Ex pen: yes or no?

[Bridget and Lupin]

We have 2 crates...wire one in the livingroom and a soft one in our bedroom, but I'm wondering if we should get an ex pen in case we need to corral the pup while we were home.  Are they redundant or essential?  Opinions please!  I was initially thinking I'd have him/her leashed to me in the house, but everyone tells me that will drive me nuts. 

Thanks in advance!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

In our case the ex-pen is probably the single most valuable purchase that we made.  Our girls are now 5 and I'm still using it for various reasons.

When they were puppies and I couldn't watch them constantly!

I used it when Sophie had to be confined for a leg injury just after their 1st birthday.  Sometimes Lucy wanted in to keep her company.  We also used it if we traveled to someone elses home and I needed to confine them.

We used it this past July when Lucy had her CCL surgery and had to be crated for 7 weeks.  DH just bought some light weight fencing material and put a top on it so she wouldn't be tempted to jump up! 

I also can use it to put across the opening on the front porch if they want to be on the porch if say I'm gardening in the front yard which isn't fenced.

I used it when I had fosters to separate dogs and I've used it when I babysat for my SIL's maltese that Lucy likes to boss around.  I would alternate Lucy in the pen and then the Reagan in the pen until they got used to each other a little bit.  So, as you can see, I'm 5 years in and still using my ex-pen! 

[Bridget and Lupin]

Nice!  Thanks for all the input and ideas.  I think I'm going to order one.  I can always sell it on craigslist.

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

Thanks for the photos!  I've been wondering if 5 month old Kona was too big or old to use the pen, but now I'm more hopeful.  I know I'll be redoing my back yard in the coming year and will need a safe place for Kona to hang sometimes.  And now, it would be good if he would let me do my taxes without shredding my receipts and paperwork!

[Bridget and Lupin]

This crate is pretty much what we have for her "bedroom" upstairs in our room. 

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

I had hoped Kona would like his, but he bites and barks when in it.  I hope Duke does better with his.  Kona is fine and quiet in his metal and hard sided kennels, but for some reason, he hates the soft one and bites and scratches and barks.  I think he believes escape is possible with the soft sided and not with the hard sided, so he just gives in and sleeps in the hard sided ones.  

The funny thing is that late at night when he suspects we are going to put him to bed in his big metal crate, he goes in and "hides" at the back of his soft sided one that we keep in the living room. Ha!  I keep it out for his 2 minute "time outs" when he gnaws on me, so it's always out.  It's just funny that he likes it when he thinks he's hiding.

[Jeanne Rose]

We add a little toy or something to our soft crate when we first put Olive in it, she really loves it now, goes right in but won't fit for long. We also put an insert in it, like a sleeping bag pad that is extra big and hangs over the zipper a bit to keep her from chewing on it. So far we leave her for up to an hour in the car if raining and she is not chewing. Hope she never does with our new car. :) Treats every time we leave it open, we toss a few treats inside as well, maybe that is why she likes it? 

[J]

Our puppy is now 3 months. We bought an expen for downstairs, a crate for our bedroom. When our trainer came she said not to use the expen, that it was too big and she would urinate in it. And she was right. She told us to buy another crate that we could divide in half,so it was the right size for our puppy. When we leave she is In This crateand has never had an accident. The trainer said to keep the expen for when she is completely trained.

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

I love the X pen. I keep one in my car for when I'm out and about with the boys. It's a quick, easy and safe way to contain them when necessary. I have also attached a crate to it for more space. Shaggy would cry and have a little fit when left in the pen but I treated it just like I did the crate and now he's fine in there. I'll be ordering another one soon.

[Oliver & Elizabeth]

I love ex-pens, I actually love them so much I have two! They are currently being used to block antique furniture from my energetic 10 month old labradoodle! In the past they have been used for long term confinement (day and night) and as a room divider so I could keep a close watch on my puppy while he was in the housebreaking stage. I really like the idea of using them to create an outdoor fenced play space. Since they hook together easily I could actually make a pretty big area in front of our house.

[Jeanne Rose]

Hi Bridget, 

We too have a wire cage, downstairs, and softy upstairs. She won't fit in the softy for long but

then we mostly got it for the car really. We carry it in and out when taking her in the car as we

don't want her loose in the car. Already 3o plus lbs. I think if I could afford another crate I would

get one. We just take her downstairs if she is out of control for fifteen minutes or so. She is usually

good but if someone visits the tying her to ourselves just doesn't work, so busy and so in to every

little things as well as jumping on guests...so, my opinion...get another wire crate if you can. :) I think

it is nice if they have one anywhere where family is as well. Ours uses hers even when we are just hanging out, so in and out with the door left open. :)

[Rebecca Chynoweth]

I put Cooper in a pen when I go out rather than in his crate. He seems happier with the extra room if I am gone for a couple hours. He is almost 5 months and has only had one accident in the area. I plan to use the pen for a long time in the future until I can trust him 100% when I leave.

[Jeanne Rose]

Rebecca, how tall is  your pen? I wonder if ours would jump out. She is 17 weeks now and it seems she would be able to jump right out of a pen? I like them but thought it interesting how many use them. She will be about 60 lbs and is 30+ now and 17 weeks. 

Thanks