Dog Playpen, How and When to Use

Dog supply makers are presenting small enclosures called dog playpens that can be setup indoors or outdoors to give your dog or puppy a safe area to stretch out and play. These serve a different purpose than does a dog crate which is a cage that acts as a dog's den, used for sleeping and a place to hold your dog safely when no one is around to supervise. In general dog playpens are made for smaller, toy breeds or puppies and can be used for other pets as well such as rabbits and other small critters. Almost all dog crate manufacturers offer dog playpens and some are designed to attach to a crate.

A dog playpen as mentioned gives your dog some safe outdoor time or when setup inside a place to play without getting in trouble. Puppies can get into things before you know it and these playpens help when you are trying to get some house work done.

The playpens can serve as a great area to get some serious training time in with a puppy or dog. They keep the area small and the dog's attention will remain on the trainer rather than getting distracted by other items around a yard such as sticks, birds and squirrels.

Exercise for dogs kept in the home can be accomplished by letting them out in a playpen for a while. Join your dog in the playpen and get some good quality time in. Do not substitute a playpen for proper walks.

These playpens portable and can be moved or taken on vacation. They are constructed out of either spot welded steel wire or made in a popup design out of water proof fabric over a stiff frame. You can stake the playpen outside for some extra support and security. Some come with tops which enclose the dog so they do not jump out as well as provide a place to put on a shade tarp for comfort on those sunny days.

Do not leave you dog or puppy unattended in a dog playpen. These dog playpens are smaller in size and specifically designed for small breed dogs. They can provide a very nice area for your dog to get some good outdoor play time. They also provide a great place to get in some concentrated training time with a puppy or dog. In conjunction with regular walks and exercise the dog playpen can be a very good tool for you and your dog.