IRIS USA puppy playpen review: Did This Plastic Pen Contain My Little Escape Artist?

Introduction

Last week, I turned my back for 60 seconds to grab my morning coffee, and I turned around to find my 12-week-old golden retriever puppy, Milo, sitting on my couch, chewing on my TV remote, after escaping his $80 metal playpen. For weeks, this had been our routine. I’d put him in the metal fence to go to the bathroom or make dinner, and 2 minutes later, he’d be out, running around the house, chewing on everything he could get his paws on. Which is why I decided to do this unfiltered IRIS USA puppy playpen review, after testing this plastic pen to see if it could finally stop my little escape artist. (Yes, that little gremlin had already escaped that metal fence three times in one week, I was this close to losing my mind.)

I was so sick of it. Every time I left him alone for two minutes, I’d come back to find he’d chewed my shoe, or peed on the rug, or climbed on the couch. I tried putting baby gates up, he climbed over them. I tried putting him in his crate, he cried the whole time, I felt bad. I tried the metal playpen, he just climbed over the top of it, because it was too short, and he’s a little climber. I was this close to just baby proofing the whole house, until a friend who has a golden puppy told me to try the IRIS USA playpen. I was skeptical, obviously, it was plastic, I thought he’d just chew through it, but I had nothing left to lose.

IRIS USA puppy playpen review: What Is This Plastic Pen Anyway?

This is the IRIS USA 4-Panel Plastic Puppy Playpen, the 24 inch one, that 4-panel pen that’s made to give your puppy a safe space to play, whether you’re inside or outside. It’s made in the USA with global materials, right? It comes with 3 regular panels and 1 panel with a built-in door, so you don’t have to hoist your puppy over the top of the pen every time you want to put them in or take them out. That was a huge win for me, because I was tired of lifting Milo over the metal fence, he’s getting heavy.

It’s made of durable, heavy-duty molded plastic, not that flimsy stuff that breaks after a week. It’s ready for indoor and outdoor use, so you can use it in your living room, or take it outside to the backyard for playtime. The plastic is easy to clean, too, so if your puppy has an accident in it, you can just wipe it down, no problem. And the best part? You can add extra panels to it, if you want to make it bigger. You can expand it as your puppy grows, so they have more room to roam, you don’t have to buy a whole new playpen when they get bigger.

It’s super easy to assemble, too, right? It uses full length connecting rods, so you don’t need any tools, you just put the panels together with the rods, and that’s it. Each panel has rubber feet on the bottom, too, so it doesn’t scratch your floors, and it keeps the pen from sliding around while your puppy is running around inside it. The whole thing is 35.25 inches long, 35.25 inches wide, and 23.63 inches tall, so it’s the perfect size for small to medium puppies, or even cats, or small dogs like chihuahuas or dachshunds.

My 2-Week Test: No More Escapes?

I got the playpen in the mail, and I was surprised at how heavy the panels were, I thought they were gonna be flimsy plastic, but they were solid, heavy duty. I tried to put it together, right? The instructions said it was easy assembly, no tools needed. Wait, the connecting rods? They were way tighter than I thought. I tried to push them into the holes, and they wouldn’t go. I spent 10 minutes prying and pushing, trying to get them into place, my fingers were red and sore for an hour after that. (I swear, I thought I was gonna break the panels, or my fingers, before I got it put together.) After I got the hang of it, it got easier, but the first panel took me forever.

Once I got it put together, I put the rubber feet on, set it up in my living room, and put Milo inside. And then? I waited. I went to make my coffee, I left him in there, and I was fully expecting to turn around and find him outside, like normal. But 10 minutes later? He was still inside. He was running around, playing with his toys, no climbing, no escaping. I couldn’t believe it.

I used it for two weeks, for when I needed to go to the bathroom, or make dinner, or just need a minute to myself. I noticed that he couldn’t climb over it, the height was perfect, he’s a little climber, but he couldn’t get over the top. He tried to chew on it, too, of course he did, he chews everything. And after two weeks, there were a few tiny tooth marks on the bottom of the panels, but he didn’t chew through it, not even a little bit. The plastic was way stronger than I thought.

I even took it outside once, to the backyard, so he could play in the grass without running off. It worked great, the rubber feet kept it from sliding around on the grass, no problem. And when he had an accident in it? I just wiped it down with a paper towel and some cleaner, and it was clean, no stains, no smell. It was so easy. I noticed that the door worked great, too, I could just open the door, put a treat in, and he’d come out, no more lifting him over the top, which was perfect, because he’s getting bigger, and lifting him was getting hard. It seemed like it worked way better than the metal playpen I had before.

What I Like and What I Don’t Like

Nothing is perfect, right? I’m not here to sugarcoat anything, so let’s break it down:

What I Liked

• It actually stopped the escapes. My little escape artist couldn’t climb over it, couldn’t chew through it, he was stuck inside, where he was safe. No more coming back to find him chewing on my remote or peeing on the rug.
• It’s easy to clean. The plastic material is so easy to wipe down, if he has an accident, or gets dirt on it, I just wipe it off, no scrubbing, no stains. Way easier than the fabric or metal playpens I had before.
• The built-in door is a game changer. I don’t have to hoist him over the top of the pen anymore, I can just open the door, and he can walk in and out, which is perfect, since he’s getting heavier.
• The rubber feet protect my floors. It doesn’t scratch my hardwood floors, and it keeps the pen from sliding around while he’s running around inside it. No more chasing the pen around the living room.
• It’s expandable. I can order extra panels later, when he gets bigger, to make the pen bigger, so I don’t have to buy a whole new one. That’s great, it grows with him.

What I Don’t Like

• The connecting rods were way too tight at first. I struggled to put it together, my fingers were sore for an hour after I assembled it. It took way longer than the instructions said it would.
• It’s a little short for bigger puppies. If you have a larger breed puppy that’s already big, they might be able to climb over it, it’s only 23 inches tall.

Is It Worth $52.99?

If you have a small to medium puppy, like I do, that’s an escape artist, or you need a temporary space to keep them safe while you’re busy? This is 100% worth it. It’s perfect for people who need to keep their puppy contained for a little bit, while they make dinner or go to the bathroom, no more coming back to a destroyed house. It’s also great if you have a cat, or a small dog, that needs a safe space, it works great for them too.

But if you have a large breed dog, or a super destructive chewer that can chew through anything? This isn’t for you. The plastic is durable, but it’s not gonna stop a 100 pound dog, or a super destructive puppy that chews through everything. And if you already have a good playpen that works for you? You don’t need this, unless you want an upgrade.

If you want to give it a try, you can check it out here: [buy link: IRIS USA Puppy Playpen](affiliate link)

Common Questions

Can you add more panels to make it bigger?

Yes, you can order extra panels separately, so you can expand the playpen as your puppy grows.

Is it easy to clean up after puppy accidents?

The plastic material is super easy to wipe down, no stains, no mess, you can just clean it with a regular cleaner.

Does it work for outdoor use?

Yep, it’s durable enough for both indoor and outdoor use, the rubber feet keep it in place on grass or patio.

Final Thoughts

I went into this whole thing thinking this was just another cheap plastic product that wouldn’t work. I’d wasted so much money on other playpens that my puppy escaped from, so I was skeptical. But after using it for two weeks, I was shocked. It didn’t fix all of our puppy issues, but it stopped the escapes, it kept him safe, and it made my life so much easier. I don’t have to worry about him destroying the house every time I turn my back for a minute, which is such a huge win.

Have you had a puppy escape artist too? Do you struggle to keep your little gremlin contained? Have you tried this playpen before? Let me know in the comments.

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A Quick Disclaimer

I’m not a vet or professional trainer. Just my personal experience. Every dog is different, so what worked for my puppy might not work for yours. This is just my own experience testing the product, and it shouldn’t replace professional training advice if you have concerns about your dog’s behavior.