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Five black and tan Chihuahua puppies crowd inside a wooden toy crate surrounded by wooden blocks and a stuffed bunny. 24 / 33

Somebody Emptied the Toy Box. Five Puppies Moved Right In.

AI imagechihuahuapuppy proofingtoy box

Wooden building blocks are scattered across the floor, a plush gray bunny slumps against the side of the crate, and the toy box itself has been completely taken over. Five black and tan puppies are packed inside, popping up between folds of a soft blue blanket. Two in the back stand tall to look over their siblings, ears pricked high, while the three in front peer out with round eyes and furrowed tan eyebrows. Sunlight from a nearby window warms the scene, along with a potted plant and a basket of colorful laundry.

Homes with both children and puppies need a little extra planning, because kids' toys and puppy toys aren't interchangeable. Small blocks, game pieces, doll accessories, and stuffed animals with button eyes or plastic parts can be choking hazards or cause blockages if a puppy chews and swallows them. Batteries and magnets are especially dangerous. It helps to keep children's toys in closed bins or rooms the puppy can't access, and to give the puppy its own clearly separate set of durable, size-appropriate toys. Teaching kids to tidy up after playtime is a great way to involve them in keeping the new family member safe.

These five look very pleased with their new hideout. Whether they'll let anyone put the blocks back inside is another matter entirely.

Every toy box has a surprise or two. This one has five, and they're all wagging.

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