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.
Article Overview
- Why Playpens?
- Best Playpens (By Category)
- What If They Escape? (Video)
- Considering A Wireless Fence?
Why Do I Need A Puppy Playpen?
In many cases, crates aren’t enough. But first, keep in mind, a puppy playpen 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, he should get 15 minutes, 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 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.
What About Closing Off An Existing Space?
If you have an area in your home that’s safe for your dog to spend limited time in alone and can be closed off with one simple added boundary, you might want to consider a dog gate or a freestanding gate to close off a larger opening.
Sadly, it can be difficult to find spaces that are easy to close off, not needed regularly by the humans, and is safe enough to leave your dog unattended for short periods. In these cases, you should consider one of our recommended playpens.
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 | Indoor (Small to Medium) | Indoor (Large) | Outdoor | Portable
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 freestanding pet gate.
Richell also offers a couple of nice add-ons—a floor tray and a pet comfort mat that you can also use as a roof. The potential drawback for some owners? The best dog playpen has 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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Pricing
- 4-Panel Pen: $159.99
- 6-Panel Pen: $208.78
- Floor Tray: Check Amazon for availability
- Comfort Mat II: Check Amazon for availability
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, which is why it’s a great small puppy playpen.
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. This is an excellent playpen for puppies to keep them from chewing on things they shouldn’t be chewing on.
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Pricing
- 4-Panel Playpen with Door: $59.99
- Dimensions: 35.6″W x 35.6″W x 23.6″H
- 1-Door Panel: Check Amazon for availability
- Mesh Roof: $17.99
If your dog is not yet housebroken, you could also get a potty training floor tray and pee pads (these would work in most of the recommended enclosures reviewed here).
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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Pricing
- 24″H: $41.62
- 30″H: $54.38
- 36″H: $72.76
- 42″H: $74.08
- 48″H: Check Amazon for availability
Best Outdoor Dog Pen: BestPet Pet Playpen Review
The BestPet Pet Playpen 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. It’s 73 inches in diameter when assembled as an octagon.
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Pricing
- 24″H: $124.88
- 32″H: Check Amazon for availability
- 40″H: $159.86
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 largest size measures 30″ high and 61″ in diameter, so it may not be best for large breeds or older puppies once they grow bigger. But the portability is a breeze. Learn more about traveling with your pets.
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Pricing
- X-Small (17″H x 29″Diameter): $39.99
- Small (24″H x 36″Diameter): $54.99
- Medium (24″H x 45″Diameter): Check Amazon for availability
- Large (30″H x 61″Diameter): $89.99
What 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.
Outdoor Puppy Playpen, Wireless Fence, Or Standard Fence?
If you’re deciding between an outdoor puppy playpen or a wireless fence, you may want to consider reading this article about wireless dog fences.
A standard fence is the safest option, but it comes at a higher price tag than the other two options and you’ll need to make sure that your neighborhood or landlord allow it.
Wireless dog fences give your dog more exercise space (find out how much exercise your dog needs), cost less than most fencing, and they don’t take up space in your yard. Maximize your puppy play yard with the gear that fits you and your dog’s needs while also considering your budget.
Which puppy playpen would you recommend?