How to Pick an Exercise Pen For Your Dog

Pet exercise is very important. Your dog needs a space in which to romp. With exercise pens, your dog has the opportunity to romp around without having the chance to escape and run amuck in the neighbor's flowerbed.

A Brief Description of Exercise Pens

Dog pens, also called exercise pens, are portable fences that give your dog space to play but not space to escape and run amuck. Portable exercise pens are better than leashes because they are less stressful and dangerous for your pet. They are made of heavy gauge wire formed that is typically formed into eight hinged panels. The hinges make the exercise pen easy to put away or transport.

Dog pens are usually about twenty four to forty eight inches tall and sixteen feet long. They are also available with soft sides. These exercise pens are made of canvas or mesh, and might not be a good choice if your dog tends to chew or have destructive urges. In that case, stick with metal.

Exercise pens are suitable for indoor use, not just outdoors. Dogs prefer pens to leashes, and it satisfies their notion of territory. The hinges on your pen will allow you to configure exercise pens into whatever shape you want, and even use it as a barrier to section off your fenced-in yard, or keep your dog in the garage.

Exercise Pens and Training

One of the best ways to encourage and maintain your dog's good behavior is to manage his or her environment. Exercise pens are good tools for doing this. You can create a comfortable and familiar environment for your dog when you are not there to watch over and train him or her, or just cannot devote your full attention to your dog.

Traveling with Your Dog

Dogs are delightful travel companions but you must be properly equipped. The dog pen you bring will come in handy, giving the dog a place to relax and thereby giving you a chance to relax, too.

Dogs are easily unsettled by unfamiliar surroundings. This can cause the dog to behave inappropriately. For example, the dog may be tempted to urinate on furniture or decorative items, or chew on furniture and fixtures-particularly awkward if you're staying at someone else's house. Spacious Exercise pens with a familiar soft blanket and chewable toys can be a welcome place to rest for your dog. Knowing your dog is relaxing will ease your mind as well.

Exercise Pens and Housebreaking

Exercise pens can also be used as a tool in toilet training your dog. You may use it in combination with a box or piddle pad. Dogs are loathe to do their business in their own personal space, and their pen isn't big enough to have a bathroom corner. They'll wait for you to take them out, but be sure you do so in a timely matter, or your dog will be really unhappy.

Other Uses for Exercise Pens

Dog shows use exercise pens to keep the participants away from each other until it is their turn to walk. They are also used to keep your dog confined after your dog has returned home from surgery. A dog that has been recently operated on should not be allowed to roam free, but rather must remain where you can closely observe him.

Things to Bear In Mind

In spite of the name you'll want to take your dog out of the pen and let him get some real exercise. Your dog's pen is useful as a place to keep your dog for limited times. They are not intended to be a place where the dog can stay indefinitely.

You can acclimate your dog to the pen the same way you would to a crate: feed him in the pen, do not leave him alone in the pen until he's used to it. Don't leave his collar on when he's in the pen, for his own safety.

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