Anyone have experience with Playpens/Exercise Pens??

[Tara aka Harry & Wally's Mom]

Right now me and my gf work opposite schedules so someone is always home with our pup, with the exception when we need to run out for a bit and we crate him. Starting Monday we will both be working similiar schedules which means he will be alone for the majority of the morning. He obviously cannot be left with free roam of the house all day, and we will not crate hime for that long either. I was thinking of my options and thinking of maybe looking into one of those playpens or exercise pens they sell.
Anyone have any experience or suggestions with these? or any other suggestions on what we can do with Harry while we are at work???

[Kyoko]

It looks nice! I might get it, too.

[Tara aka Harry & Wally's Mom]

we will be gone for well over 4 hours (which i think 4 hours is pushing it in crate anyways) going to try and get someone to come in and check on him and walk him but he will pretty much be alone for over 8 hours while we are at work. maybe gating him in a puppy proof room is the solution, which we really dont have a puppy proof room right now.

[Adina P]

Yeah if he's gonna be stuck inside for over 8 hours ... you NEED someone to stop by and check in for sure. Once he gets a month or so older...he can be FINE in a crate for 4 hours...but it's still a mighty good idea for his sanity and yours to have someone stop by half way through the day for a quick potty and play time to get his wiggles out.

[Stella]

We had the crate attached to the pen, so he could lie in his crate or play in the pen. He very quickly learnt to climb out of the pen, even after we had made a 'roof' for it. We gave up using it because we were worried he was going to hurt himself trying to get out.

[Robin]

We use an excersize pen for our 6 1/2 month old labradoodle Riley when we are going to be gone for about 4-5 hours. So far he has done fine. We usually excersize him before we put him in it and then give him a stuffed kong. He is with us most of the time but they are times and places he has to stay home and we are thrilled this has worked so far. He is crate trained as well but we only put him in it we when are gone for a couple of hours. Robin

[Joy Originator of GiantSchnoodles]

HI Tara, I advise all my puppy parents to use pens instead of crates. If your puppy is pad trained, even better. I recommend you get a kiddies wading pool. Add Bark chips from home depot with the pad on top. Eventually he'll go on the bark & it will be a simple trade over to outside toilet training bcs bark smells the the great outdoors. If you are worried about escape, Start now while your home with training. Put pennies in soda cans & tape them shut. If he climbs, throw a penny can near him. Don't let him see you doing it. Climbing = bad noise = better not to climb! As a breeder & a trainer I share your hate of crates. Puppy love from JOy & furry folk

[Janie]

Joy,what kind of pad on top? Would'nt they eat the bark...unless the pad would keep them from doing this.

[Joy Originator of GiantSchnoodles]

Hi Janie, I think you said your dog was trained to the pee pee pad. I don't like them. too much like carpet but if she's already trained to it, you can use it to train her to go on the bark. Just throw a peed on one in on top of the bark until she's trained to go on the bark. I have trained probably about 500 puppies & rescues on bark. Yes, sometimes they chew it but they never swallow it. Watch your puppy. Make sure they aren't swallowing it. Usually like babies they mouth it to find out what it is then pee on the bark & never mouth it again. btw, use the large bark not the muchy stuff. I have written a book on this but can't sell it right now bcs am negotiating wi a publisher. But email me & I'll let you know as soon as I have permssion to sell a copy. [e-mail] Puppy love from Joy & furry folk