Dog proofing the home

Question
Hi! I'm a writer working on a book about dogs. The company's website is www.hundredsofheads.com.

Would you be able to answer a question for publication in the book? You'd be credited in the book with the tip, by your first and last name, first name, or anonymous. (Please let me know which you prefer.)

The question is: What is the most important thing to do to dog proof your home before bringing your new dog home?  

Answer
A crate.  It is only natural that a puppy resists its crate at first.  What the puppy wants more than anything else is to be others, you, anyone else in the household, and any other pets.  In our modern society, even if we are at home, other things distract us from the attention an uncrated puppy must have. The only real solution is to crate the dog when you aren't around.  The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Accidents and damaged possessions are the fault of whoever was watching the puppy.  When you are watching it, immediately correct it as soon as it goes for anything except its own toys.  In a quiet, but firm voice ''Bad dog, its name drop!''.  Gently remove what ever and replace it with one of its toys.  When it is a little older, hold eye contact until the puppy drops it instead of removing it.

Leave it some toys.  Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter.  Don't leave
anything in the crate the dog might chew up.  It will do fine without even any
bedding.  You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going
in.  Feed it in the crate.  This is also an easy way to maintain order at
feeding time for more than one dog.

The "shut the puppy in a safe room" is a fallacy.  Very few houses even have a
safe room.  How many of us have a room with a hard surfaced floor and nothing
else?  Most rooms have electrical cords to chew if nothing else.  In addition
to destroying anything a bored puppy finds to chew, it may choke or have
intestinal  blockage from the pieces.  I had a friend that left her dog in a
"safe" room.  It ate a hole in the floor covering.  The safe rooms fail to
give the dog the comfort of the enclosed space their instinct requires.  Nor
do they restrict activity extending the time the dog can go without relieving
itself.

Likely they will cry the first few nights in the crate.  I have never had much
luck with the old clock or radio tricks.  What I do is lay down by the crate
like I was going to sleep there.  Usually a puppy may fuss a little, but then
settle down and go to sleep.  Once it is asleep, you can get up and go to bed.

If you can't attribute this to ''Labman'', I would rather you don't use it.  I have been around the net for a long time in net years as Labman.  I am widely know on sites besides this.  Much of the above is recycled, FAQ like material posted many times on many sites.  I keep a wall between Labman and my real identity.