Puppy Pen

What a Puppy Pen Is For

A pen gives a litter a defined space that is bigger than a whelping box and smaller than a room. Puppies start needing one at around three weeks, when they begin to move properly and the whelping box stops containing them. It keeps them off cold floors, away from stairs and cables, and lets you separate a feeding area from a toileting area, which is where toilet training actually begins.

Types of Puppy Pen to Choose From

Metal panel pens

Folding panels that pack flat between litters. The practical choice if you whelp once or twice a year. Our six panel metal pen is around $87.

Fabric and tent pens

Lightweight, soft sided and quick to put up. An octagonal tent pen at around $70 or an Oxford fabric pen at around $58. Best for small breeds and for taking to a show or a friend's house.

Acrylic and tempered glass pens

Clear panels so you can watch a litter without opening anything. Easier to disinfect between litters than fabric or wood, which is why breeders whelping regularly tend to end up here. From around $454.

Wooden pens and combined whelping units

A whelping box and playpen in one, at around $1,273. Warm underfoot and heavy enough that puppies cannot shift it.

Sizing a Pen for the Litter

Work from the adult size of the breed, not the puppy size, because they will outgrow the pen faster than you expect. As a rough guide, allow enough floor for every puppy to lie flat at the same time with room left over for a bed and a toilet area at opposite ends. If the puppies are toileting where they sleep, the pen is too small rather than the puppies being difficult.

Flooring and Cleaning

Whatever you choose, plan how it gets cleaned before you buy it. A pen that has to be dismantled to wash the base will be cleaned less often than one that does not. Waterproof mats and washable pads matter more than the panels.

Trusted by RPBA Breeders

Responsible Pet Breeders Australia members set the pen up alongside the whelping box before the puppies need it, so the move out of the box is a short step rather than a new environment.