A dog pen is a fantastic way of giving your dog a safe space to spend time. Being a larger space than a crate, you can put your dog or puppy in a pen for extended periods of time, such as when you go to work. But it’s important to choose the right pen, which is what we’re helping you with today…
Choosing the right pen for your dog or puppy is going to depend on what you plan to use it for.
Do you want your dog to stay in their play pen during the day when you go to work? Is it for getting them out from under your feet when you are cooking? Or is it a place they can go where they won’t cause damage to your house (puppies are good at this!).
A great use of playpens is a place for a puppy to go to give yourself, or an older dog, a break from their antics.
The other question is whether you plan on using the pen for outdoor or indoor use.
In this guide we will give you all the info you need to select the right pen for your dog and situation.
What size dog playpen do you need?
The size of your dog pen will be determined by the amount of time you plan on leaving them in there, and the size of your dog.
The longer you leave your puppy or dog in the playpen, the larger the pen should be. And of course, the larger your dog is, the larger the pen should be.
No dog should spend longer than an 8-hour period inside their pen.
And if they are spending extended periods of time in the pen, then they will require a large enough space for a toilet area.
Think of it like a mini apartment for your dog. They will require a sleeping area, an eating area, a play area, and a toilet area.
It’s important to note that if you do leave your puppy or dog in their pen while you are at work, then when you get home they will require exercise, such as a walk or extended yard time.
On the other hand, if the time spent inside the pen is only an hour or two throughout the day, then you can choose a smaller size pen for your dog.
If you have more than one dog, this will also be a factor when choosing your pen size.
Our size recommendations for your dog are further along in this post.
Using a Pen When Going to Work
Leaving your puppy or dog in a pen while you go to work is ok, but you should be buying the largest size pen you can get that fits the designated area.
Your puppy or dog should not be left in their pen without daily exercise or time outside and in the yard.
For a puppy, you will want to be able to place their crate inside the pen. You can also purchase pens that connect to a crate.
If your puppy isn’t yet toilet trained, then you can consider leaving them in their crate for the day, with one visit from yourself or a relative halfway through the day to let them out for a play, pee, and poop.
We have more information on this subject in our post, Leaving Your Dog Home Alone: (8,12, or 24-hours)
Indoor Use of a Pen
If your pen will primarily be indoors, then the size you choose will be determined by your allowable space (and of course budget).
You are also open to options of materials used, such as wood or plastic, as they won’t be vulnerable to weather conditions.
Outdoor Use of a Pen
You will definitely want shade from the sun and protection from rain, as an outdoor pen is open to the elements.
If your yard isn’t secure, then the walls of the pen must be high enough that your dog can’t jump out.
And if they are spending extended periods of time inside their pen, you will require the largest pen you can fit within the designated space. A good option may even be building a dog run.
How high should your dog pen be?
Generally speaking, dog pens come in sizes ranging from 18 to 50 inches tall.
If you have a larger breed such as a Golden Retriever, or German Shepherd, you will require a large-size pen of approximately 40 inches.
Extra large breeds may require 50 inches. If you have a dog who loves to jump over their pen, then you may also need to go this tall.
On the other hand, smaller breeds such as Toy Poodles, Beagles, or Havanese, won’t require so much space or height.
Use this as a general guide when choosing playpen height for your dog:
- Extra small breeds – 18 – 24 inches
- Small breeds – 24 inches
- Medium breeds – 30 – 36 inches
- Large breeds – 36 – 42 inches
- Extra large breeds – 48+ inches
If you have a puppy, then account for its size as a fully grown adult.
A Border Collie will have an easier time jumping over pen walls than a pug, so also account for a dog who loves to escape their pen!
Material Type
There are a few different options when it comes to choosing the material of your dog’s pen.
The main choices are metal wire, molded plastic, canvas (portable design), and wood.
We recommend a playpen that allows your dog to see what’s going on outside their pen. So unless you require it to be portable, we suggest staying away from the canvas option.
Whether you choose wire, wood, or plastic, your choice will come down to personal preference. The wire pens are more affordable, but aesthetically, a wood option may be preferable.
If you require a roof, then your options are once again limited.
Best indoor playpen for a puppy
We like these pens for a puppy as they allow enough space for a puppy to roam. They also have enough room for a crate or bed, a water and feeding area, and a pee area.
Here is one being used in a correct setup for a puppy. As you can see there is a grass pee mat, a crate, a feeding area, and an area for play. This is the 8 panel option and is perfect for small and medium sized dogs.
This North States’ pen also comes with a lockable doggy door and has skid-resistance pads to protect your flooring. It also comes in two colors.
The IRIS pen below is made in the USA and is suitable for medium and larger breeds such as Poodles, Spaniels, Beagles, French Bulldogs, Shiba Inu, Golden Retrievers, and Border Collies.
In this picture, someone has used the smaller option (4 panels) for their puppy.
This is good for short durations, but if you plan on leaving your puppy in their pen for longer than 6 hours in a day, then a larger fl0or space option is recommended.
Our recommendation would be to remove the bed in this setup (as they have their crate) and use this space for toys and play.
One option is to put our puppy play mat in their pen, as it can be used as a napping area and has toys. Go to our shop to see more.
Best indoor and outdoor playpen for dogs
This pen by FXW is a sturdier option, made of metal and with the option of higher walls. You can choose from 24-inch, 32-inch, 40-inch and 50-inch walls, and the metal construction means it can be used outdoors.
They also come with varying options of panel numbers. This makes the FXW an ideal choice for owners who are spending more time out of the house and require larger floor space for their dogs.
If you are using it outdoors, you will need to make sure that your dog has access to shade or protection from the weather. You can always put up a tent such as this one, though.
Overall the FXW is an excellent choice of dog pen, whether being used indoor or outdoors!
Best indoor wooden playpen
This Unipaws freestanding pen is a great choice as it can be opened up and put against a wall. Or it can also be used to cordon off a room for your dog or puppy.
The downside is if you can’t do this, then there isn’t a lot of space for your puppy. It’s OK for short durations of time spent inside the pen, but not ideal for extended periods.
BUY unipaws 6 Panels Extra Wide Freestanding Walk Through Dog Gate
Best indoor wire pen
This pen by MidWest is a great option for a puppy or adult dog as it can attach to a wire crate, which means it doesn’t take away room from within the pen.
The wire material is also a more affordable option for a playpen.
They also have a good range of heights so you can find the right choice for your breed. The downside is they don’t come in options of more panels to extend the living space.
Best outdoor playpen for a dog with cover
This outdoor playpen for dogs is a great choice for short durations of time spent outdoors. It’s made very well and has a covering to protect your dog from the weather. It also has excellent reviews.
For extended time spent outdoors you can purchase additional gazebos and connect them together.
Best portable dog pen
We found this pen by Donoro to be the best portable dog pen as it folds down to a manageable size and caters to dogs of all sizes. It also has excellent reviews and performs well when it comes to durability.
Is a dog pen better than a crate?
A dog pen is different from a crate, and we recommend having both. A crate is a great place for your puppy to sleep at night, and it fast-tracks potty training.
There’s some confusing information out there when it comes to pen size, as content creators are getting confused with a crate.
A pen, unlike a crate, is not used to assist in toilet training a puppy. This is why it’s ideal to have both, and even better if you can fit a crate inside their pen.
A crate doesn’t give enough space for a puppy to pee or poop without soiling their living space. Which teaches them to hold onto their business.
A pen should not be used for toilet training. A pen should be used to secure a dog or puppy over a period of time, whether it be 30-minutes while you cook, or 8 hours while you work.
You might also like to read our post Puppy Outgrows Their Crate: (Crate too small? When to stop?)
What is the best ground cover for a dog pen?
If your dog’s pen is going on carpet or hardwood floors, then you will want a ground cover to protect your flooring.
An excellent choice for this is a cheap tarpaulin such as this one by Pro-Series:
Final Word
When it comes to choosing a pen for your dog or puppy, take into account the following factors:
- How long will your puppy or dog stay in their pen?
- How large is your dog (or how large will your puppy grow)?
- What materials do you prefer?
- What size of playpen can you accommodate in your chosen space?
- What budget do you have?
Once you have the answer to these questions, you will be better prepared to choose the right setup for your dog.
