baby gate must be considered when the placement of the positioning of baby gate is near the stairs. Property of latch system that has to get chosen majorly depends on the age of your kid.

Source of this article: Attributes of Baby Gates to be Considered Before Their Purchase

A toddler/baby would find it tricky to even open a latch that’s like one at the doors your house. However, for the youngsters aging two years can simply open such latches and gain access to the areas outside the baby gates, for the kids belonging to this age group, it would be preferable to use a baby gate with latch system that can only be functioned from a faraway location with the assistance of a radio control or a control button placed on a far off wall of the house at a height outside the reach of children.
Majorly all of the Pressure mounted gates are simple to attach to the walls of halls and kitchen doors are now built with high-strength, flexible material like Plexiglas that will expand up to 50 inches.

You can find more information about baby gates at http://nathharper.vox.com/library/post/the-pros-and-cons-of-baby-gates-for-stairs.html, where you can read about baby gates for stairs.

Technorati Tags: Attributes, Baby, Before, Considered, Gates, Purchase, Their