Depending on how you plan on using the pen, you’ll want to make sure your pet has room to move around. If it’s for a puppy, make sure there’s room for a separate sleeping area, a place to play, and a potty spot. You can buy more than one heavy duty dog playpen if a greater area needs to be covered, just ensure you buy the same height!

This metal pen is easy to set up and take down, but it’s even easier than some because there’s a built-in latch instead of clips. Clips can get wonky from puppy chewing and it’s easy to lose them when you store the pen. (Tip: Clip them all on the top.) Set-up instructions are easy to follow and it has a clip to keep the pen together when folded. The right dog pen will keep your pet safe in one spot so they can’t get into trouble. They are also great for providing a safe retreat for an older dog, or as a tool for potty training your dog. Options range from simple metal enclosures to wooden gates that can double as room dividers.

The heavy weight makes it great for big or rowdy dogs, but it’s probably not the best choice for traveling. It’s available in a couple of different heights so you can choose based on the current (or projected) size of your puppy. The EliteField 2-Door Dog & Cat Playpen isn’t all that suitable for rambunctious or big dogs. Energetic pups can tip the playpen over or climb out. Teething puppies can chew the canvas or netting. Because it’s so portable and lightweight, it might be a good option for young puppies or older small dogs, particularly at nap time when they need a safe place to stay. A1: If you are on grass and secure the long pins into the ground, it will not move, however on pavers it could be moved a bit. We have put ours on both. There are multiple velcro compartments on the sides of the pen that can potentially be used for toys and doggie treats,” said one tester. “And it's spacious enough for almost any dog to roam around in, roll around in and/or sleep within it.”

Watch your pet and see how they behave inside the pen at first. Make sure they’re not able to scramble over the top or tip it over. It should be a solid, safe, comfortable place for them to hang out. This human baby playpen can be a good option for tiny, young puppies or even small, calm adult dogs. It's so easy to pop open, snap shut, and store in its handy carrying case. It weighs only about 10 pounds and is simple to stash away. The step-through door is convenient for humans, but can be high for a small dog. Depending on the size of the pen, there are 1-2 latches on the gate. The gate just sits inside hinges, so it can come off if you move the pen or lift up the door.

It was intuitive to set up and take down,” noted one tester, “and it's still sturdy without being clunky or oversized.”

Changeableforyour pet: 31.5"W by 39.4" H heavy-duty panel frame, the 8-panel design allows multiple shape configurations like rectangle, square, round, etc.Exercise pens (sometimes called “x-pens”) are simple playpens made of metal or plastic. They usually have about six or eight side panels that connect together so the entire pen can be configured in a square, rectangle, or octagon shape. This Frisco pen comes in five different heights, which you choose based on your dog’s size and interest in climbing. This is a much-better option for energetic dogs that push a traditional pen all over the floor,” said a tester. “Just plan on setting it up and not moving it a lot.” Some agile pups can also climb out, particularly when a pen is too short, so see how your pup acts before leaving them alone. This sturdy metal pen is so much more solid than pretty much every other kind of pen. It’s made of metal tube frames and wire panels, covered in a rust-resistant coating. There’s a very convenient step-through gate and eight panels that can be moved around to create a square, octagon, or rectangle pen. (You can also buy it with 24 or 32-inch tall panels for smaller dogs.) This playpen was incredibly easy to set up with minimal lift. I am impressed by the ease of assembly and its lightweight structure,” said one of our testers.

The biggest issue our testers had was assembly. You don’t need tools to assemble it, but it takes some time and works better if you have a second person to help you. Portable: The metal playpen can be folded flat for easy storage and transportation when you go traveling with your beloved pets. The panels can be detachable and put together one by one, space-saving and convenient. We tested 19 different dog pens in our New York lab, evaluating a wide range of pens for qualities like versatility, stability, and how easy they were to set up. Several models were tested in at-home environments as well. We also spoke to long-time puppy fosters, rescue volunteers, and trainers for additional insight in what you should look for when shopping for a new dog pen.A dog that jumps high and taller dogs will need a pen tall enough to keep them contained. Any dog can learn to escape a pen, so it's important to teach dogs how to settle in their pen and be respectful of the boundaries instead of jumping up at its sides,” Viera says. “Jumping is not the only way dogs escape their pen. Some dogs will also climb over. Spend a little time working with your dog and buy a sturdy and tall pen to prevent these issues." Portability This pop-up playpen has soft sides, is foldable, and comes with a carrying bag, so it’s easy to take on the road with you or move around your home. There are two zippered doors, and a canvas floor and mesh top that can be zipped on and off. The floor is thin, but waterproof, so it’s helpful if your pup is prone to accidents or splashes in the water bowl. You can take off the bottom if you want to put your dog in the grass and can keep on the top if you worry about an escape artist. This pen was clearly made for people on the go. The setup was easy and intuitive and I could do it by myself,” said one tester. “The instructions were short and simple and I felt like I was able to really easily build the pen.” Pens are a helpful training tool,” says Melissa “MJ” Viera, founder and licensed groomer and trainer of MJ’s Pet Training Academy located in Acushnet, Massachusetts. “When it comes to potty training a puppy, setting up a pen outside can help speed the process along. This gives your puppy a small area with less distraction and eventually helps transition them to free roaming. Portable pens are an excellent training tool for puppies.” This product would be great for dog owners who want to see their dog directly while they are within the pen, and for dog owners who may want peace of mind that their dog is maintained in a specific area,” said one tester.