Milo has had a puppy pen from birth and has always settled in it quite happily. A couple of weeks ago he managed to get hold of a fat tray that had fallen off the bird table and ate the lot. The result being runny poo and when left in his pen he needed the loo and so in a panic pushed it over while we were out! A week or so after he has decided his pen days are over and now has learned to push it so it topples over and he makes his escape! At night he seems fine with it still and he doesn't always do it. TBH we have been amazed he has been happy in it until now as he is 18months. It has been so handy knowing he and our kitchen are safe and also a godsend when going away. Question is now what to do. I'm happy for him to have the run of the kitchen but he has a tendency to reach the worktops so have to be ultra careful to put everything out of his reach which is a pain! He had a small crate for the car when he was smaller and liked it. Do we get another bigger one for him or buy a heavier puppy pen he can't push over. He may decide to climb out though now he's had a taste of freedom!
I didn't crate train my dog until he was 10 months old, he'd been in a puppy pen. I am glad I did crate train him though, and took my time over it to do it properly, because it's handy to be able to use a crate - particularly a travel crate for holiday cottages and hotels etc. I still also have a puppy pen though, only it's a very tall heavy duty whelping pen really and I have it lashed to screws in the wall. He has never jumped over it, but has learned to open the door catch so I have to tie it shut! I think it depends on how much space you can spare, really. I like my dog in his pen when I'm out. Then I know he can't get into any mischief.
Bella was de penned at 11 months and she's fine, she has the run of downstairs but I always have to keep the kitchen tops clear otherwise she swipes why don't you try him for small periods and see how he is? I closed living room door at first but now that's even open and she's fine. Good luck!
Twiglet also escaped - by climbing out! She has been fine in the kitchen, bitter apple on table and chair legs. We never leave anything on worktops
The great escape continues! Casualty so far has been my fabric camping chair which has had the net drinks holder removed and an arm taken! Worktop looking tidier than a long time lol. Think we will have to invest in a big crate as it will be handy when we go away as I can't have him rampaging through someone else's house! Think night time he is fine out as sees it as sleep time. Danger time is in the day when he gets bored!
Good idea - I also think it's worth having them happy in a crate as you never know when they may need to be in one at vets etc. I put Twiglet in Tatze's crate for her 'calm after meals' time and she's great in there. But make sure he's only left for an hour or so, with filled Kongs to keep him busy.
Hi thanks for the replies. I'm torn between another heavier pen and a crate because I would be using it to keep him in for a few hours. What sort is yours Julie? I've seen an ellie Bo one that is 120 tall.
Mine is a Margo the Dog pen - I'm happy with it, but others on the market look just as good and might be cheaper. Tall and heavy is the thing - I think mine is 1m high, 120cm would be better. Although, the advantage of the Margo the Dog pens is that they are completely modular, so the panels from a large pen can also be used to form a roof (and a floor if you want) on a smaller rectangle made of the remaining panels - and so you can turn the pen into a crate (it involves screwing in a lot of nuts and bolts so takes a good few minutes but it's handy). http://dogpen-margothedog.deal-net.co.uk/dog-cages.html
