Posted on: April 30, 2020 Posted by: Aaron_George Comments: 0

The success of your puppy liking their playpen depends entirely on how you choose the right pen for your own dog. With so many good ones available in the market, you’re spoilt for choice, but don’t get confused. Below are some excellent dog playpen tips that will make your life tons easier.

1. Decide Indoor vs Outdoor

This is literally where the road to choosing the best dog playpen forks – whether you want one that’s good for outdoors or an indoor dog playpen. For those of you, looking to leave your pups for short bursts of time to run errands – an indoor playpen is ideal.

If you’re looking to contain your pup in the garden or take it to the park to play for a bit, a portable outdoor playpen is what you need and they tend to be more spacious, too. However, you want to ensure a proper locking mechanism to avoid an escape accident.

2. Pick Durable Materials

Choosing the material is prime when selecting a playpen, especially for a puppy. Puppies tend to be super active as they grow and so you need materials that are sturdy enough to contain them.

The playpen needs to have smooth surfaces so your puppy doesn’t get hurt while playing. Breeding Business states that “if choosing a dog playpen for the outdoors, you need to make sure that it is water-resistant, dust-resistant and can handle rough weather.” When choosing a dog playpen for the outdoors, also try and see that you pick a portable one. That way you can move it when you go hiking with your dog or picnicking with the family.

3. Storage & Portability

If you’re buying a permanent playpen, storage and portability aren’t much of a concern. You’ll just have to get a size that’s big enough to allow your puppy to grow into it. If you’re looking to move your playpen around the house or within the garden, or take your dog out at the park with the playpen, you need one that is light-weight, easy to carry, foldable and moveable.

A playpen that can be turned into a flatpack is the best. These are great for storing also if you want to let your dog run free on some days.

4. Escape Proofing

Puppies can be hyperactive and hard to contain. Some puppies even grow into very smart dogs within months – smart enough to open their pens and escape. Until your puppies are trained to stay, they will want to keep running out – it’s just puppy mentality. So if you’ve got a pup that’s super active and also smart, get a playpen that’s hard to open. A pen shouldn’t be synonymous with apathy for you dog!

Some playpens come with an easy lock, the kinds that can be opened with a simple nudge. Others come with more complicated locks. The simple lock playpens are in no way inferior or of lower quality, they’re just good for dogs that are trained to stay in. The naughty smart ones, go in those with a more complicated lock.

5. Comfort & Space

Size is a very important factor when wondering how to choose a dog playpen. If you’re looking to use the playpen for a longer duration, get a big one that accommodates your growing dog. A playpen should not feel like a cage, where the dog feels tied up – it will frustrate him/her and might result in behavioral issues. You want the playpen to be a safe haven for your puppy, somewhere it likes to go.

The playpen should be large, airy, comfortable. The food and water that is kept in the pen should be at a safe distance from the dog’s play area and sleeping area. For a tiny dog like a toy dog breed, a playpen the size of a human crib might work well. Keep in mind the same ratio, with the increasing size of the dog.

6. Setup & Tools

If you’re someone who loves the toolbox and is a whiz when it comes to fixing/building things – get a playpen that requires setting up. These will save you a considerable amount of money and will give you the joy of having built your pup’s own playpen. With your supervision, these will also be sturdier and open to a little customization and creativity if you want. For amateurs, do not fret!

There are plenty of playpens available in the market that are very easy to set up and come with their own set of tools – you don’t need a single thing – everything you need comes with the box. These will be slightly more expensive than the ones that come without the tools, but they will be a lot more convenient and quicker.

7. Look & Feel

While this is the last thing you need to be worried about – it is still important. Your puppy’s playpen needs to be durable, sturdy, it needs to be the right size, comfortable, airy and portable. All of these are extremely important factors. However, for those who are looking to set these playpens up in their living rooms, gardens, front porches, etc. it is, of course, imperative that they go with your house and are nice to look at.

Remember, your dog doesn’t care about how it looks – as long as he/she has enough space to move around and make it into a comfortable home. So do not value aesthetics over practicality, but just pick one that you would like to see your dog in.

Choosing a dog playpen isn’t that hard when you boil down to the basics. Always remember to put your dog’s needs above your own, when choosing one though. Fill it up with nice toys and a comfy bed that your little puppy can climb into for a nice snooze. A playpen isn’t a cage for your dog, it is just an area to contain him/her in, at times when you can’t let them have the whole house.

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