Expert: Jo Ann - 11/29/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I wanted to buy an Exercise Pen. She's a 1 - 1 1/2 lb. Chihuahua. At full grown she should be 3-4 lb. When I bring her home she will be 10 weeks. What would you recommend a plastic or metal pen and how big. Thanks, Lauren

ANSWER: Hi Lauren...

First off, congratulations on the new little girl Chihuahua that you'll be getting!  I remember how excited I was when I got my youngest and you have such fun and love to look forward to!!!

I have an adult Chihuahua that weighs between 3.5 and 4 pounds and I used a play pen for her when I brought her home.  As a matter of fact, I still use the play pen for her when I feed her or leave her home while running errands.  My little girl has rather long legs and was much more fragile than I thought she would be and she lost traction while walking on a linoleum floor and fractured her front leg when she was just 11 months old. Needless to say, that play pen came in handy during her recovery time and, like I said, we still use it when we feed her, etc.  

If you are intent on using an exercise pen, I can tell you that I would never bother with a metal one - no question about it.  They're heavy and can damage furniture while you're messing with them and trying to set them up.  If you use them outdoors, they rust and...I just think they're a mess. I have a plastic one that I've used ONE time when I took my three Chihuahuas to a park and wanted to keep them safe from other dogs - other than that, it has stayed in storage.  I find it too bulky to use in the house.  These days there's such wonderful alternatives.

Last summer I discovered a folding play pen and I LOVE that thing!  I mean I absolutely LOVE it!  Here is a link so that you can see what I'm talking about:  http://www.amazon.com/Puppy-Playpen-Exercise-Kennel-Oxford/dp/B003JP4928  First off, it has two doors that zip open and closed and the entire top zips open and closed.  The fact that the top opens like that allows you to clean inside with no fuss or muss.  I also feel that being able to open one or more of the doors allows you to supervise your pup (when its ready) to roam around the house some and know that it can go back to it's little "den" to do it's "business".  The design of it allows you to move it around to different rooms you're in and be able to supervise your little one, too.  I just love the fact that it's so "open" - it doesn't make a pup feel horribly confined.  And here's another plus:  You can fold it up with ease and put it in it's own carry bag when you want to!  The only thing that I would caution anyone about is using it with other pets like large dogs or cats that are overly inquisitive.  A large dog can tear something like that up, but they can knock down an exercise pen, too.  Cats, though, can jump on the top and "maybe" cave it in - maybe.  Those are the only cautions that I would suggest with it.

I purchased a medium sized one for my deck so that my Chihuahuas would be safe from hawks.  I was delighted from the time we unfolded it and set it up as my dogs took to it like fish take to water.  They really LOVED it and used it constantly!  I put soft little beds in it and I think they loved the whole idea of it. I paid considerably less for it than I did the play pen or the exercise pen we have, too.  My dogs and cats have used this thing all summer and into the fall.  Just last week we brought it in and, instead of folding it up, set it in the living room and there's two pets in it right now.  I will be glad to use this for travel, too.  I'm thinking of getting the large size so that it will accommodate all three of my Chihuahuas and perhaps a pee pad more hotel stays.

If you have any further questions about your new "little one", please don't hesitate to write again.  I wish you all the years of LOVE and HAPPINESS that I've had with my Chihuahuas!  They are so life-changing!

Jo Ann

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi JoAnn,

Thank you so much for responding back. As I wasn't really sure what to purchase, I purchased this item.

http://www.amazon.com/Iris-Plastic-Pet-Exercise-Pen/dp/B003E7A1KA/ref=sr_1_2?s=h

I do allot of traveling, so I will pick up the one you recommended for out of town trips, etc.

I'm picking her up on the 6th, as I'm going out of town tomorrow again and didn't want her to be too over whelmed by my nieces who are 1 and 3 and I didn't want them to think of her as a toy.

I appreciate your help now and any future help you may be able to offer me. She will be my first Chihuahua. My boys who have now passed were Shih-tzu, so this tiny little thing is all new to me.

Will write to you again soon.

Best,
Lauren

Answer
Hi Lauren...

I wanted to wait and write to you when you might be back from your trip.  For some reason, I'm unable to click onto the link and see which exercise pen you purchased.  I'm hoping that it's plenty stable so that there's no chance that it could fall on her.

It's getting really close to the 6th and I'll bet you're really excited!

You mentioned your very young nieces and I'm wondering if they live in the same house with you?  I mention that due to how stressful it can be to mix young children with Chihuahuas.  We can talk about that later if you want or need to.

I also had a Shih-tzu before getting my first Chihuahua and falling so deeply in love with the breed.

I'd love to help you with any questions you have concerning your little one!  Don't hesitate to write when you want to...

Jo Ann