[Sneakers22]

I am getting a goldendoodle puppy next week and had a couple questions.
I will work 4 hours out of each day per week so she will need to either be in a crate or a puppy play pen.

I have done a lot of research and people are saying the puppy playpen is great for when you are out of the house so the dog doesn't give negative associations with their crate which should be the "safe haven" or "home"

I want to be able to train her as quickly as possible so she can be housebroken and not utilize the carpet as her bathroom

This will be my first puppy that I will train and own. I have had dogs in the past but I am only 23 so I was only a child when my parents trained them.

I have already purchased a large dog crate for her and am looking at possibly getting a playpen just looking for some advice.:thumbsup:

I'm open to all opinions and thoughts here

 

[Sabina88]

Either or is great, or even using one in conjunction with the other. If I remember correctly you can also either attach the play pen to the crate (i cant remember if this is possible) or put the crate in the play pen.

 

[CadenceDiscordia]

Either or is great, or even using one in conjunction with the other. If I remember correctly you can also either attach the play pen to the crate (i cant remember if this is possible) or put the crate in the play pen.

I did that with Merlin's crate and playpen when he was a baby. I started him off on puppy pads and put them at one end of the pen with his crate on the other. It was really nice for me because I didn't have to worry and fret about being gone longer than he could hold it.

My question for the OP is whether or not you're going to put anything down in the pen as a potty training tool. If not, I would suggest a crate and be mindful of how long you are gone and how long your pup can hold it. I only say this because your pup will have more chances to pee/poop on the floor in a pen versus in their crate. But, crate training takes more work to get the pup used to the crate and whatnot.

 

[BrittaS]

...

I have already purchased a large dog crate for her and am looking at possibly getting a playpen just looking for some advice.:thumbsup:

I'm open to all opinions and thoughts here

How "large" is your dog crate? When I was getting ready to bring my girl home, I was advised everywhere, that a crate should not be too big. The dog is supposed to be able to stand up, turn around and lie down. The plausible reason: Don't give space so they can establish a "potty corner" in the crate.

If you bought a too big one, maybe it came with a divider, so you can make it a little smaller.

Wish you all the best!

 

[MHDDOG2016]

Go on You Tube and look up "long-term confinement set-up for puppies". Lots of videos discussing how to do that. I work 4.5 hours a day and will be using an exercise pen attached to a crate for when I am away at work, and a separate crate upstairs in my bedroom at night for sleeping. I will use real grass in the exercise pen as the potty area, rather than pads (doggielawn.com)- I figure this way the puppy is learning at least that grass=potty instead of square paper on the floor.

 

[MarleyGrace]

I have two playpens for Marley Grace. One in our kitchen and one in the bedroom. She has her bed, pee pad pan, food and water in the play pen. She took to the pads right away and has had only a few mishaps (still does only 14 weeks old) but has never had one in the play pen. I had a crate but really didn't like putting her in there and she didn't like it. The playpens I bought are adjustable, can be made smaller or larger, the shape can be changed, etc. Love, love, love these playpens. I have a small dog though so I don't know how well this play pen would hold a dog who would be stronger.

https://www.chewy.com/dog/iris-4-panels-exercise-plastic-pen/dp/50392

I bought the 8 panel in brown from Amazon. You can add or take away panels as needed and I even open it up to gate her off when needed. It is really versatile.

 

[Cuppybear]

I set up a baby gate at one end of my larger bathroom vanity area when my dog was a puppy. I didn't want to confine him to a crate. I covered the carpet with tarp and put potty pads in the corner. I came home to a complete mess every single day! He didn't seem to ever understand to just go on the potty pad. Presently, I'm starting to re-train him, at 8 months, because it seems he never really learned where to go. He goes outside whenever I take him, but he still has "accidents". I'm using the crate now. Maybe I gave him too much freedom too young and maybe confining is better? Establishes definite boundaries. Just a thought :thumbsup: Good luck!

 

[jkreyn13]

I have a 15 week old schnoodle who came home with us at 9 weeks. We crate trained him (very small crate, no room to do more than stand up and turn around) from the beginning and I believe it helped him learn to hold his potty. In the beginning I wasn't gone for more than 2 hours at a time, but can now leave him 3 - 4 hours. When we are home but can't keep an eye on him, we put him in his playpen which is right in the kitchen / living room. He does not potty in there. He is housebroken now (thank goodness) and has learned to ring the potty bells to go out. It was really tough in the beginning (and yes I had the puppy blues for sure at first), but consistency and hard work paid off. Lots of exercise and a routine helped. He sleeps in the crate all night- no accidents, no whining. (the crate is in the laundry room, not in our room) I am super lucky! Good luck!