Using a Puppy Pen for
Safety and Comfort

A puppy pen is an excellent way to provide safety for both a pet and the owner’s home. In an indoor environment, a plastic puppy pen can provide a defined area for a dog to play, keeping the animal off of furniture or from chewing rugs and other household items.

Outside, a dog play pen provides a safe area to play, away from other animals, cars or other dangers, while also keeping the pet from damaging landscaping.

Puppy play pens are available in both wire and plastic models. Most models are acceptable for both indoor and outdoor use, but wire models tend to be more durable, while plastic models can be more attractive for indoor environments.

When deciding what type of enclosure to buy, first determine the primary use for the enclosure.

If the goal is to provide an exercise space, an open-topped fence style will most likely be preferable, particularly if the design includes interlocking side panels, since additional panels often can be attached to create a larger enclosure as a puppy grows or additional pets are added. If the intent is containment, a cage-style may be more appropriate.

A dog pen provides a number of benefits. In addition to keeping our furry friends safe from running off and possibly being injured by other animals, people or vehicles, an enclosure helps keep them clean, while providing them the freedom to move and play comfortably.

Enclosures can be anchored into the ground to provide a permanent space for pets, or they can be set out as temporary structures when needed. Some models can be conveniently folded up for storage or easy portability.

Styles can be as basic as a series of connecting panels that form an enclosed fence or they can be more sophisticated, cage-style models with floors and tops; features for both safety and convenience.

Some models include adjustable floors that can be raised to keep fur away from floor or ground messes, such as dirt or water. Many also feature slide-out pans that make cleaning easy.

Other models include a mesh floor designed to avoid pinching the more delicate paws of puppies and to allow waste to drop through to a pan below, which keeps the animal from tracking waste throughout the pen.

Many puppy pens offer doors or gates with safety latches, and cage styles frequently feature a top panel that opens to provide easy access while keeping the animal from running out.

Puppy exercise pens are widely available, both from retail outlets and online. Prices range from about $40 for simple, fence-style enclosures to more than $400 for full-featured cage models. Intended use, size of pet and budget should all be considered when deciding on the most appropriate puppy pen.