IRIS USA 4-panel Dog Playpen, 4-Panel, Black, Pet Enclosure

Heavy-duty molded plastic makes up this black dog playpen from IRIS USA, which arrives as four panels that snap together without tools. Assembled, the pen measures 35 x 35 x 24 inches, and the four panels enclose a 63 x 63 inch interior. The manufacturer names Beagles, French Bulldogs, Shiba Inus and Border Collies among the breeds it is intended for, along with other small pets of similar size.

What to check before you buy this pen

The 24 inch panel height and the 63 x 63 inch interior suit small dogs and other small pets; larger breeds fall outside the sizes the manufacturer lists. The stated breeds, such as Beagles, French Bulldogs, Shiba Inus and Border Collies, show the scale the pen is built around.

One fact in the sheet conflicts with the height: a note mentions 35 inches of height for active or jumping pets, while the size line and the dimensions give 24 inches. Buyers planning around a jump height should measure their dog against the 24 inch panels they will receive.

More panels can be added to the same pen when compatible ones are used, so the 35 x 35 inch footprint is a starting size rather than a fixed one.

How the panels go together

Assembly needs no tools: the four panels are snapped together by hand. The front panel has a built-in door, which gives access to the inside of the pen without lifting the dog over a panel.

The manufacturer describes the enclosure as a place for play, training and rest, and rates it for indoor or outdoor use. Panels that are compatible with this model can be added when a larger pen is needed.

Folding it flat and keeping it clean

The pen folds, which the manufacturer gives as the way to store and transport it; the folded panels and the 4.7 kg (10.37 lb) weight are what you handle when moving it. The manufacturer describes the plastic as durable and easy to clean.

Non-skid rubber feet sit under the panels to help hold the pen in place, and the rubber is also there to protect hard floors from scratches.

What the plastic pen offers day to day

• The construction is heavy-duty molded plastic in black, the colour listed for the model.
• Four panels snap together for setup and fold for storage, with no tools required.
• A door built into the front panel opens the pen for access.
• Rubber feet under the panels resist sliding and shield hard flooring from scratches.
• Panels can be added when compatible ones are available, so the enclosure can grow.
• The pen is made in the USA.

Questions about this dog playpen

How big is the pen once it is set up?

It measures 35 x 35 x 24 inches, which is 88.9 x 88.9 x 61 cm, and the interior is 63 x 63 inches.

How many panels come with it?

The box contains four panels, listed as the included components, and they form the 4-panel pen.

What is the pen made of?

The panels are heavy-duty molded plastic, listed under material as plastic, in black.

Does it need tools to put together?

No tools are needed: the manufacturer's direction is to snap the four panels together by hand.

Can the pen be used outside?

The manufacturer lists indoor and outdoor among the specific uses for the pen.

How much does it weigh?

The pen weighs 4.7 kg (10.37 lb).