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The Benefits of Dog Pen
Just like a crate, dog pen offers a great way to confine your puppy or an adult dog. That's where the similarities end.
The main difference is that a crate is primarily a training tool and pen is not. Its main function is to confine a puppy or dog within some enclosed area.
A pen is also larger than a dog crate and provides more room for movement. Because it has more room, an exercise puppy pen is useless as a housebreaking tool.
But just because you can't use a pen as training aid doesn't mean it's useless.
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Why Use a Dog Pen?
Two main reasons why you may want to consider a dog pen are to…
- Confine a young, untrained puppy to a small area to minimize the damage to your household
- Allow you to keep your puppy or adult dog outdoors, safe from danger
You may also consider a pen if you need to isolate a new puppy from other pets in the household. The following movie explains when it's a good idea to use a dog pen.
Learn more about dog behavior and obedience training
When To Use a Pen?
In my opinion, it's always a good idea to have one.
Even if you have an adult dog who is well trained, there may be times when you need to isolate him for an extended period of time but don't want to lock him up in a room or a basement.
Since puppy crates were never intended for long term confinement, use an exercise pen instead.
Dog Pen Safety Tips
Most dog pens don't have solid roofs, but even if yours does, never leave it in direct sun or heat. Also, unless a dog pen has solid walls, don't leave it in cold or wind.
Always leave plenty of water and some toys to keep your pet from getting bored. Depending on how long your puppy will be alone, it may be a good idea to leave him some food too. If you plan to keep a pen outdoors, dry food is a better choice because it will not dry out as quickly as canned food.
The ideal place for an outdoor pen is on a surface that resembles your dog's usual toilet area, but make sure it's in a shade. However, don't put the pen directly under a tree or near bushes -– dog ticks and other parasites can easily attach themselves to your pet.
Types Of Dog Pen
Most exercise pen are made from two materials: metal and plastic. You can also get a fancier one made out of wood or a combination of wood and some other material.
If you are looking for an indoor pen, I would recommend one made out of wood because it will blend in nicely with your furniture.
Wood Pet Pens by Richell is a wire pen accented with mahogany wood corner pillars.
It looks like a dog crate, but it's not -- it doesn't have a roof.
Exercise Pens from
Kennel Aire are perfect for outdoor use.
They are constructed of heavyweight steel and are easy to set up.
A dog gate, like a pen, can isolate your puppy to a specific part of the house. It can also prevent him from entering certain rooms. There is a wide variety of dog gates made out of plastic, wood or a combination of two.
Here are some examples...
I own a
One-Touch Pet Gate, and am extremely happy with it.
It not only does what it's supposed to do, but it also has a rich look of mahogany.
But its best feature is that it allows you to pass through without removing the whole assembly.
An
Elongate Extra-Wide Gate is available for extra wide openings.
This dog gate can stretch up to 13 feet.
Though it's not designed for training dogs, a dog pen can make life a lot easier not only for your dog, but also for you.
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