care to introduce yourself in here?? (although from 2009 is going to be a very late introduction)
thanks
This is what I picture in my head when you say puppy playpen, is it (along the line of) what you mean though? (I found this on the Qualipet site)
I've seen similar things with metal or wooden sides rather than this material.
Oh! Another place to check is Fresnapf.
Meanwhile, check through the forum (there are for sale / for free sub forums), there may be someone who has something that would work for a price you like.
For instance:
Where you intend to use it? (Inside, if so what type of space, flooring? Outside?)
How you wish to use it?? (For use when you are around but not able to interact with the dog, safety when you are gone, overnight, as a safe play/exercize zone, etc?)
There are lots of alternatives to a playpen that can be made from things you probably have already at home, but much would depend on how you intend to use it.
I am using it mainly for house training and to keep him away from wires etc when I am away. Of course, it's got to be easy for me to interact with the puppy and for him to intreact with me and our Husky as well.
My husband wanted to use a cardboard box but I thought that was kind of sad LOL
I've seen some on Amazon.de for quite good prices unfortunately, loads don't ship to Switzerland which is quite a shame.
A sturdy, airline travel approved crate is a good investment, something you will likely use many times over the dog's lifetime. I'd buy one that will fit your dog at his expected adult size, and then use a divider to create the appropriate space for a young puppy. Crates are eye-popping expensive here, but if you shop in Germany or online from Zooplus.de you will find a better bargain.
(Or post an ad in the market place here - perhaps someone here would have one to sell.)
Obviously a crate is only intended to be used for very short periods - one should never leave a dog in a crate for hours at a time. And you will need to invest training time to teach the dogs that a crate is a safe, secure, pleasant place - his own little den, so to speak.
One reason I'd use a crate over a playpen when you are not around to supervise is that little pups are curious, and even little pups can climb up and out - and then fall and hurt themselves. Or wedge their little heads between railings and get stuck. Or your husky might decide he wants to jump in. Lots of potential for accidents when they are this young and this little.
A crate can be a good place to sleep at night to teach the dog overnight house training, and serve as a good safety zone when the pup is tired and needs some down time. A very valuable tool for a young pup, a necessity when traveling - but as with all tools, one must not use it incorrectly, or for too long.
Here's a good article on crate training and house training:
http://drsophiayin.com/docs/articles...earns2Earn.pdf
FYI, if your pup is house training, the tethering method described here really is effective. As the pup is too young to have full bladder control, it's up to the owner to be ever-vigilant.
---
Now, once the pup is old to enough to safely stay in a slightly larger area:
Whenever a newbie (of any age) joins the crew I set up a doggie 'time out' room in the house. I take the furniture out of the guest room, put down an old carpet remnant (you can find something dirt cheap at Ikea), add doggie beds, toys and a water bowl - and then put a babygate at the door. (Ikea baby gates are ca CHF 60, Zooplus 50 Euro - both about half the price of those you find in pet stores here. Also look at Landi, Coop and Hornbach.) When I leave, the newbie goes in the doggie room, separate from the rest of the crew. This way the dog has plenty of room to play while I am gone, can see the other dogs and interact from a distance - but there is the divider to keep everyone safe until I am back to supervise.
With a Pom, though, I'd probably put something to line the bars of the babygate so that he couldn't poke his head through. An old blanket pulled tight and secured with velcro should do it. With a puppy, I'd be extra vigilant with plugs, cables, etc. If you can see or reach it, he will chew it.
If you have a wood floor, and if your pup is not 100% with his housetraining, make it easy on yourself by putting a plastic painter's drop cloth (you can get these from Hornback or CoopB/H, very inexpensive) down first before you put down your cheap non-slip rug. You want to prevent urine stains/smells from permeating wood - especially if you are renting.
----
If a separate space is not possible, then are you handy? My first thought would be to have my husband make a puppy pen - which is essentially a stable box with no sharp edges. Make a frame, either from wood, metal or plastic tubing ( DIY stores), sew a cover. The materials wouldn't cost much. You'd need to make sure that whatever you used was not readily chewable and the material non-toxic.
And even easier route would be to use a roll of the green coated light fencing wire, attached to a base with support posts (dowel rods) drilled in, to make a pen. Be careful of the size of the diamond openings, and place on a non-slip surface so that the floors are not scratched. Test that the base and supports are sturdy and that the pen is not top-heavy.
But I'm not really a fan of open wire mesh crates/pens, I end up covering them with a blanket anyway. Afterall, the point is to replicate a den. I prefer a solid travel-type crate, where the pup will likely curl up and go to sleep.
But if you don't feel like going DIY, Zooplus has a puppy playpen that might be suitable, now on sale for 46.9 Euro (normally 79):
http://www.zooplus.de/shop/hunde/hun...zwinger/140540
---
But I still would not leave a pup alone in a play pen - not really sturdy enough. Those razor sharp puppy teeth are very effective escape tools! But this would be fine for when you are in the next room and within earshot.
I'll say it again, though - for a young untrained pup, a good crate is an excellent investment.
----
I give my dogs the run of the house while I am gone - but only after I have determined that house training is reliable, that I have sufficiently doggie-proofed the house and that the newbie is well-integrated into the crew. Sometimes this happens in a matter of days, sometimes in weeks, sometimes longer. And just as with other training, I start with a very short time at first, gradually building up the time they can be left.
Good luck to you and the puplet.
I eventually settled on ordering a pen from the UK which is catered for toy breeds.
It's pretty cool and can be modified to be crate size (albeit taller) as well so am pretty happy with that. Meanwhile, we already have a travel crate for him plus a spare a friend just loaned to me from their malamute puppy days, so that will do for now till the pen arrives.
Now, all I have left is to buy some netting to cover my terrace grills with to prevent him from ever sneaking and falling out although he is definitely barred from the terrace till he's much bigger.
Love to all x
Thanks!
Our 2 puppies (English Bulldogs) woudl tear through any kind of Playpen through their energentic playing.
For puppy number 1, hubby build one himself by buying plaks and sticks and put it all together.
For puppy number 2, we simply put baby gates on the kitchen and the kitchen became his playpen.
I would definitley reccomemnd you the baby gates, as cheap, do not take up space and are more sturdy. I reccommend Geuther.
Ciao
K
If anyone else is looking for one, I have one for sale that I bought at Petsmart in the US. It's in great shape and is only a few weeks old. You can bend it into a rectangle shape as well. Photo is attached.
http://www.englishforum.ch/1332740-post1.html
A puppy could not chew through this.
Please disregard the "will ship" in the title. The crate can be delivered, depending on the location.