The first thing you need to know about living with a Lab is that these dogs are curious. Thanks to their superb sense of smell, they are natural-born explorers and can sniff out trouble — in the form of garbage to raid and lovely leather shoes to chew — quicker than you can say “Oh, no!” Labs learn about the world mainly by putting things in their mouth. They discover what things are good to eat or gnaw on for entertainment. It takes only a second for a Lab to decide that the end table would make a good chew toy, or that it would be an awful lot of fun to shred the magazine lying on the coffee table.

That Lab puppy may look sweet and innocent, but the amount of damage it can do in only a short amount of time boggles the mind. The Lab will redecorate your new baseboards with tooth marks, chew the runner off your favorite rocking chair, eat the pretty towels in your guest bath, spread trash throughout the house, and generally wreak more havoc than you ever imagined. If it's within reach, your Lab puppy will go on a seek-and-destroy mission in his attempt to discover more about his new surroundings. So before you bring that puppy (or adult dog) home, take steps to protect your home by putting things you value — or that would be dangerous to a dog — well out of reach. Do this in every room of your house.

Living Room, Family Room, and Home Office

Check first for dangling cords from lamps, televisions, stereos, computers, and any other electrical appliances in the room. Wrap cords with tough plastic cable ties and place them out of reach if possible. Otherwise, coat them with Bitter Apple paste to repel a taste-testing Lab. Lots of Labs completely ignore the taste of Bitter Apple spray, but the paste seems to do a good job of putting them off. It can also be a good idea to place something solid in front of an outlet with a plugged-in cord, such as a chair or a small but heavy chest.

If your kids are used to doing their homework on the floor, remind them not to leave papers lying around. Labs were probably the original cause of the excuse “The dog ate my homework.” Other things to keep out of reach that might be found in these rooms are toys, knickknacks, glass frames, photo albums, sewing materials, pens and pencils, books, cameras — you name it. Protect furniture legs by wrapping them in aluminum foil — not pleasant to bite down on — or coating them in Bitter Apple paste.

A number of common houseplants can cause toxic reactions if they're eaten, ranging from mouth irritation or upset stomach to respiratory problems or even death. Most dogs love nibbling on green things and digging in dirt, so put plants out of reach (even if they're not toxic). Plants that are known to be toxic include the following:

Asparagus fern

Boston ivy

Caladium

Calla lily

Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)

Elephant's ear

Mother-in-law plant

Philodendron

Pothos

Check with your veterinarian or a local poison control center for a more complete list.

Bedrooms

Hang up clothes, and put shoes in the closet. Once a puppy has chewed up a favorite or expensive item of clothing, your children and spouse may finally become motivated not to leave things lying around. Keep the closet door closed, especially if that's where your laundry hamper is. Labs love to chew on items that bear the scent of their people, and dirty clothes are their favorites.

Do you have things stored under the bed? Your puppy will crawl under there to go exploring. Consider putting storage boxes out of reach until your Lab is safely past the chewing stage or too big to get under the bed.

If you have a waterbed, keep your Lab's nails trimmed short, and don't let the dog stay in the bedroom unsupervised. Labs have been known to puncture waterbeds and then play in the resulting pool until their caregivers came home to discover the mess. They are water dogs, after all.

Kitchen and Bathroom

Child locks on kitchen and bathroom cabinets will help keep your Lab from getting into stored food, cleansers, cosmetics, paper towels and toilet paper, toothpaste, and other house essentials. Place trash cans behind closed doors or out of reach, or cover them with securely locking lids. Perhaps the top of the refrigerator can be a good temporary place for a trash can. Put dishtowels out of reach. Your Lab won't hesitate to eat that dangling piece of cloth, which could then cause a gastrointestinal obstruction that will require surgery to remove.

In the bathroom, keep toilet lids closed so that your Lab doesn't drink out of the toilet or climb up on the rim and fall in. Any self-respecting Lab will see dangling toilet paper as an invitation to grab and run. Don't leave a long piece hanging from the roll after use. Unplug and put away blow dryers and curling irons after use so your Lab doesn't pull them down on his head or electrocute himself by chewing on them.

Basement, Attic, and Garage

All kinds of things are stored in your house basement or attic — from old clothes and toys to poisons and traps for pests. It's best to deny your Lab access to these areas. If that's not possible, place dangerous or special items out of your pet's reach.

Many garages contain chemical hazards such as antifreeze, cleansers, fertilizer, glue, paint, pesticides, strippers, and turpentine. Sharp-edged tools can also pose a threat. Dogs have been known to bleed to death in the garage before they were found. Clean up antifreeze drips or oil spots, and place chemicals on high shelves or inside locked cabinets. Automatic garage doors can also be dangerous. Be sure you know where your puppy is before you close the door. Dogs can get caught beneath them and crushed.

Lots of dogs enjoy snacking out of the cat's litter box. If your cat's litter box is in the garage, consider getting a covered litter box or placing the box in an area that's perhaps accessible to the cat but not the dog. Try placing the box behind a baby gate and cutting a small hole in the bottom. Your cat will be able to slip through, but the dog won't fit.

Yard

For a Labrador, your yard is crying out for exploration, but it's full of dangers you may be unaware of. Before you turn your Lab loose in the yard, check for and remove any poisonous plants and bait left out for pests, as well as tools or other hazards that are lying around. Repair or board up holes in fences that a puppy could wiggle through, fix broken locks so gates close securely, and sand down sharp or pointed edges along fencing.

The bulbs, leaves, or berries of a number of plants commonly found in yards can cause gastrointestinal upset, irritation, respiratory problems, skin reactions, and even death if they're eaten. Remove them or make sure your Lab can't get to them. Plants that can be toxic include the following:

Azalea

Chinaberry

Daffodil/buttercup

Jasmine

Lupine

Monkeypod

Privet

Tomato vine

Wisteria

Yew tree

Labs love water. If you have a pool or spa, keep it securely covered if you're not there to supervise. If the pool or spa is enclosed by a fence, make sure the gate latches securely. Don't leave the pool sweep going if you're not there. Your Lab will try to retrieve it.

Fence off garden areas so your Lab doesn't snack on your tomatoes and strawberries. Try surrounding garden areas with chicken wire, a picket fence, or bamboo crisscross edging. These may not survive a rampaging Labrador, but they can help fend him off.