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How tall should a dog playpen be?

The height of a dog playpen decides whether it is a pen or a hurdle. The rule PETIME gives is simple: the pen should stand at least 10 inches taller than the dog's shoulder.

Measure the shoulder, not the head

Stand the dog on a flat floor and measure from the floor to the top of the shoulder blades — the withers. That number, plus 10 inches, is the lowest pen to consider.

Match it to a pen

• 24" pens: puppies, toy breeds and small pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs.
• 30"–32" pens: small and medium dogs that do not jump.
• 36"–40" pens: medium dogs, young large-breed dogs and anything that has learned to jump.

Jumpers and climbers

Some dogs treat a fence as a puzzle. If yours can stand on its hind legs and hook its paws over the top rail, a taller pen helps — but a mesh roof ends the problem for good, whatever the height.

Footprint matters too

As an octagon, a pen of eight 24"-wide panels covers about 59" × 59". The heavy-duty pen with 27"-wide panels covers 69.7" × 69.7", about 24 square feet — room for a bed, a bowl and some running.