Resources > Training > Puppies > Puppy Management Solutions
Successful puppy management in the home
As cute and loveable as puppies are, giving them free unfettered access to your home can cause many issues such as toileting inside, chewing on furniture, shredding shoes and mouthing people. To the puppy, these are all natural behaviours - they explore with their mouths, play with anything that looks inviting and toilet when they feel the need.
It is vital that puppies are fully (and that means 100% not 95%) supervised when free in the house, allowing active redirecting to "legal" pursuits and toileting spots. The more "mistakes" puppies make, the more they can practice behaviours we'd rather not have them learn.
But you can't possibly be on 100% supervision duty during puppy's every waking seconds. What to do?
It is vital that puppies are fully (and that means 100% not 95%) supervised when free in the house, allowing active redirecting to "legal" pursuits and toileting spots. The more "mistakes" puppies make, the more they can practice behaviours we'd rather not have them learn.
But you can't possibly be on 100% supervision duty during puppy's every waking seconds. What to do?
Good management helps prevent problems
For those times when you just can't supervise, you need to set up your puppy in a way that they can't make "mistakes". This means they need to be contained in some way, in a safe puppy proof space with only "legal" chew toys available and if possible, access to an acceptable toileting area.
There are various options, each with their own pros and cons: - Crates - Playpens - Baby gated puppy proof rooms - Tether (only for older puppies) |
NOTE:
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Crate

Many people struggle with the idea of "crating" their dog, as metal crates look like cages. However if puppy gets trained appropriately to enjoy going in and being in a crate, this can be helpful in many ways throughout your dog's life. Crate trained dogs will be less stressed when crated at the vets and will have a piece of home travel with them when they need to stay in another home (e.g. a holiday home). Crate training can also assist with toilet training.
It is essential that puppy gets introduced to the crate gradually. Recommended puppy books contain useful information about this process, as does Sophia Yin's guide to crate training.
Note that "soft" sided crates are not suitable for puppies, as they are likely to chew and damage this type of crate. A soft crate can be used for older dogs who aren't chewers.
Pros:
Cons:
It is essential that puppy gets introduced to the crate gradually. Recommended puppy books contain useful information about this process, as does Sophia Yin's guide to crate training.
Note that "soft" sided crates are not suitable for puppies, as they are likely to chew and damage this type of crate. A soft crate can be used for older dogs who aren't chewers.
Pros:
- If done correctly, crate training helps with toilet training.
- Puppy doesn't learn to jump up and can't jump out.
- Crates can provide a "safe space" for dogs.
Cons:
- If used incorrectly (e.g. puppies are confined for too long), crating can cause stress.
- Not suitable for extended confinement.
Playpen
In combination with access to the backyard, a playpen can be the ideal way to manage your puppy.
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Playpens can be a useful alternative or addition to a crate for managing your puppy. They give puppy more room to move about. However, it is generally still a good idea to go through a gradual process of getting puppy used to being confined in the playpen, as otherwise they might start resisting. See Sophia Yin's guide to crate training for the required steps.
Pros:
Cons:
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Recommended playpen
T.F.H. "Excellence in Pet Care" playpens. They come in various heights, are sturdy and pre-assembled, complete with carabiners for easy attachment to a crate. You can get them online or at some pet shops. Some playpens you can get online are flimsy and hard to assemble (as I found out when I ordered one that looked like the T.F.H. one in the picture.)
It's hard to find (or rather identify) these online. You can get them at Pet Stock Mitcham, or Mega Pet Warehouse in Ringwood.
T.F.H. "Excellence in Pet Care" playpens. They come in various heights, are sturdy and pre-assembled, complete with carabiners for easy attachment to a crate. You can get them online or at some pet shops. Some playpens you can get online are flimsy and hard to assemble (as I found out when I ordered one that looked like the T.F.H. one in the picture.)
It's hard to find (or rather identify) these online. You can get them at Pet Stock Mitcham, or Mega Pet Warehouse in Ringwood.
Baby gates

Baby gates are a great tool for restricting access to a particular area of the house, or to keep puppy in a particular room in lieu of a playpen or a crate. If you use a baby gated room instead of a crate or playpen, this room needs to be close to the main living area. Sequestering puppy away from everyone else may distress your puppy. The exception to this is when your puppy needs a "quiet space" away from visitors or other noise that may be disturbing or arousing.
Getting a dog used to being confined in a baby gated room follows the same process as training a dog to accept a crate or a playpen. Feeding your dog his dinner and providing food dispensing toys in the room of choice helps with your dog associating this room with good things.
Pros:
Cons:
Getting a dog used to being confined in a baby gated room follows the same process as training a dog to accept a crate or a playpen. Feeding your dog his dinner and providing food dispensing toys in the room of choice helps with your dog associating this room with good things.
Pros:
- Cheap and flexible.
- The best solution for limiting access to particular areas in the house.
- A baby gated room with access to the outside may create the perfect balance when extended confinement is required.
Cons:
- Typical rooms that can be made "puppy proof" are often laundries or bathrooms, which are usually not close to main living areas.
- Many dogs can jump standard height baby gates. Look for extra high "dog" baby gates.
Tether

A tether can be a good quick solution for short term restriction of your dog's movements around an area. A tether is made of cable so it can't be chewed and can't wrap itself around your dog's legs. Do NOT use a standard leash for tethering. Dogs are very quick to chew threw leashes, and can get tangled and hurt themselves.
NOTE: Do not leave your dog unsupervised on a tether. You must still train your dog to accept tethering just like with any other confinement.
Pros:
Cons:
NOTE: Do not leave your dog unsupervised on a tether. You must still train your dog to accept tethering just like with any other confinement.
Pros:
- Cheap and flexible.
- Easy to bring to other locations, such as on holidays.
Cons:
- Puppy must be supervised while tethered.
- Many dogs are more stressed by tethering than other forms of confinement as it is more restrictive.
- Only suitable for short (less than an hour) use.
- Tether needs to be attached to a sturdy piece of furniture or other item that does not move or fall over if pulled.
What about the garden?

Why not just put your puppy outside when you need him out of the way?
There are two main problems.
One is that your puppy will most likely find something interesting to do, such as dig up the irrigations system or check what's under the roots of that newly planted tree.
The other is that your puppy is socially isolated outside, which can lead to anxiety and over-arousal (read "bad" manners) when coming inside - leading to ever more time being spent outside. Other problems that arise quickly from being isolated outside are barking, whining and scratching at the door.
The ideal situation is to give your dog the freedom to move between the house and the garden as much as possible.
There are two main problems.
One is that your puppy will most likely find something interesting to do, such as dig up the irrigations system or check what's under the roots of that newly planted tree.
The other is that your puppy is socially isolated outside, which can lead to anxiety and over-arousal (read "bad" manners) when coming inside - leading to ever more time being spent outside. Other problems that arise quickly from being isolated outside are barking, whining and scratching at the door.
The ideal situation is to give your dog the freedom to move between the house and the garden as much as possible.