Ex-Pen/Roaming Free Question
 

Hello YT. This may seem obvious to some, but I'm not exactly sure of the answer. I have a 4 1/2 month old little girl. When I can't watch her like a HAWK she stays in the ex-pen. My question is - how long should a pup this age be allowed out of the ex-pen? It is a case by case basis? I guess I'm asking - should puppies be allowed to roam free (WITH supervision) for an unspecified amount of time, or is it better for them to be confined to an ex-pen. Does this teach them discipline? Or is roaming free just as good? Does it depend on age? Confused!

Thanks.

i have had my 3 month old for only 2 weeks. we let him roam "free" with boundaries all day unless we aren't home. he hits the pee pad 70-80% of the time, doesn't chew and most of the time wants to lay with us on the couch. he is an ecceptional boy. We haven't had any problems.

I would say...it depends on the age and the temperment. As they get older, they get some freedom...but I think ALL puppies need to be confined when you can't watch every move they make. It only takes an instant for an accident that could take your baby forever. Better to be safe than sorry.

If she sees the x-pen or crate as her "safe" place and not an area for being punished, she will enjoy that time much better.

Good point about this!! So when she is naughty - time out shouldn't be in the crate or x-pen? If so, where is a good place for timeout? Thanks!

I totally agree. My puppies are 7 months, and I still use the x-pen when I can't watch them. Charlie gets bored very easily, and I am so scared he will chew on an electrical cord or fall off something (he tries to jump up on everything) if he has full run of the house. Oliver & Charlie just cuddle up together in their pen. They know when I close it up its time to go in, and just wait at my side for me to put them in the pen. (I give the a little treat to make it worth their while :) )

I think Oliver would do okay outside the pen and prob just sleep, but I just know Charlie would get into something and possibly hurt himself -- he's very curious.

Different people handle disiplining their dogs differently. I don't put any of mine in time out. We take care of "naughty" behavior with a correction and then life moves on. Dogs live in the moment...and I think I should too. :)

Holly is 17 weeks. I allow her semi-free roam for a few hours after I know she has eliminated where she is supposed to. If I cannot watch her constantly, she goes back in her pen. Gracie is 18 months. While she is reliable with elimination, I can't entirely trust that she won't find something to chew up or get into if allowed free roam while I am at work, so she stays in her ex-pen when I am not home. She likes her "room". When I am home, she has free run of the house. IMO, dogs must earn house privileges.

Where do I go to purchase an x-pen?

Cosmo loves his "house" he is 11 months and when we leave he goes right in and we close him in. He was crate trained as a puppy and potty training went much easier, he alos went through a small stint of chewing on my furniture so his crate came in handy. However, he cried at night so ended up sleeping with us :) He is now potty trained and would be fine but I think we feel safer and he does too.

Bentlie is 12 weeks and OMG what a terror! Like Cosmo we are crate training him but he does not get it! He will go outside, not pee then come in and pee right in front of us. He chews on my furniture so HAS to be monitored, however he prefers to sleep in his crate at night :confused: So I guess my answer is each puppy is different and you have to play it by ear. We now have a pen in the bedroom and living room so Bentlie can be in the same area us when we can't be right at his side but are in the same room.

By the way, we NEVER use it as punishment. We also, address the problem and move on. Example, he pees on the carpet we grab him and put him outside and tell him "Bentlie go pee outside" he chews on the corner of my expensive pine furniture I grab him, tell him no chew, and then redirect him to a chew toy or bone. Same with Cosmo although he conformed early and is very well behaved now...hopefully Bentlie will follow Cosmo's lead...:p

You can get one at most any pet store or online. They may also be called a pet play yard. If your baby is climber, you will need to look for one with smooth plastic sides, something he can't get a food hold on.