Is keeping a puppy in an exercise pen during the day okay?

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person

I have a 9 week old Husky/Shepherd mix. He's an awesome little guy, but I have a problem.

When I brought him home I had someone to let him out during the day while I was at work. I work 12 hour shifts, but I only work 3 or 4 days a week. Even though I work long hours, I still have plenty of time with my pup. The person that was letting him out is no longer able to help me out.. and there is no way I can expect this little guy to sit in his kennel and pee on himself for 12 hours!

If I set up an exercise pen in my kitchen attached to his kennel, put a bunch of cozy bedding in his kennel, set up puppy pads, set up food and water, and put a couple toys and something to chew on in there... would that be okay? I know using the puppy pads will delay potty training, and I'm okay with that. I'm more concerned about what to do when he is 6 months old and HUGE! Do I need a pen with a cover?

I was going to just put a baby gate up to keep him in the kitchen, but he tries to eat my walls! :)

And in case anyone cares... He will be left to roam the house like my other dogs as soon as he is potty trained and stops trying to chew on everything under the sun. This is a temporary thing!
Dorothy - I am not giving the puppy up. That is not an option. As I said.. I am home more days than most people are. I only work Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The puppy is very well socialized. On my off days he goes everywhere with me. He goes tons of places and meets tons of people. I have several dogs, raising dogs is nothing new to me.

If you have any negative feedback, please keep it to yourselves. My dogs are very loved and spoiled rotten. I am only looking for alternative suggestions (BESIDES GIVING UP MY PUPPY) and anything else I could do to make the pen better for him.
I am aware that this is not an ideal situation.. but the majority of puppies are crated or left outside while their masters work. Puppies do not need someone 24 hours a day!

Answer
Your puppy will be bored, miserable and lonely if he is left alone all day. A puppy cannot cope with someone just to let it out, he needs you 24 hours a day.

A puppy must be toilet trained and you cannot do this in your absence. Apart from toilet training he must be socialised, if you fail to do this he could become aggressive.

Please don't wait to have him recued. No one wants to adopt a dog who is not toilet trained or anti-social, consequently they are euthanized. Everyone wants to adopt an adorable puppy.

How do I expand my dog kennel?

SamIam82

My dogs stay in a pen outside during the day while we're at work(long story, but they like to dig under the part of the fence that doesn't belong to us). I have equipped the pen with a wooden pallet for them to sun bathe on, water and food, sun shade, a grassy area and a dog house with plastic flaps. As my puppy is getting bigger, the pen is getting smaller! I need to buy a new, bigger pen, but I hate to just discard this one. It is 5 x 8. To put it together, you assemble the poles, then wrap the chain link around it and secure it. Is there something I can buy to expand this one? Does anyone have any experience with this? Any relatively inexpensive ideas? I have 2 cockers and a 7 month basset.

Answer
Buy the exact same kennel as the original one. Assemble just as before, only leave an opening. Then set it next to the old one and cut an opening. Then buy easy to work with wire and wire those babies together and you now have a two room deal.

I had that same 5x8 kennel with chain link and modified it several times.

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Title Post: Is keeping a puppy in an exercise pen during the day okay?
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