A dog playpen or exercise pen is six to eight hinged panels that form a closed ring in which you can place your dog or other pets for semi-supervised time, either indoors or in the outside. Dog parks come in different sizes and are constructed from steel wire, similar to wire dog cages, plastic, or a newer pop-up variety that are similar to soft dog cages.
The advantages of having and using an exercise pen is that, like a dog crate, they will help speed up and simplify house training. You can always have your puppy training close to you due to the portability of the exercise pen. You can put your puppy or dog in the pen while others visit, which provides a good confinement area other than the cage. The playpen provides a secure enclosed area for a puppy or dog outdoors, rather than running all over the backyard. The pens are lightweight and easy to place, making them ideal for tight areas while traveling. The area in a pen could be a good place for a recovering dog that must be confined while recovering from surgery or illness.
The downsides to using an exercise dog pen are caused by portability. The pens are lightweight and portable so they are not suitable for a large breed puppy. Most are too small for larger dogs, in which case a kennel may be more suitable. There are no anchors for this type of exercise pen. I imagine you could get some U-shaped garden steaks to anchor this well enough to keep it from moving.
If you have a reserved puppy or a small breed puppy or dog, a dog park can be a great alternative so that you can let your dog get some exercise while you do a few things around the house. These exercise pens work very well for other types of small pets, such as cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. Some of the newer soft-sided pens come with caps to provide a fully enclosed area.
