You want your dog to exercise, but also to be safe. You worry that maybe your dog isn’t bright enough to be on a leash without strangling himself. Enter exercise pens. They give your dog place to play without the chance to do something stupid and dangerous.

Exercise Pens-What Are They? Exercise pens, also known as dog pens, are fences that allow your dog a safe place for your dog to exercise and play. Portable exercise pens are available. These consist of portable fencing made of heavy gauge wire formed into eight hinged panels. The hinges make the exercise pen easy to put away or transport. Sizes range from 24 to 48 inches in height, with length of most portable dog pens being around 16 feet. Some exercise pens have soft sides made of canvas or mesh. They aren’t as heavy and they’re more portable. If your dog is destructive, be aware that you’re better off with metal dog pens.Exercise pens are suitable for indoor use, not just outdoors. Dogs prefer pens to leashes, and it satisfies their notion of territory. The hinges on your pen will allow you to configure exercise pens into whatever shape you want, and even use it as a barrier to section off your fenced-in yard, or keep your dog in the garage. The Role of Exercise Pens in Training Your PetExercise pens give you a means for managing the dog’s environment to your advantage. They create a comfortable area for your dog to play when you can’t supervise their every little movement. Exercise Pens and TravelDogs are delightful travel companions but you must be properly equipped. The dog pen you bring will come in handy, giving the dog a place to relax and thereby giving you a chance to relax, too. Dogs are easily unsettled by unfamiliar surroundings. This can cause the dog to behave inappropriately. For example, the dog may be tempted to urinate on furniture or decorative items, or chew on furniture and fixtures-particularly awkward if you’re staying at someone else’s house. Spacious Exercise pens with a familiar soft blanket and chewable toys can be a welcome place to rest for your dog. Knowing your dog is relaxing will ease your mind as well. Exercise Pens and HousebreakingExercise pens give you a place to put a piddle pad or litter box when you’re housebreaking your dog. You can also use it as a holding area when you are training your dog to do his business outside. If the dog thinks the space is his, he’ll be more likely to hold it until you can take him outside to do his necessary. Bear in mind that you still have to take your dog out frequently. Aside from the risk of their soiling their area—particularly disastrous indoors, and likely to undermine their training-forcing your good dog to hold his business is a form of torture.Other ApplicationsExercise pens are used at dog shows to keep the participants safe, happy and separate from each other until it is their turn to tour the ring. They are also used to keep your dog confined to a limited area of your house or yard after your dog has returned home from surgery. A dog that has been recently operated on should not be allowed to roam free, but rather must remain where you can closely observe him. Notes of Caution Be aware that exercise pens were never intended as full time dog housing and you should not leave the dog in there indefinitely. In spite of the name you’ll want to take your dog out of the pen and let him get some real exercise. Teach your dog to accept the pen the same way you would to a crate: feed him in the pen, do not leave him alone in the pen until he’s used to it. Don’t leave his collar on when he’s in the pen, for his own safety.