average amount time in exercise pen?

[Emily, Jace, & Maggie Devers]

Hey everyone, We've had maggie for a couple of days now and we are in love with her exercise pen, she does great in there while we're home and we keep all her toys in there, feed her, and are constantly around her when she's in there. Honestly, I feel like this is too good to be true. I keep her in there while I'm down stairs cleaning, or cooking, or just doing something that I can't constantly be watching her. Also, Jace is so large and she is still so tiny (weighed 7.8lbs at the vet today) I can't help but worry that if I turn my back they could get a little too rough! So when we're not upstairs in our room or i'm holding her on the couch with me I've been putting her in there. Is this a bad thing. Part of me feels like she might feel isolated but she's in the middle of the living room which is right in the doorway of the kitchen and if me or drew is not right there sitting next to it Jace is. 

[Linda And Loo]

It looks like you have found the perfect solution to keeping her safe and still giving her a bit of freedom! It also gives you some peace of mind! She is quite the cutie! Thanks for the picture!

[Emily, Jace, & Maggie Devers]

I thought it was perfect too!!:) I was just worried because I was once told something good doesn't come without a cost, I guess I'm just trying to figure out what the cost of this good thing is going to be! lol:)

[Bonnie and Kona]

Emily you are being a good doodle mom. You are keeping her safe, training her and entertaining her. I say take a deep breath and give yourself a pat on the the back.

[Amy Carter]

Just be careful!  I thought it would be great for Milo, but he kept climbing over the top and jumping out.  He climbed it just like a ladder!!!!  I knew that was the start of being unable to contain him except with a crate.  Good luck!

[Vivian & Mojo]

My Mojo wanted out and jumped against the pen and knocked it down, he bumped his head.

[Vivian & Mojo]

I also set up an exercise pen when I brought my puppy home, we both loved it but he was going potty in there at times in the beginning. My trainer told me that as long as I was watching him for signs he had to potty because otherwise he is being taught that its ok to potty in the pen and would have to be trained not to. She said to keep him in his create or teathered to me if I couldn't watch him and so I did that. Once he was trained fairly well I would keep him in the pen often and when I was busy in another room. He is 18 months and I still use the pen at times.

[Emily, Jace, & Maggie Devers]

Maggie hasn't had an accident in there or her crate, yet, fingers crossed we keep that up. I'm pretty much always watching her while she's in there, it's pretty much a place I keep her so I don't have to follow her around the whole house.:) she likes to explore a lot and can fit in places that are hard for me to see her, such as under tables and beds! Lol. I'm sure she'll get more freedom when she's bigger and less explore-ive. :)

[Mark, Lauren & Fitzgerald]

What a doll! ..I wish my pup would be happy in an exercise pen. We just put up a "baby gate" to keep him in certain spaces, but he just hates being confined and not right by our side all the time.  I'd say the pen is a keeper with a happy pup!