Leaving Puppy In Playpen While At Work

Puppies are like babies. They need regular meals, a lot of attention, and the ability to play. For owners who work, this is hard to provide and usually causes a few issues. Leaving the puppy in a playpen while at work might be the answer. Or is it? Below, we are going to discuss all the facts you need to know about puppy playpens. Let’s start.

Puppy Playpen: Basics

Yes, we have to mention and explain this. Chances are high that you already know what this is and how it is used. Leaving the puppy in a crate while at work is, therefore, easier to understand. Anyway, a puppy playpen is like a dog crate but offers a lot more space. These are usually made from 6–8 panels made from steel wire, wood, or even plastic.

The idea is that your puppy has a lot of space inside but stays safe and sound while you are at work. Without this, puppies can hurt themselves or, more likely, your furniture. All puppies are super high on energy levels, so they are active all day long.

You can see puppy playpens of different sizes. They come in all possible sizes, and you should always pick or choose the one that matches your puppy the most. This means that a too-big puppy playpen is not a great idea. The same thing applies to a small puppy playpen. These come in different types as well. Once again, you need to choose according to the breed, size, and age of your puppy.

Puppy Playpen Pros and Cons

Yes, here we can see some pros and cons. Like everything else, puppy playpens have good and not so good sides. Below we will start with the main advantages and then move to some downsides of using these for your pet. 

Pros: 

• It is safe

As you may already know, a puppy playpen is an extremely safe option. He will have water, food, and a place to sleep without any risks at all. He cannot injure himself or do something wrong and will spend the entire time while you are at work in a safe environment suitable for puppies. This is the first and the main advantage we like. 

• Portable

Puppy playpens are extremely portable. Despite being made from 6-8 panels you can easily carry and transport one to a different location. This is ideal when you are traveling and you want to use the same puppy playpen in a different location. 

• Plenty of space

A puppy playpen is commonly compared to a dog crate due to a reason. These are similar products with some differences. In the lack of a better word, a puppy playpen is much bigger and offers more space. Hence it is a much better choice and the one we actually prefer. 

Cons: 

• Shouldn’t be used for young puppies

Too young puppies are not ideal to be left in a puppy playpen for hours. They need to learn useful things and they cannot tell the difference between a place where to go to the bathroom and where to sleep. This should be used for slightly older puppies. 

• Large dogs cannot be kept in one 

Puppy playpens or playpens, in general, cannot be used for large puppies or dogs. They can simply jump out and be free in your apartment while you are at home. Just to add, if you have this issue, you will have to get a dog kennel, which is a much better option for large dogs.

How Long Your Puppy Can Stay In A Puppy Playpen

Not all puppies can be left in a puppy playpen for the same period of time. We will have to take a look at their age and then deduce how long you can leave it inside. Make sure you implement or apply these facts to your puppy and your situation.

8-10 weeks

When you adopt a puppy you are a completely unknown person to him. Your home is not his home, yet. This means that you need to spend as much time as possible with your new puppy and help him get all the attention he needs. In simple words, you need to spend as much time with your puppy as possible.

You cannot or should not leave him alone for too long in a puppy playpen. As a matter of fact, a shorter period of time is preferable. During this period you may need help from a person who will look after your puppy while you are at work. 

10-12 weeks

A puppy of this age will be able to hold it for only 2 hours. This means you cannot leave him for too long and you will need to find a person who will make sure his bathroom needs are met. Of course, there are a lot of variations. These depend on size, health, and also on the breed of your puppy. Their control is increasing at this time. 

3-6 months 

A puppy of this age can hold for up to 3 hours. Here we can see one rule we like. At 3 months, they can hold for 3 hours. At 4 months, they can hold 4 hours, and so on. It is a simple rule that is actually effective and can help you. At this age, you can visit your puppy during breaks and make sure he can go to the bathroom.

6+ months 

Now they can hold for six hours, and this will increase as they age. However, this also means that your puppy is big now and can jump out of a puppy playpen and run around your home. Proper training is needed at this age to make sure they behave properly. 

In a nutshell, your puppy should not be in a playpen for longer than 2 hours. As he ages, he can spend more time inside but never too much. Playpens are designed, and they are actually ideal for leaving a dog or a puppy inside for short periods of time. They cannot spend too much time inside. Also, how much time a puppy can precisely spend inside depends on numerous factors and we will cover and explain all of them here. The situation is simple and easy to understand, but not as straightforward as some of you believe.

Difficulties With Potty Training

Potty training is essential and it should be included in the lives of all dogs or better said puppies. Keep in mind that you need to invest a lot of attention and effort into this process. Below we are going to reveal a few of the difficulties you need to worry about. This will be helpful with all leaving puppies in a playpen while at work.

Litter Box Training A Dog Pros And Cons. Watch Thjis Videos Now!

A Lot More Space Than Your Puppy Needs

If a puppy has a playpen that is too big, he will consider this an area where he will sleep and also pee and poop. That’s why you need to take a playpen that is ideal in size. If it is ideal in size, your puppy will consider the whole area as his bed, and puppies and dogs don’t like to pee in beds.

Too Long In A Playpen

Obviously, if he spends too much time in a playpen, he won’t be able to hold, and the accident will happen. Make sure that doesn’t happen. We have revealed above how long a puppy can hold, so make sure to include this in your potty training. All puppies are different but the rule still applies. 

Huge Gaps 

This is a similar issue to the one we have mentioned above. Remember how long your puppy can hold and use that.  If he can hold for 2 hours and you are taking a break after 2.5 hours, the accident will occur. 

The Area Wasn’t Cleaned Properly

This is a huge issue and one that can affect most dogs at any given moment. What we are trying to say is that if a dog pees inside a house and you don’t clean it properly, he will be able to smell the odor. This will tell him that the bathroom is there, and he will pee again. Always use special products that can remove 100% of the scent from your carpet or any surface of that matter so you can be positive this issue will not happen. 

The Final Word

Leaving the puppy in the playpen while at work is possible. However, you will need to take into account a lot of different parameters and you will need to know a lot of different things. Between age 6 and 9 months, it is much better to take him to dog care than to use a puppy playpen. Ideally, these are designed to keep your puppy or a dog inside for a few hours and not the whole day. Leaving your puppy in a puppy playpen for 8 hours without any help is not an option.