During long periods or more than two hours, a playpen may be preferred for your young puppy. Potty accidents during longer periods will be less of an issue in a puppy pen compared to a dog crate. That said, older pups and adult dogs can typically manage up to four hours in a dog crate, assuming they're crate trained.
The playpen is a great way for pet parents to keep their puppies safe and give them the playtime they need, but it should not be used as a crutch. A playpen should not be used to confine your puppy for long periods as this can lead to behavioral problems.
A playpen gives your puppy to roam around and explore without getting into trouble, or munching on any house plants. If you live in an apartment, having a puppy playpen makes life for your puppy much easier too.
While playpens are great as a safe place for your pup to play, dog crates are more suitable for bedtime and travel as they usually don't allow enough room for your dog to move about very much. You have a choice of metal crates or soft crates. Read on to choose the best dog crate for your dog.
Create a Safe Confinement Area
To keep Fido (and your belongings) safe from harm, create a safe confinement area just for your furry friend. Crate training is a great way to keep older puppies safely sequestered while you're at work.
Having a pet sitter or someone you know, such as a friend or neighbour, spend time with your puppy when you're working is a great way to lower the risk of boredom or separation anxiety. If possible, have someone stop by every couple of hours while you're gone if your puppy is younger.
Puppies younger than 6 months: Leave them alone for 2 hours max at a time. Puppies older than 6 months: Leave them alone for 4 hours max at a time.
One of the most common puppy questions I get as a dog trainer is whether the pup should be in a crate or puppy playpen. The quick answer is that ideally you get your puppy used to being in both a crate and a playpen.
A playpen gives you a safe space to keep your child while you answer the door, catch up on a little housework, or get yourself ready for work.
Crate Time For Adult Dogs
Most adult dogs can stay in a crate for about half a day as long as the dog gets ample exercise and walks when he or she is out of the crate. Many adult dogs can manage eight or so hours in a crate while their owners are at work, but longer than this can often cause behavioral problems.
If Your Puppy's Alone for Several Hours
If you don't want your dog to have full reign of the house while you're away, a pen is a great way to keep them comfortable. The benefit of a pen is it gives them enough space to eat, drink, move around, and change positions — unlike a crate which is more confined.
Your dog will associate the crate with where they eat and sleep and pups refuse to poop and pee where they snooze and dine. However, since playpens are so large, they poop, pee, eat and sleep in them.
Important note: Although you can leave potty pads in your puppy's playpen to absorb any accidents they may have, this on its own won't potty train your puppy. This is why we recommend following a potty training schedule to teach them how to “hold it” and where to potty when it's time to!
Crate training is necessary for when your canine is a puppy—sleeping in a crate at night teaches puppies how to control their bladder and bowels since they don't like to relieve themselves in the same space that they sleep. Kennels are also excellent for the times that no one can be home to supervise your new puppy.
Avoid leaving water and food in the crate
It may not be a good idea to leave water in the crate for your puppy especially in the first few days when you are still training him on the house rules. Puppies will fill up on the water and might mess up their crate.
How Long Can Puppies Be Alone? Remember, dogs and especially puppies need to urinate often. As a guideline, new puppies up to 10 weeks old typically can't hold their bladder for more than an hour. Dogs between 10 to 12 weeks old can usually hold it for around two hours.
A playpen comes into its own when your child is just beginning to crawl -- at about six or seven months -- and you may find it useful until your child is about two years old. Think about how you'll use it and in which areas of your home before you go ahead and buy one.
Stop using the playpen when your child can easily climb out — when he or she reaches a height of 34 inches (86 centimeters) or weighs 30 pounds (14 kilograms).
Although it seems to be the most coherent option, the use playpen is not advised after the baby turns two years old. This is the age when babies start to explore the world around and at this time, they enter a very important phase of their motor and cognitive development.
Crating is a popular “convenience practice” that is often used on adult dogs. It deprives dogs of the opportunity to fulfill some of their most basic needs, such as the freedom to walk around, the opportunity to relieve themselves, and the ability to stretch out and relax.
Impawtant Note: While it's common for dogs to sleep in crates at night, we don't recommend that you keep your dog in a crate for more than a couple hours during the day. Before you go back to the office, make sure your dog is fully potty trained so they do not have to stay in a crate at all while you're gone.
We recommend at least having them in your bedroom with you in the beginning in either a dog bed or crate. Having your puppy in your bedroom with you will make them feel more reassured. Then, you can gradually move them to where you would like them to sleep permanently.
Interrupt Playtime
In some cases, letting out a loud noise will make your puppy even more excited, and they might continue to bite. At this point, ignore your puppy, stop any interactions and walk away. Stopping playtime abruptly is far more effective than yelling at your puppy or punishing them.
Be consistent. Puppies crave consistency in their daily routine and in puppy training. Correct bad dog behavior immediately and firmly every time it happens with a firm voice, a loud noise like a hand clap, or through redirection, like offering them a chew toy when they exhibit biting behavior.
Teaching Alone Time
In the beginning, even one or two minutes might feel too long for your puppy, but over three or four days, you should be able to build up to fairly long periods.