During long periods or more than two hours, a playpen may be preferred for your young puppy. Potty accidents during longer periods will be less of an issue in a puppy pen compared to a dog crate. That said, older pups and adult dogs can typically manage up to four hours in a dog crate, assuming they're
If Your Puppy's Alone for Several Hours
If you don't want your dog to have full reign of the house while you're away, a pen is a great way to keep them comfortable. The benefit of a pen is it gives them enough space to eat, drink, move around, and change positions — unlike a crate which is more confined.
Staying in a crate helps reduce the risk of accidents and also keeps your puppy safe and secure when no one is around. Keeping your puppy in a crate is a temporary solution. Puppies that are a few months old or more might not handle being in a crate for several hours at a time.
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks cannot be left alone for more than an hour. From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours).
Unlike the crate where you can't leave a young puppy for long periods; the puppy will be fine in the playpen and you can go out for longer periods. Just make sure your dog is ready before you leave for a long period so the puppy does not feel left alone form the start and associate that with the playpen itself.
Be sure to not let them run around the entire house for the first few weeks to avoid any unwanted behaviors. Baby gates are a great way to block off a smaller area of your home for your puppy to explore. If you have other pets, have their first interactions be in a controlled environment.
A puppy playpen is a great option for a young dog. It can complement your other training at home and give your dog a fun area to chew toys and play for a little bit. Dogs naturally love to explore and will be safer in a playpen than being left to roam freely in your home.
You should have a pee pad inside the playpen, which if you're lucky the first couple nights, the pup will pee on it instead of on the floor. Don't lock them in the crate until you've given them time to love it by following the advice below. Keep everything super positive. NEVER put your pup in the crate as punishment.
Most puppies are OK out of the crate at around 7-8 months of age in our experience, while some due to their chewing needs require confinement for longer.
How long do puppies teethe? By the time your pup reaches 6 to 7 months old, they should have all 42 of their adult teeth and they should have passed the teething phase. However, both of you will endure 4 to 5 months of intense teething.
You can either withdraw your attention from the dog by turning your back on him or going into a closed room and leaving the dog alone; or you can bring the dog into an isolated area such as a crate or a bathroom and then leave him there alone. They are both effective depending on the situation.
However, since playpens are so large, they poop, pee, eat and sleep in them.
The instant you feel your puppy's teeth touch you, give a high-pitched yelp. Then immediately walk away from him. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds. If your puppy follows you or continues to bite and nip at you, leave the room for 30 to 60 seconds.
Toy-breed puppies will need 4 to 6 meals per day for the first three months of their lives. Medium-breed puppies will require three meals per day, and large-breed puppies typically need 3 to 4 meals per day. Though the breed is an important consideration, metabolism and energy levels can vary by up to 30 percent.
The answer is you should not be leaving your 8-week-old puppy alone for an extended period. This is the part of their life where they have just been weaned and need regular feedings and potty breaks. It is recommended to wait at least until they are 3 months old before they are left alone.
We recommend at least having them in your bedroom with you in the beginning in either a dog bed or crate. Having your puppy in your bedroom with you will make them feel more reassured. Then, you can gradually move them to where you would like them to sleep permanently.
Think of it as his crib. Use treats, praise, and toys to make your puppy love his crate. Just remember never to use the crate for more than 3-4 hours at a time, except for bedtime. confinement area.
Your puppy should only have as much freedom as you're willing to allow destruction and other problem behaviors to occur.
One experienced dog trainer and expert on dog development suggested that the optimum age for a puppy to go to its new owner is about 8-to-9-weeks, when the pup is ready to develop a strong bond.
At first, confine him to one room at a time. Choose a tiled room, like the kitchen or the bathroom, so accidents can be easily cleaned. Add a room each week your puppy is successful (accident-free), and supervise each time you introduce him to a new room.
It's important to start introducing your dog to 'alone time' right from the outset - especially as a pup. Start with just a few minutes and then gradually extend the length of time if your pet remains calm while you are out of sight. Your dog can be in their crate, special area or on their own in the house.
If your puppy is whining, crying, barking, or howling persistently whenever you confine it in a crate or playpen, this is an early sign of separation anxiety.