How long can a puppy stay in a playpen?

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Puppies are loved by many. What’s not to love about tiny, adorable, affectionate, playful little beings that bring great joy and love to a household?

Since puppies are high-energy pets, investing in a playpen for your puppy could be the best choice for you and your new addition to the family. However, before placing your puppy in a playpen it is important to know how long your puppy can be in there.

What is the Appropriate Amount of Time to Leave Your Puppy in the Playpen?

Puppies are very social animals; this means they require a lot of socialization, so it is not a good idea to leave your puppy alone in the playpen for too long. Adult dogs can be left alone for up to 10 to 12 hours, if necessary, on certain occasions. However, it’s appropriate to comfortably leave an adult dog alone for four to five hours. The same cannot be said for a puppy.

The general consensus suggests that a puppy can control their bladder for up to 1 hour for every month of life, that means that a 2 month old puppy can be left alone for about two hours.

However, it is important to remember that your puppy needs a lot of attention, especially from ages 4 to 10 months.

Recommended Guidelines to Leaving Your Puppy Alone

  • Puppies aged 8 to 10 weeks can be left alone for up to two hour or less.
  • Puppies aged 10 to 12 weeks can be left alone for up to three hours.
  • For puppies aged three to six months, you should use the one-hour-per-month rule.
  • Puppies aged six months and above can be left alone in their playpen for up to six hours.

If you leave your puppy alone for longer than these recommended time periods, you may see your puppy start to present with destructive behavior such as destroying toys or beds. Your puppy may also experience separation anxiety if they are left without attention or affection. Furthermore, leaving your puppy alone in its playpen unattended for long periods of time may increase the risks of your fur baby having an accident.

To avoid any accidents you should make sure your puppy’s playpen is secure to the ground and that your puppy cannot move it around. This would ensure that as your puppy grows bigger and stronger, they are unable to knock their playpen over and escape or get injured.

How to keep your puppy busy in a playpen

Adding your puppy’s toys and comfort items such as blankets or a soft bed to the crate may be a good way to create a peaceful yet playful space for your puppy. Adding your fur baby’s favorite chew toys could also help stimulate him or her and prevent them from getting bored.

Where Should You Place Your Puppy’s Play Pen?

You should place your puppy’s playpen in a quiet and safe area in your home. However, some people also like to have one outside in the yard. If you want to place your puppy’s playpen outside there are a few things you need to consider to keep them safe:

Set the playpen up in a place where your puppy can receive shade and not only direct sunlight.
Make sure your puppy has access to plenty of fresh water.
It may be a good idea to put out dry food instead of soft food for your puppy as it can remain fresh for longer and is less likely to attract any ants or flies.

How Big Should Your Puppy’s Play Pen be?


The size of your playpen depends on the size of your puppy. The playpen should match the size of the dog, so, if it is a big breed, like a Lab, Pit Bull, or Great Dane, the playpen needs to be bigger to allow enough space for your puppy to play.

You can purchase a playpen with connecting panels that can be set up for use and folded up and put away after for storage. They also come in different materials like metal, plastic, or nylon. Some playpens have mats at the bottom and others sit directly on the ground. If your dog is known for escaping, you may want to consider purchasing a playpen that has a cover.

What is Best for Your Puppy?

All puppies have their own unique personalities; therefore, your puppy could require different needs. It is up to you to learn your puppy’s personality in order to give your puppy the best care possible.

Overall a playpen is a great tool to use when your puppy needs to be left alone. As it is a space for your puppy to rest and play safely. However, it is important to not leave your new addition to your family alone in their playpen for too long.

The general consensus is that it is okay to leave your young puppy for up to one hour alone in their playpen.