Dog Pens

Dog Pens 101

Stop for a moment and ask yourself: what is a dog pen anyways? It’s just an enclosure that allows your dog to run around and play in a safe and controlled environment. It’s versatile and convenient. You can use it indoors, outdoors, and even bring it along with you on trips. Getting a pen is one of the most popular ways dog owners keep their pets happy and healthy.

Benefits of Using a Pen

Keep your pet in a contained area

If you’re not keen on letting your dog or puppy run around the house but don’t like to keep him in a cage or on a leash either, a dog pen is your best bet. Once it’s set up, your dog can explore and run around inside the pen as much as he wants while you don’t have to worry about him destroying anything. This can be a great way to introduce new pets and puppies that are not yet housebroken into your home, and train them.

Dog pens can also be used to isolate a pregnant or whelping dog, and her puppies. This way, you can monitor and keep an eye on her and her puppies at all times while making sure that she’s safe from the energetic and rough play of other dogs. The same also applies to a sick or healing dog.

Better physical and mental health

(This doesn’t refer to you, although less worrying about what your dogs might have been up to while you were busy can do wonders for your mental health.)

Why is it good to walk our dogs and play fetch with them? Aside from it being an enjoyable activity for us both, it’s a great way for them to get exercise. Research shows that most dog behavioral problems (ex. excessive barking, destructive behavior, fits of temper) are caused by boredom, stress, and anxiety, all of which can be relieved by physical activity. How much exercise do we actually give our dogs? And is it enough?

Depending on its breed, age, and health, a dog’s exercise needs can range from 30 minutes to three hours a day. If you think providing your dog with a large cage or a long leash is enough for him to move around a bit when you don’t have that much time to take him out is enough, well, it’s not. Dogs need space to stretch their muscles and remove excess energy. Aside from keeping you worry-free about your dog’s safety, dog pens give your pets enough room for exercise.

Enjoy the outdoors with your pet

Dog pens are also very popular for outdoor use. No need to worry about your dog chasing after squirrels or the mailman or accidentally running off into the road. A play pen will allow him to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air safely.

Have you ever wanted to take your dog camping or fishing before but couldn’t bear the thought of chaining him to a tree or thinking about where to put him? Well, dog pens solve your problem.

Convenience

Most pens are foldable for easy storage and transport and don’t need tools to assemble. This means that you can set them up wherever and whenever you want to.

Puppies grow bigger and so do most small animals. Well, your dog pen can too. Most brands offer compatibility and interlocking features so you can easily expand your dog pen to fit your and your pet’s needs. Simply attach another set of wires, walls, or floors to the existing pen.

Other Uses

If your dog grows out of his pen, you can convert it into use for your other pets. With a little modification, you can use it for other animals like cast, chickens, ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, or large reptiles.

Another suggestion is to convert it for garden use. You can use it to protect your plants from wild animals or as a display for indoor plants.

Different Kinds of Dog Pens

Dog pens can be made of either: metal, wood, plastic, fabric, or a combination of these materials. Choosing which type of dog pen you want will depend on your dog’s needs and what you want to use the pen for.

Metal and wood pens are generally sturdier than the other two. They are perfect for large and strong breeds, and playful ones.

Plastic pens are easier to clean and are more lightweight than metal and wood pens. They can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Fabric pens are very convenient when traveling and for the outdoors. They are lightweight and most often, come with a waterproof top so you don’t have to worry about your pets getting sick when it rains.

Sometimes dog pens also refer to holding areas for dogs, such as on Pet Decider.

So, do you think you’re ready to get a dog pen?