The Basic Puppy Exercise Pen
A basic puppy exercise pen is not to be confused with the proper outdoor dog kennel that is used to house a dog for longer periods of time. It is not meant to contain your puppy for long periods of time, but is rather used to let the pup have some play time and fresh air on a temporary basis.
The usual puppy exercise pen is commonly made from wire mesh panels that are hinged together. These are often adjustable, meaning you can often very easily add extra panels to the existing ones to enlarge it. A real plus with this type of exercise pen is that it’s usually collapsible which makes it very easy to store and to travel with.
Normally these types of pens are not covered, so you do need to be careful if you leave your pup outside for any length of time, not to leave it in direct sunlight during the heat of the day, or where there’s no shelter. By the same token, you wouldn’t want to leave your pup in it if there’s a rainstorm either, as they wouldn’t receive any protection from the weather.
It’s really just best used to pop your puppy in when you want him to be outside but don’t have time to oversee him, or if you want your dog to have some outdoor exercise time. It is not to be used on a permanent basis though.