Can I leave my puppy in an exercise pen?
Unlike the crate where you can’t leave a young puppy for long periods; the puppy will be fine in the playpen and you can go out for longer periods. Just make sure your dog is ready before you leave for a long period so the puppy does not feel left alone form the start and associate that with the playpen itself.
How long should a puppy be in a play pen?
Puppies at 10-12 weeks: 2 hours. Puppies at 3-6 months: Use the one hour per month rule. Puppies older than 6 months: Up to 6 hours.
Should puppy sleep in crate or playpen?
Ideally, neither the crate nor the playpen is better than the other — they just have different purposes. A crate should be your dog’s designated space to relax and sleep (never a punishment!), while a playpen keeps her secure in a smaller area of your home.
How long can I leave my 4 month old puppy alone?
3–6 months: At this point, consider the one hour per month rule. Three-month-old puppies can wait for three hours, four-month-old puppies for four hours, and so on. After 6 months: An older puppy, like most adult dogs, has the ability to hold it for up to six hours.
Can I use a playpen instead of a crate?
Spoiler alert: Nope! While a plastic dog playpen leaves room for pups to run around and play, a canine-specific crate certainly has its time and place.
Should you put a mat in a dog crate?
Yes, you should put some form of a dog bed or mat into your dog’s crate otherwise your dog will be sleeping on the hard, cold and uncomfortable floor of the crate. For young puppies, you should put a chew proof and waterproof dog bed inside the crate.
How do you stabilize a puppy pen?
At the seams where it bends, use a vertical 2×4 that only goes up 2/3rds of the height of the pen. That helps to make it bottom heavy. Attach them to both sides of the seam with fencing staples. It wont bend any more and that will add stability.
Are puppy playpens worth it?
Overall, getting a puppy playpen is a good idea because it keeps your pup safe while playing freely. It’s also easy to assemble both for indoor and outdoor use. Dogs in their playpen can see everything so they won’t feel alone or bored even if they are kept inside all day.