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Do you find yourself crating your puppy too much during the day? As puppy owners, we’ve all been there. You’re in and out of the house running errands or trying to make meals and clean the house. You can’t leave your pup totally unattended—oh, the trouble they can cause! But too much time cooped up in a crate isn’t ideal for dogs of any age. They need time to play with their toys and move around. Puppy playpens are an excellent alternative to over-crating. Check out our best puppy playpen picks below. You’ll have a happier pup (and a happier you)!
What’s the Best Puppy Playpen?
There are an overwhelming number of excellent dog pens on the market. We’ve done our research and broken down our top choices by category to help you find the best puppy playpen for your home and pet.
Premium Dog Pen | Indoor Dog Pen (Small to Medium) | Indoor Dog Pen (Large) | Outdoor Dog Pen | Portable Dog Pen
Best Premium Dog Pen: Richell Convertible Pet Playpen Review
Richell’s Convertible Pet Playpen is the “top dog” of puppy playpens. It’s the most attractive and stylish of the pack, and the sturdiest dog pen we’ve reviewed. This playpen is made of thick, durable plastic and is great for indoor and outdoor use. It’s also one of the most versatile, easily converting to a room divider or pet gate. Richell also offers a couple of nice add-ons—a pet comfort mat and a convertible floor tray that you can also use as a roof. The potential drawback for some owners? A pretty hefty price tag. But if your budget allows, we think it’s the best pet exercise pen on the market, paws down!
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- $175.24 for 6-panel
Best Indoor Dog Pen (Small to Medium): Iris Plastic Pet Playpen Review
If you have a small- to medium-sized breed, the Iris is an excellent choice, especially if you don’t have a lot of space in your home. It’s a compact and attractive alternative to wire playpens. Don’t let the plastic fool you—this is a sturdy pet pen with double steel door latches. And you can use it indoors or outside. You can even go crazy with some of their color choices!
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- $38.00
- Dimensions: 35″L x 35″W x 23″H
Best Indoor Dog Pen (Large): Midwest Exercise Pen Review
The Midwest exercise pen is a good choice for larger breed puppies who need a little more room to move around. It consists of eight 24″ wide panels with a black E-coat finish for protection against the elements (you can use it in or outdoors). The Midwest includes corner stabilizers for indoor use and ground stakes for outdoors. We love that it’s available in 5 different heights and that you can purchase an add-on sunscreen or wire mesh top for shade or security when outside.
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Best Outdoor Dog Pen: Oxgord Heavy Duty Yard Playpen Review
The Oxgord Exercise Yard Fence is a large, extremely sturdy area for your puppy to stay secure and have fun while outdoors. It comes with multiple panels and a double-latch door, and you can configure this playpen in different shapes. This outdoor playpen consists of heavy duty steel with a rust-resistant coating, but it’s easy to assemble (no tools required). It folds down easily for storage, but some of the panels are 30 inches wide so that portability may be an issue. You also get ground anchors for extreme durability. The Oxgord is 73 inches in diameter when assembled as an octagon.
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- $77.69 for 32″H
Best Portable Dog Pen: Zampa Foldable Portable Pet Playpen Review
Do you travel a lot with your puppy? If so, the Zampa portable playpen for dogs is a must-have! This playpen is easy to set up and fold down and comes with a handy carrying case. Although not as sturdy as steel pens, the Zampa is pretty durable and has an attached floor mat and reinforced corners and seams to keep your puppy put. It’s even water-resistant so you can take it outdoors. The pen measures 24 inches high and 45 inches in diameter, so it may not be best for larger breeds or older puppies once they grow bigger. But the portability is a breeze!
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$59.95What if My Puppy is an Escape Artist?
And then there are those pups who are just too crafty for some types of playpens (see the video below)! If you already know your puppy is prone to mischief, make sure you find the best escape-proof playpen you can!
Why Do I Need a Puppy Playpen?
In many cases, crates aren’t enough. But first, keep in mind, a puppy play pen isn’t a replacement for the outdoor exercise your puppy needs on a daily basis. (An outdoor dog pen won’t cut it!) Although puppies don’t require nearly the exercise that adult dogs do, they still need to walk every day. The U.K. Kennel Club recommends five minutes per your puppy’s month of age (no more than twice daily). So, if your puppy is two months old, he should get 10 minutes, at three months old, and so on until he’s fully grown.
But a puppy exercise pen still helps your pup’s developing muscles and joints become stronger—much more so than lying around in a crate all day! A dog exercise pen also encourages your pup to develop independence and confidence. It’s important for him to learn that he doesn’t need to be attached at your hip 24/7. Puppy pens give you and your dog peace of mind!
Which puppy playpen would you recommend?
The information contained in this article and website is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional safety advice; it is provided for educational purposes only.
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1 Comment on "Choosing the Best Puppy Playpen: Crates Don’t Always Cut It!"
Sometimes I take my pup Charlie to work but I don’t want him to be disruptive to others or run off while I’m not paying attention. I tried keeping him on the leash at my desk but it keeps getting tangled up around my chair so am going to try one of these, probably the Zampa to keep at my cube for days when he comes with me.