Xpen vs. playpen - YorkieTalk.com Forums

jenn1381 · 03-19-2010, 06:52 PM

My new baby comes home 2 weeks from today. I am very excited, but also have a LOT to do to get ready. The biggest thing is I need to get something to keep her confined in for sleep and whenever no one can watch her until she is potty trained (something I am dreading!). I planned on getting an xpen - but was actually quite surprised at their price! Cheapest I can find here is $90. I've started thinking that maybe a playpen would be a better purchase - Walmart has one for $54 and one for $99 - I would likely get the more expensive one as it's a big bigger and seems more sturdy - so I'd be spending more - but, it's something I'd likely reuse down the line if I have kids, or when friends visit with theirs.

Anyone have any pro's or con's to both? I just want to make sure my little girl is safe and happy! She's used to an xpen now, so do you think a playpen would be too big a change for her? It has mesh sides so you can see in and out, and at night time I would place it right next to my bed.

Any advise would be so appreciated!

Britster · 03-19-2010, 06:54 PM

I dunno -- I used an ex-pen for Jackson so I really don't have any advice on the playpen. The expen seems like it would give them more room and it's really easy to fold up and move. Plus you can kinda shape it however you want. Sometimes I would make it circular and sometimes I would make it kind of like a big rectangle depending on what room we were in. I got a big expen for around $55 at Kmart.

Good luck with your new little one!!!

You can kinda see it here in it's rectangle shape, but it really goes in a circle.

jenn1381 · 03-19-2010, 07:02 PM

awww skin kid and fur kid are soooo cute!

I wish we had Kmart!!! Canada bites sometimes. For pet stuff we have petsmart and smaller petstores, all way over priced. Walmart doesn't even carry xpens. It's like no one here knows what they are. I asked someone if they carried them and the look I got was like I was on drugs, lol.

DvlshAngel985 · 03-19-2010, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britster

I dunno -- I used an ex-pen for Jackson so I really don't have any advice on the playpen. The expen seems like it would give them more room and it's really easy to fold up and move. Plus you can kinda shape it however you want. Sometimes I would make it circular and sometimes I would make it kind of like a big rectangle depending on what room we were in. I got a big expen for around $55 at Kmart.

Good luck with your new little one!!!

You can kinda see it here in it's rectangle shape, but it really goes in a circle.

I HAVE THE EXACT SAME ONE! I bought mine from Target and it is labeled a child's playpen. I only used 4 panels for a while and now that I don't need it I was going to get rid of it. But then I thought, "what if I get another?" which I'm 90% sure I will. It stored up really nice and flat. I did store it only 3 panels each, because if I did all 6, it's kinda bulky.

Britster · 03-19-2010, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

I HAVE THE EXACT SAME ONE! I bought mine from Target and it is labeled a child's playpen. I only used 4 panels for a while and now that I don't need it I was going to get rid of it. But then I thought, "what if I get another?" which I'm 90% sure I will. It stored up really nice and flat. I did store it only 3 panels each, because if I did all 6, it's kinda bulky.

Yup - it was a childs one!!

It worked out really good for us. I also thought of getting rid of it but I figure it will come in handy again SOME day! Plus I am taking Jackson on vacation this summer and I think he may be safer in x-pen while in the hotel room, and may feel safer since he's never been left in a hotel room before! Another pup will come into my life one of these days!

Nancy1999 · 03-19-2010, 07:43 PM

Somebody posted these from Walmart, free shipping if you have it shipped to your local store.

Walmart.com: IRIS 4 Panel Indoor/Outdoor Plastic Pen White: Dogs

Walmart.com: Pet Gear Home 'N Go Pet Pen in Cobalt Blue (Large): Dogs

Walmart.com: Pet Gear Home 'N Go Pet Pen in Blue (Medium): Dogs

Here's a whole page of them. http://www.walmart.com/search/search...x=19&Find.y=10

My Sophia · 03-19-2010, 07:49 PM

We used a playpen for Soph for the same reason. Dog kennels and X-pens were sooooo expensive. Plus, the bottom of the playpen is removable and VINYL so it protects the floor and is easier to clean up when the "baby" misses the potty pads. Also great if you've got one that likes to play with the potty pads while you're gone and wad them up

. With the vinyl bottom your floor is still protected. They're portable, fold up easily, and mine has wheels so it's easy to move around the house.

jolissa · 03-19-2010, 07:54 PM

I like ex pens better there is more room in them. They can be shaped in different ways too. They have more space to play and as they get older they don't out grow them.

JonlyCajunQueen · 03-19-2010, 08:18 PM

I like the one that you can use for children...we have it for our furbabies!!! cheapest on Amazon and free shipping!!!

Roxiesmama · 03-20-2010, 03:40 AM

For outside I have the same children's ex-pen that Britster has (thanks to my sister-in-law!).

Inside the house I have this:

Pink Pet Tent Playpen Large Dog Cat Soft Crate Exercise - eBay (item 190380375543 end time Mar-20-10 17:00:38 PDT)

red98vett · 03-20-2010, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenn1381

My new baby comes home 2 weeks from today. I am very excited, but also have a LOT to do to get ready. The biggest thing is I need to get something to keep her confined in for sleep and whenever no one can watch her until she is potty trained (something I am dreading!). I planned on getting an xpen - but was actually quite surprised at their price! Cheapest I can find here is $90. I've started thinking that maybe a playpen would be a better purchase - Walmart has one for $54 and one for $99 - I would likely get the more expensive one as it's a big bigger and seems more sturdy - so I'd be spending more - but, it's something I'd likely reuse down the line if I have kids, or when friends visit with theirs.

Anyone have any pro's or con's to both? I just want to make sure my little girl is safe and happy! She's used to an xpen now, so do you think a playpen would be too big a change for her? It has mesh sides so you can see in and out, and at night time I would place it right next to my bed.

Any advise would be so appreciated!

I bolded what I'm going to relpy to -a determined puppy can hook their nails in the mesh and climb or worse.. get stuck. I had one for Cheri and she lasted about 2 days before I saw her 1/2 way up

janetvav · 03-20-2010, 04:32 AM

I had a playpen that my grandkids had used and were no longer using so I decided to put the puppy in it after we got her she was 13 weeks old and the second day she actually got herself out of it by climbing up the mesh. I was in the kitchen and had left her in it and surprise here she comes walking around the corner. That was the end of that the playpen got put away. I didn't need her getting hurt by falling out of it. Good luck to you and your new puppy they are the greatest.

jenn1381 · 03-20-2010, 06:17 AM

Thanks so much for all the replies.. I had not even thought about the mesh sides being a way for her to escape or get hurt! This is one of the reasons why I love YT, it's so helpful for those of us who aren't puppy savvy.

I LOVE the pet tent, I'm going to search around for a used one that might be for sale in Canada. If I can't find one, I'll likely go with the xpen. Seems like the safer idea. I will just have to put LOTS of pee pads down as my bedroom is carpeted. I spoke to my breeder about it, and she's putting an order in from a website she uses for her products online, so we're going to see on Monday when I go visit my little girl how cheap she can get me an xpen for.

Thanks so much again! Playpen is definitely out. Don't wanna risk it.

Sweet Apple · 03-20-2010, 09:29 AM

I like the x-pen, and if you have carpet, you can go to a home improvement center ie. home depot, loews, etc., and go to the flooring dept. and buy a very very cheap piece of remnant vinyl or lineoleum scrap to fit under it...Just remember to buy one tall enough...When Buzz starting almost scaling a 36" gate, I was glad I bought a 48" x-pen...He's not getting out of that one!!! Also, you can add panels to an x-pen, as you would like to expand the area...I love mine!

jenn1381 · 03-20-2010, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Apple

I like the x-pen, and if you have carpet, you can go to a home improvement center ie. home depot, loews, etc., and go to the flooring dept. and buy a very very cheap piece of remnant vinyl or lineoleum scrap to fit under it...Just remember to buy one tall enough...When Buzz starting almost scaling a 36" gate, I was glad I bought a 48" x-pen...He's not getting out of that one!!! Also, you can add panels to an x-pen, as you would like to expand the area...I love mine!

Oh, the lineoleum is a GREAT idea! I never thought of that! My carpet thanks you, LOL. I will try and get the higher pen. She's already over 3 pounds at 10 weeks, so I'll likely need the extra height. I hope she doesn't need it much more than 6 months, but who knows.

03-19-2010, 06:52 PM	#1
jenn1381 YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 427	Xpen vs. playpen My new baby comes home 2 weeks from today. I am very excited, but also have a LOT to do to get ready. The biggest thing is I need to get something to keep her confined in for sleep and whenever no one can watch her until she is potty trained (something I am dreading!). I planned on getting an xpen - but was actually quite surprised at their price! Cheapest I can find here is $90. I've started thinking that maybe a playpen would be a better purchase - Walmart has one for $54 and one for $99 - I would likely get the more expensive one as it's a big bigger and seems more sturdy - so I'd be spending more - but, it's something I'd likely reuse down the line if I have kids, or when friends visit with theirs. Anyone have any pro's or con's to both? I just want to make sure my little girl is safe and happy! She's used to an xpen now, so do you think a playpen would be too big a change for her? It has mesh sides so you can see in and out, and at night time I would place it right next to my bed. Any advise would be so appreciated! __________________ Oliver & Mya are my

03-19-2010, 06:54 PM	#2
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,814	I dunno -- I used an ex-pen for Jackson so I really don't have any advice on the playpen. The expen seems like it would give them more room and it's really easy to fold up and move. Plus you can kinda shape it however you want. Sometimes I would make it circular and sometimes I would make it kind of like a big rectangle depending on what room we were in. I got a big expen for around $55 at Kmart. Good luck with your new little one!!! You can kinda see it here in it's rectangle shape, but it really goes in a circle. Attached Thumbnails __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 03-19-2010 at 06:56 PM.

03-19-2010, 07:02 PM	#3
jenn1381 YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 427	awww skin kid and fur kid are soooo cute! I wish we had Kmart!!! Canada bites sometimes. For pet stuff we have petsmart and smaller petstores, all way over priced. Walmart doesn't even carry xpens. It's like no one here knows what they are. I asked someone if they carried them and the look I got was like I was on drugs, lol. __________________ Oliver & Mya are my

03-19-2010, 07:43 PM	#6
Nancy1999 I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 25,396 Blog Entries: 2	Somebody posted these from Walmart, free shipping if you have it shipped to your local store. Walmart.com: IRIS 4 Panel Indoor/Outdoor Plastic Pen White: Dogs Walmart.com: Pet Gear Home 'N Go Pet Pen in Cobalt Blue (Large): Dogs Walmart.com: Pet Gear Home 'N Go Pet Pen in Blue (Medium): Dogs Here's a whole page of them. http://www.walmart.com/search/search...x=19&Find.y=10 __________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals Last edited by Nancy1999; 03-19-2010 at 07:45 PM.

03-19-2010, 07:49 PM	#7
My Sophia YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 467	We used a playpen for Soph for the same reason. Dog kennels and X-pens were sooooo expensive. Plus, the bottom of the playpen is removable and VINYL so it protects the floor and is easier to clean up when the "baby" misses the potty pads. Also great if you've got one that likes to play with the potty pads while you're gone and wad them up. With the vinyl bottom your floor is still protected. They're portable, fold up easily, and mine has wheels so it's easy to move around the house.

03-19-2010, 07:54 PM	#8
jolissa Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Farmingville , New York Posts: 266	I like ex pens better there is more room in them. They can be shaped in different ways too. They have more space to play and as they get older they don't out grow them.

03-19-2010, 08:18 PM	#9
JonlyCajunQueen Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 749	I like the one that you can use for children...we have it for our furbabies!!! cheapest on Amazon and free shipping!!! __________________ Jolie'', *Candace,* *Zoey* , Zack & Gizmo

03-20-2010, 03:40 AM	#10
Roxiesmama Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NY Posts: 849	For outside I have the same children's ex-pen that Britster has (thanks to my sister-in-law!). Inside the house I have this: Pink Pet Tent Playpen Large Dog Cat Soft Crate Exercise - eBay (item 190380375543 end time Mar-20-10 17:00:38 PDT) __________________ Roxie Last edited by Roxiesmama; 03-20-2010 at 03:43 AM.

03-20-2010, 04:32 AM	#12
janetvav Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: iowa usa Posts: 212	I had a playpen that my grandkids had used and were no longer using so I decided to put the puppy in it after we got her she was 13 weeks old and the second day she actually got herself out of it by climbing up the mesh. I was in the kitchen and had left her in it and surprise here she comes walking around the corner. That was the end of that the playpen got put away. I didn't need her getting hurt by falling out of it. Good luck to you and your new puppy they are the greatest.

03-20-2010, 06:17 AM	#13
jenn1381 YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 427	Thanks so much for all the replies.. I had not even thought about the mesh sides being a way for her to escape or get hurt! This is one of the reasons why I love YT, it's so helpful for those of us who aren't puppy savvy. I LOVE the pet tent, I'm going to search around for a used one that might be for sale in Canada. If I can't find one, I'll likely go with the xpen. Seems like the safer idea. I will just have to put LOTS of pee pads down as my bedroom is carpeted. I spoke to my breeder about it, and she's putting an order in from a website she uses for her products online, so we're going to see on Monday when I go visit my little girl how cheap she can get me an xpen for. Thanks so much again! Playpen is definitely out. Don't wanna risk it. __________________ Oliver & Mya are my

03-20-2010, 09:29 AM	#14
Sweet Apple Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, Texas USA Posts: 2,473	I like the x-pen, and if you have carpet, you can go to a home improvement center ie. home depot, loews, etc., and go to the flooring dept. and buy a very very cheap piece of remnant vinyl or lineoleum scrap to fit under it...Just remember to buy one tall enough...When Buzz starting almost scaling a 36" gate, I was glad I bought a 48" x-pen...He's not getting out of that one!!! Also, you can add panels to an x-pen, as you would like to expand the area...I love mine!