Congratulations on adopting a new puppy friend! That pup is a barking, running little fur ball just getting everywhere. Wait, where’s he going? Well, maybe it’s time to look for containment options.
Exploring the best containment options can be challenging in a world where your new furry friend’s health and safety are a priority. Your pup needs and deserves a safe, comfortable, and protective environment where they can thrive. Ensuring your pet is in a shielded space guarantees their well-being and brings you peace of mind.Â
At Infinity Pups, we understand your concerns and are here to provide expert guidance on dog containment solutions. We’ll discuss various options, from crates to sophisticated GPS-equipped invisible fence systems.
When bringing your new puppy home, planning how to house it and restrict its movements safely is paw-sitively essential. Whether you’re a seasoned pet parent or new to puppy ownership, ensuring your little ones are safe in their environment will help prevent accidents and aid their training.
Ready? Let’s raise get started!
Crates – Because Dogs Need Personal Space
Crates are an essential part of living with your dog. Sized slightly larger than your dog, a crate lets your dog lay down comfortably, get up, and turn about. Think of the crate as a small cave or den for him to retreat into.
It’s a common misconception that all dogs are social butterflies and want to be around people. That’s far from the truth! An outgoing Golden Retriever may want to check out and hang out with as many people as possible, but a laid-back Pug might want to hang out with its humans and chill. In either case, your dog may decide it’s time to take a break and relax in its own space, usually an enclosed space like a crate.
That’s because dogs instinctively associate the enclosed space of a crate with a den. It mimics the safe space wild dogs seek to rest from potential threats. Dogs can retreat to this private area when feeling overwhelmed or wanting to relax without distractions.
Most importantly, being in a crate can provide a calming effect for dogs experiencing anxiety in stressful situations, such as thunderstorms or fireworks. While some dogs might prefer to be with their human in these situations, it’s recommended that dogs be trained to seek comfort in the crate as early as possible instead, as depending on humans for comfort creates an unhealthy coping mechanism.Â
Unfortunately, dogs can also exhibit the opposite reaction to a crate, sometimes crying, clawing, or biting it if they are claustrophobic or have experienced trauma from being crated for an extended period. Providing your pup with proper crate training and observing your pup’s behavior in the crate are the only ways to ensure your dog feels safe.
Pens – A Compromise of Two Spaces
Dog pens are larger, confined spaces that can be set up indoors or outdoors. Typically, they’re open-top enclosures large enough for a dog to exercise by moving about or playing. Pens are ideal for creating a space for a puppy to play in, as they are large enough for the pup to run and chase toys but contain him so that he can’t wander off.
As pens come in various sizes, you can get a larger pen to put in your backyard so your pet can still move about and get some fresh air. Large pens also allow you to designate a space for food and water on one end and a spot they can eliminate if needed. Remember the weather outside, and don’t leave them out too long!
Some people like to pen their dogs in specific rooms in their home – for example, penning the dog in the office by sealing a doorway off with a baby gate. Make sure the space is easy to clean, there’s a nice comfortable bed, and there isn’t anything in there that you don’t want to get chewed up or that your pet might choke on. It’s a great way to confine your dog temporarily but comfortably while cooking or having someone over for a short period.
Pens also offer a way to contain a dog that does not do well in crates. The open top makes them feel less confined, which is helpful for claustrophobic pups or those healing from the trauma of constant confinement.
Backyards – The Dog’s Domain
The backyard is where your dog gets to be master of its domain, barking at people walking past your yard and chasing squirrels up trees. It’s the ideal space since it’s on your property, and your dog can develop familiarity with it. And since it’s a larger area than the largest pen could provide, it’s the perfect place for multiple dogs to run and play!
With backyards, there are fenced-in and open yards. Let’s talk about both.
Fenced Yard
A fenced yard provides the benefits of increased safety and freedom to play and exercise within a secure boundary and is the best way to contain your dog. It reduces stress from potential dangers such as traffic, other animals, and humans. They can also play freely without constant supervision, which prevents them from becoming a neighborhood nuisance by wandering off or interacting aggressively with other dogs.
When used with an insulated pet door, a fenced yard is the best way to contain your pup while giving him the freedom to be a dog. If you elect to use a pet door, consider keeping an eye on your dog when he’s about to come in and keep a rag close by to clean his muddy paws when it’s wet outside.
However, you’ll want to perform some maintenance by walking your fence now and then to ensure that there isn’t any damage that could result in your dog escaping. Also check for holes in the ground due to your dog digging, which could be instinctual, providing an opportunity for you to redirect your dog.Â
Unfenced Backyard
An unfenced backyard offers the same space without the added safety of a physical boundary, leaving you with the risk that your dog could run off and become a nuisance or liability. Even if you’re confident that your dog will stay within the yard, there’s no guarantee of safety. A dog’s instinct might take over and chase that squirrel out of the yard, or worse, an aggressive animal or pet thief could enter your yard.
A stake placed securely into the middle of your yard with a chain could keep your dog in the yard. Just leash your dog to the stake, and you’re good to go. However, you’ll still need to keep an eye out as there’s a possibility that your dog could get tangled up around nearby furniture or other obstacles in your yard, and it still doesn’t resolve the issue of intruders or aggressive animals – worse, staking severely limits your dog’s ability to run away from harm.
Generally, an unfenced yard provides less security and safety for your dog and anyone outside of your property line. However, there can be impediments to putting up a fence in your yard, such as restrictions from your neighborhood HOA. We’ll discuss some alternative solutions later in this blog.
In either case, allowing your dog to go outdoors alone presents challenges. Always be aware of where your dog is, especially during bad weather! A fenced-in dog that wants to come in may be forced to sit by the door until you let it in, but an unfenced dog may wander off to find shelter! You’ll also want to ensure your dog doesn’t pick up ticks or fleas when he’s out, especially in the summer. There are many ways to do this, from essential yard maintenance to treating your yard with preventatives.
Hi-Tech Solutions – Using Technology to Contain Your Dog
If you decide to let your dog in an unfenced area, here are some ways you could use technology to keep it contained.
- An invisible fence consists of a specialized dog collar or attachment and a spool of wire connected to a fence transmitter. The wire is then buried in the perimeter of your yard while your dog wears a receiver collar. Suppose your dog gets too close to or crosses the threshold of the fence line. In that case, the receiver collar transmits a tingling sensation to their skin (like a static shock after walking across a carpet in socks) to startle them and interrupt their behavior.
- Newer, more expensive, sophisticated GPS-based invisible fences let you contain your dog without burying a wire and provide similar sensations to conventional invisible fence collars when they’re too close to their boundaries. This system consists of a receiver collar and an app that you download to your smartphone or computer, where you define the containment boundaries. Some GPS-based systems allow you to determine the boundaries anywhere, so you can take your dog on vacation or visit someone and set new boundaries there.
While popular, both systems are imperfect and have disadvantages – among them, you must remember to keep the collar’s battery charged at all times. A stubborn dog might eventually ignore the stimulus and run off anyway. And finally, the invisible fence does not keep pet thieves or aggressive animals from entering your dog’s territory. You can read more about the pros and cons of electric fences here.
Keeping Your Puppy Safe: Find the Perfect Companion with Infinity Pups
At Infinity Pups, we love our dogs, and we know you do, too! We hope this blog provides insight into how to contain your dog in different scenarios. You should seriously consider this, as dogs are a part of your family, and you want to keep them safe.Â
Our family-owned business is passionate about connecting happy, healthy puppies with good forever homes. We are focused on helping families connect with puppies they will love, not a dealer or a broker. Visit our website and see all the adorable puppies available for adoption in our network. Then, contact us to find the puppy that’s a perfect match for you and your family!
We hope to hear from you soon!
