Playpens are a great solution for Yorkies of any age, from tiny puppies to older adults. There are quite a few benefits:
1) Stops a Yorkie from chewing apart the house. So many owners become frustrated when their teething puppy or bored adult Yorkshire Terrier wants to chew, rip and gnaw on everything except his toys. However, the easy answer is to limit the Yorkie's ability to reach those non-toy items and of course, to offer a great selection of toys
that actually meet his needs.
Any time that your Yorkie is either home alone or you cannot keep a very close eye on him, his playpen will keep him contained to one area that prevents destructive chewing.
2) Prevents bathroom accidents & marking.
While an owner should, of course, be following all of the housebreaking
guidelines, and make necessary changes to deal with marking, the #1 method of limiting urine and stools being left all over the house is to use a proper containment method.
As stated earlier, crates do not work well. They do not stop a dog from having his natural bodily functions and only serves to cause stress and anxiety. But, the right playpen can keep messes to one area. Tip: Inside of the pen, have pee pads covering any free areas. Also have a quality bed, toys, food and
water. Most dogs do not soil their belongings, so this leaves only the pads if the Yorkie needs to pee or poo.
3) keep a Yorkie safe.
If your house is not 100% puppy-proofed and you can't have your Yorkie right by your side... or if you are having lots of visitors and your Yorkie does not do well with foot traffic, the right playpen serves as a safe area, out of the way of commotion and/or danger.
Portable pens are also fantastic for allowing a Yorkie to get some fresh air outside with you, if you'll be busy in the yard, or barbecuing, gardening, etc. and can't keep a close eye on him.
4) Plays a big role in helping with separation anxiety.
Being home alone
is rarely fun for any dogs. And some have serious issues struggling to cope with the isolation. You might think that placing a Yorkshire Terrier into a pen may worsen these anxious feelings; however, often it does just the opposite.
A dog roaming a large empty house often feels much more strain and loneliness than one safety inside 'his area' where he is warm, has his bed, all of his favorite toys and has his food and water right there.
If you are using music, a TV or special CD's to help him, this ensures that he is able to hear these soothing sounds. It also ensures that all of the items that help him feel secure are within reach.