Help! Can't keep her in her playpen! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

pwright · 10-05-2005, 04:58 PM

Greetings,

My wife and I pickup up our adorable little Yorkiepoo 10 days ago. She's a great little puppy, and is catching on quick. However, we have a bit of a problem: My wife and I sometimes have to leave her for up to 4 hours due to our schedules, and we want her to have a larger place to play than her crate.

The first pen I bought was the "superyard XT"... it's 26 inches tall and plastic. Upon putting her in there, she hated it and found a way to get out (when we aren't in the room). So, I returned that, and picked up a 30 inch high metal pen. Well, today she ran up to the door to greet me when I got home. Now, she's only 4lbs and 12 weeks old. When she stands on her hind legs her paws are still a good foot below the top of the pen.

I've tried hiding, as well as staying the room, to see how she gets out. She'll never do anything while we're home but whine, but the second we go out, she's outta there. The other day I stepped outside for literally 10 seconds, came inside, and she was out.

I'm concerned about getting anything taller, as if she's climbing it and falls she could get injured. However, I don't know if she's climbing out or jumping high enough to get her paws over the top and wiggling out.

Does anybody have any suggestions? The only other thing I can think to do is try to make a top for it, but I want to keep her play area as large as possible when we're not here.

HELP please!! Thanks much.

Regards,
Pat, Sara, and Coco

Hamoth · 10-05-2005, 05:09 PM

You could leave a camera on her...a video camera perhaps?

Also, you could put flour along the top edge and when she gets out, the flour mess could reveal her path and her method...

schatzie · 10-05-2005, 05:12 PM

She is climbing out of her pens. Schatzie did this too when we had her in a playpen as a pup. It didn't take her long to figure out her "great escape". After her doing so, we removed the playpen as I felt it was no longer safe.

We switched her to a crate after that.

yorkieusa · 10-05-2005, 05:27 PM

They're infamous climbers. If you just sit on the couch and partially stretch your legs out in front of you, you'll probably see that lil puppy climbing up them.

They'd make great mountain goats!

I was going to say to be sure not to leave a collar or harness on her when you are not there in order to prevent it from being caught when she is climbing like that and hanging herself.

If you put a top on it, please be sure it is not something her little paws can be caught in.

Saragp · 10-05-2005, 06:02 PM

My chi figured out too how to escape so I made a makeshift cover with large clips and a blanket. I know that there are custome made xpen covers out there that snap on. They are a little more appealing than the blanket, but hey it keeps her in.

Thorsmomma · 10-05-2005, 06:35 PM

Maybe a crate would work better. Good luck

YorkieShadow · 10-05-2005, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

They're infamous climbers. If you just sit on the couch and partially stretch your legs out in front of you, you'll probably see that lil puppy climbing up them.

They'd make great mountain goats!

I was going to say to be sure not to leave a collar or harness on her when you are not there in order to prevent it from being caught when she is climbing like that and hanging herself.

If you put a top on it, please be sure it is not something her little paws can be caught in.

Great advice on not leaving the collar or harness on.

pwright · 10-05-2005, 07:16 PM

I wholeheartedly agree with the collar/harness recommendations! I think we'll probably just get a large crate, but I wanted to give her a little more room to play. However, we've been quite worried about her getting a little paw caught up in the pet yard, so I guess it's for the best.

Thanks for the advice... I need to get a video camera so I can see what she's up to when we're not here!

-Pat-

FirstYorkie · 10-06-2005, 10:40 AM

Amen to the "mountain goats" - so true!

Joey climbs over baby gates, too. We now stack 2 on top of each other and that works to keep him in the laundry room. I like the idea of putting a top over the playpen.

pwright · 10-06-2005, 01:17 PM

Here's my latest plan:

I don't want to leave her in a crate, even if it's rather large, for a long time. She already sleeps in one, so to spend another 4 hours a day or more in one isn't my idea of fun for her.

So... I am a pretty handy guy

, and am going to run to Home Depot and buy some thin plastic sheets (probably 1/8" thick- not flexible plastic like in tarps- but rather rigid plastic) and cut them to size of the pen panels. Then, I'll drill some holes and zip tie them to the inside of the panels. That way, the whole inside of the playpen is a smooth surface, and she won't be able to climb it. Hopefully I can buy them in clear, so she can still see outside of it. Wish me luck... Actually, I'll feel much better about it as I was already worried about her getting a paw caught in one of the holes and having her fall.

I'll post an update if I get it to work...

-Pat-

pwright · 10-06-2005, 01:17 PM

Here's my latest plan:

I don't want to leave her in a crate, even if it's rather large, for a long time. She already sleeps in one, so to spend another 4 hours a day or more in one isn't my idea of fun for her.

So... I am a pretty handy guy

, and am going to run to Home Depot and buy some thin plastic sheets (probably 1/8" thick- not flexible plastic like in tarps- but rather rigid plastic) and cut them to size of the pen panels. Then, I'll drill some holes and zip tie them to the inside of the panels. That way, the whole inside of the playpen is a smooth surface, and she won't be able to climb it. Hopefully I can buy them in clear, so she can still see outside of it. Wish me luck... Actually, I'll feel much better about it as I was already worried about her getting a paw caught in one of the holes and having her fall.

I'll post an update if I get it to work... let me know what you guys think!

-Pat-

Saragp · 10-06-2005, 01:26 PM

I have been trying to locate the expen covers that I have seen but haven't had great luck. I did find this though, http://www.cherrybrook.com/store/Pro...roductID=62878 and http://www.cherrybrook.com/store/Pro...roductID=62876

If I come across anything else, I will post it.

Allan · 10-07-2005, 06:12 AM

Apparently my Yorkie (Zack) isn't the only one who can really climb. Zack is only 4 months old and weighs about 2.5 pounds, yet, after having him a week, he figured out how to climb out of his pen (which was 24 inches high). So, we returned the pen and bought a 30 inch one. We have had that one for about 3 weeks, and he has managed to climb out of that one 3 times. He just jumps and jumps and jumps and then pulls himself up. The other day, I heard him crying at around 6 AM. I went to his pen and he had pulled himself to the top and was hanging on for dear life! I think he was too scared to drop down. Anyway, I am quite worried that he will hurt himself. I was thinking about getting a top or the adding clear, plastic interior walls. The top option though makes me feel like Zack will feel like he is in jail. Any downside to the clear plastic walls option (like Pat suggested)?

Pat, how is the project going? Can you post pic when completed?

thanks,
Allan

pwright · 10-07-2005, 07:43 AM

Allan, I'm going to try to work on it this weekend, and I'll post the results and hopefully a pic or two!

-Pat-

SoCalyorkiLvr · 10-09-2005, 10:53 PM

Wow~ Maybe your new design will take off and it will be all because of your yorkie!!

10-05-2005, 04:58 PM	#1
pwright Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 21	Help! Can't keep her in her playpen! Greetings, My wife and I pickup up our adorable little Yorkiepoo 10 days ago. She's a great little puppy, and is catching on quick. However, we have a bit of a problem: My wife and I sometimes have to leave her for up to 4 hours due to our schedules, and we want her to have a larger place to play than her crate. The first pen I bought was the "superyard XT"... it's 26 inches tall and plastic. Upon putting her in there, she hated it and found a way to get out (when we aren't in the room). So, I returned that, and picked up a 30 inch high metal pen. Well, today she ran up to the door to greet me when I got home. Now, she's only 4lbs and 12 weeks old. When she stands on her hind legs her paws are still a good foot below the top of the pen. I've tried hiding, as well as staying the room, to see how she gets out. She'll never do anything while we're home but whine, but the second we go out, she's outta there. The other day I stepped outside for literally 10 seconds, came inside, and she was out. I'm concerned about getting anything taller, as if she's climbing it and falls she could get injured. However, I don't know if she's climbing out or jumping high enough to get her paws over the top and wiggling out. Does anybody have any suggestions? The only other thing I can think to do is try to make a top for it, but I want to keep her play area as large as possible when we're not here. HELP please!! Thanks much. Regards, Pat, Sara, and Coco

10-05-2005, 05:12 PM	#3
schatzie *Moderator Emeritus* Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tontitown Arkansas Posts: 4,909	She is climbing out of her pens. Schatzie did this too when we had her in a playpen as a pup. It didn't take her long to figure out her "great escape". After her doing so, we removed the playpen as I felt it was no longer safe. We switched her to a crate after that. __________________ ~~~~ Schatzie and Ransom ~~~~

10-05-2005, 05:27 PM	#4
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 8,825	They're infamous climbers. If you just sit on the couch and partially stretch your legs out in front of you, you'll probably see that lil puppy climbing up them. They'd make great mountain goats! I was going to say to be sure not to leave a collar or harness on her when you are not there in order to prevent it from being caught when she is climbing like that and hanging herself. If you put a top on it, please be sure it is not something her little paws can be caught in. __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel Last edited by yorkieusa; 10-05-2005 at 05:31 PM.

10-05-2005, 06:02 PM	#5
Saragp YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 335	My chi figured out too how to escape so I made a makeshift cover with large clips and a blanket. I know that there are custome made xpen covers out there that snap on. They are a little more appealing than the blanket, but hey it keeps her in. __________________ Sara & "The Kids" Visit ALL my fur-kids through Bailey! Bailey: www.dogster.com/?151175

10-05-2005, 06:35 PM	#6
Thorsmomma I Love Thor Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,150 Blog Entries: 1	Maybe a crate would work better. Good luck __________________ Hannah & Thor & Harry The boys on DOGSTER

10-05-2005, 05:09 PM	#2
Hamoth YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 354	You could leave a camera on her...a video camera perhaps? Also, you could put flour along the top edge and when she gets out, the flour mess could reveal her path and her method...

10-05-2005, 07:16 PM	#8
pwright Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 21	I wholeheartedly agree with the collar/harness recommendations! I think we'll probably just get a large crate, but I wanted to give her a little more room to play. However, we've been quite worried about her getting a little paw caught up in the pet yard, so I guess it's for the best. Thanks for the advice... I need to get a video camera so I can see what she's up to when we're not here! -Pat-

10-06-2005, 10:40 AM	#9
FirstYorkie YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: American in London Posts: 1,739	Amen to the "mountain goats" - so true! Joey climbs over baby gates, too. We now stack 2 on top of each other and that works to keep him in the laundry room. I like the idea of putting a top over the playpen.

10-06-2005, 01:17 PM	#10
pwright Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 21	Here's my latest plan: I don't want to leave her in a crate, even if it's rather large, for a long time. She already sleeps in one, so to spend another 4 hours a day or more in one isn't my idea of fun for her. So... I am a pretty handy guy , and am going to run to Home Depot and buy some thin plastic sheets (probably 1/8" thick- not flexible plastic like in tarps- but rather rigid plastic) and cut them to size of the pen panels. Then, I'll drill some holes and zip tie them to the inside of the panels. That way, the whole inside of the playpen is a smooth surface, and she won't be able to climb it. Hopefully I can buy them in clear, so she can still see outside of it. Wish me luck... Actually, I'll feel much better about it as I was already worried about her getting a paw caught in one of the holes and having her fall. I'll post an update if I get it to work... -Pat-

10-06-2005, 01:26 PM	#12
Saragp YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 335	I have been trying to locate the expen covers that I have seen but haven't had great luck. I did find this though, http://www.cherrybrook.com/store/Pro...roductID=62878 and http://www.cherrybrook.com/store/Pro...roductID=62876 If I come across anything else, I will post it. __________________ Sara & "The Kids" Visit ALL my fur-kids through Bailey! Bailey: www.dogster.com/?151175

10-07-2005, 06:12 AM	#13
Allan Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 73	Apparently my Yorkie (Zack) isn't the only one who can really climb. Zack is only 4 months old and weighs about 2.5 pounds, yet, after having him a week, he figured out how to climb out of his pen (which was 24 inches high). So, we returned the pen and bought a 30 inch one. We have had that one for about 3 weeks, and he has managed to climb out of that one 3 times. He just jumps and jumps and jumps and then pulls himself up. The other day, I heard him crying at around 6 AM. I went to his pen and he had pulled himself to the top and was hanging on for dear life! I think he was too scared to drop down. Anyway, I am quite worried that he will hurt himself. I was thinking about getting a top or the adding clear, plastic interior walls. The top option though makes me feel like Zack will feel like he is in jail. Any downside to the clear plastic walls option (like Pat suggested)? Pat, how is the project going? Can you post pic when completed? thanks, Allan

10-07-2005, 07:43 AM	#14
pwright Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 21	Allan, I'm going to try to work on it this weekend, and I'll post the results and hopefully a pic or two! -Pat-

10-09-2005, 10:53 PM	#15
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	Wow~ Maybe your new design will take off and it will be all because of your yorkie!!