We are looking at getting an X-pen for the Loki when she is allowed out of the crate for limited times. I want one that I can adjust to make smaller and larger.
Where did ya'll get yours and are there any pro's or cons? She can be a rowdy, motivated girl, so how is it these things don't get tipped over?
Thanks, always for your input.
When Penny had her surgery, we got ours at Petsmart. I don't know if that is the best/cheapest place to buy it, but we needed it quick so we bought it at Petsmart. Our had black circular tubes that you attached to the bottom so it wouldn't tip over. Penny wasn't super rowdy at the time so we didn't have any problem with it tipping over. I would say that if she was rowdy that she could potentially tip it over, but I'm not sure.
So, ah, what about a play pen? I might be able to get one for free, and it IS foldable, eh?
What do you all think about that?
Yes I bought a playpen for Amy and just covered the bottom with piddlepads and put in her bed. I had to buy it, but it comes to bits easily and we store it under the spare bed you can use the sections as gates.
Roberta
A play pen will work just fine in a pinch but I worry about when doxie has to go peepee. Wonder what it would do to the floor of that thing.
I have an x-pen that I bought from petsmart. Mine doesn't have any feet or anything but It's never fallen over. The only thing I would like is to have a panel that has a door in it. That way I don't have to stoop over and pick up the dog or remove one of the rods that hold the thing closed.
X-pen is a good thing to have for sure.
This one seems pretty nice
http://www.petguys.com/-027773001310.html
Well I was wondering the same thing about the x-pens actually Leslie!! Great question! I was considering a playpen for dogs that i found. (I just have to remember what magazine i saw it in! :doah:) The one I saw had pawprint cutouts so they could peek out, the floor was not like a regular playpen, it was a floor that you could take out to wash or leave in and put down puppy pads. If i can ever find it again I'll let you know. It was really cute!! I think the playpen is a better option for the Porkmeister since he is such a rowdy little guy. :dontknow: I can't remember what the flooring was made out of in the one I saw, but supposedly it was stain resistant, and "easy" to clean. :thinik: I do remember it was around 90 dollars which is kinda steep. Good Luck finding an x-pen or playpen for her. I'll keep looking and see what I can find about that playpen.
Mine is like the one JedEd73 posted a link to. I have used it a lot at dog events and for Gretchen when she's having episodes with her back.
Pros: You can make it smaller or bigger, according to the reason you're using it. You can get in with them to keep them company. It's easier to pick them up without hurting them. When Gretchen can't help us get her out of her crate, we have to pull all the bedding she's laying on to get her out (they should make crates that open on the top).
Cons: They are not as safe as in a crate - you have to be watching them because if they really want out, there's always up and over! Ilsa climbs out if we're not in her sight. There have been times we've forgotten and wandered off at dog events and she surprises us by showing up! Luckily, she's not the one with the back problem and she only climbs out to look for us, not to wander off. Even if they can't climb out, there's always the TRYING to climb out that could be just as bad. We've watched Ilsa - she pulls herself up by her front paws (she has the upper body strength that Gretchen doesn't have) and then teeters on the top until she gets the momentum to jump. She hasn't done it in years because we're better at preventing it. They make expens that have smaller 'squares,' for lack of a better word - small enough that little paws couldn't fit into them, thus preventing the climbing. They also make taller ones and they also make different kinds of tops for them. I've never had a problem with it falling over.
IMHO, a playpen might work just as well if not better. I don't have kids so I haven't really looked at playpens. If you can get one free, I would definitely try that first.
yes playpens don't have cross hash, and they may weigh a bit more so they cannot get under them, so it might even keep Ilsa in, our angel Angus was our Ilsa could climb anything.
Roberta
I kept Sadie in a pack n play play pen when I first got her. And it had the mesh sides. She just chewed holes in it and escaped. So if they chew..... Play pens may not be an option. But if not a chewer I would say yes to it.
The X-Pen we got for Maddie has been THE ANSWER for us. Previous with gates, she would chew right through them. Pretty ambitious for a 10 year old. Our x-pen shapes perfectly to the laundry room, so it won't tip. It is a low one, but you can get taller ones. Our Roo is NOT a jumper. It's metal, so it's chew proof. It unlatches and latches easily and is easy to fold up. Can't say enough. WE LOVE IT!
The playpen I have is totally wood.
We'll get the metal X-pen and set up a "front porch" next to her crate. Loki will only get access to the pen when we are home to supervise.
She sure seems so stiff and hunched in the morning so we have the following routine. Hu-dad wakes up and puts the heating pad on her for thirty minutes. If he is going to work I then get her out to pee and see if she needs more heat. If she looks like she can, she goes out to pooh ON A LEASH. DH can be home another half day tommorrow so hopefully over the weekend we can use the pen and see if she makes any effort to climb it or knock it over or what.
She seems to benefit from a small amount of exercise bu that dawg only has the two speeds: nearly dead and a flat out run!
Thanks for you allyour input and support!
Sounds like a plan...... poor Loki - and poor you. It is so hard to keep them down - but that is what she needs right now to heal. Keep us posted !
Hate to say it but the only way I could keep Lucy crated and caged was with doggie tranquilizers. I got one of those top speed doxies too. She's either wide open or full stop, always has been.
Leslie, it does sound like a wonderful plan....hugs and kisses and more prayers to you and Loki :pray: :pray:
Quote from: Leslie on May 29, 2008, 08:22:12 AM
She seems to benefit from a small amount of exercise bu that dawg only has the two speeds: nearly dead and a flat out run!
The meds make her feel better so she does more than she should. Be careful. I don't mean to scare you, but I will always wonder if we couldn't have avoided Gretchen's surgery. The evening before the surgery, she was obviously hurting. We gave her some Rimadyl. That made her feel better so she started acting like the Gretchen we knew and loved. We curtailed a lot of her activity but did not get strict with her. Denial is a dangerous thing! The next morning, she was walking like she was drunk and within about an hour and a half (the time it took to get to our vet and to the neuro guy), she was totally paralyzed in her back legs.
The muscle relaxer should make her sleepy. Is it not affecting her that way? I agree with Jet. You may have to MAKE her sleepy to get her to heal good.
It sounds like you have your 'Loki Routine' down pretty good!
Quote from: Delia and girls on May 29, 2008, 12:27:51 PM
The meds make her feel better so she does more than she should. Be careful. I don't mean to scare you, The evening before the surgery, she was obviously hurting. We gave her some Rimadyl. That made her feel better so she started acting like the Gretchen we knew and loved. We curtailed a lot of her activity but did not get strict with her. Denial is a dangerous thing!
The muscle relaxer should make her sleepy. Is it not affecting her that way? I agree with Jet. You may have to MAKE her sleepy to get her to heal good.
It sounds like you have your 'Loki Routine' down pretty good!
I am right there with you, because of the "language barrier" we are unable to convince her that she might FEEL better but she is NOT better. :grin: It is hard when there are wonderful groundhog smells and srtawberries in the yard. It is even obvious to DH the results when she over does it even a little bit. Also, it has been downright COLD here in the mornings (49 degrees!) and the old gal must be feeling that, too.