I have 2 of these 36” ones for my half Dane puppy. I probably would have spent the $10 extra dollar for a taller one if I had been adequately prepared for how fast she would grow 🤣 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002904LZE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_2AWZFbSC17P26?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I used a 36" tall playpen for my corgi ( this one specifically ). It was plenty tall for a dwarf breed, but for something like a golden I wouldn't go any shorter than that.
42" crate will be fine, just make sure to use the divider to gradually increase size and discourage crate accidents.
My crate had two doors, one on the end (door 1) and the other on the side of the crate (door 2). The playpen closed using little hook things. I attached the playpen to either side of door 1 with the door 2 opening to the room. That way I could have door 2 open to allow my puppy to walk into her crate, shut door 2 so she couldn't roam around the room or anything, but leave door 1 open so she could access her playpen and crate freely.
I feel like that explanation made zero sense lol, but it was similar to the third picture in this Amazon listing.
We got ours from Amazon and it's made by Midwest. The one we got is 36 inches tall but they have one in 42 inches and 48 inches tall as well. One of the reasons we went with that one is because they make a wire top we plan on purchasing and using when our puppy is spayed to keep her from jumping. Our puppy is a medium size breed (currently around 25-30 lbs) but very strong for her size and so far this has held up just fine. However as I mentioned above we do have it anchored on one corner so it doesn't move all about or tip over. Here's the link...
MidWest Foldable Metal Dog Exercise Pen / Pet Playpen https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002904LZE/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_ZYC1FCE51HF7EZTPRAQD?psc=1
While the Midwest pen is not what I'd consider flimsy there are stronger ones out there. A friend of mine has a German Shepherd/Boxer mix and she uses a different one that is noticeably stronger and a bit bigger but also more expensive. However it may be worth it if that is what you need. She also got her's off of Amazon. Here is the link to it...
BestPet Dog Pen Extra Large Indoor Outdoor Dog Fence Playpen Heavy Duty https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XTYN4Y/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_BF23A93VQQT085SCGEQD
Hope this helps some!
Yep, my dog cried too. My dog would whine and cry like he was being murdered. So much so I left notes on my neighbors doors apologizing to them if they heard the cries in the morning. It's part of their learning process, they're going to cry. It's the most gut wrenching heart breaking sound in the world. But the thing is, if you come back because you hear her cry, she will continue to cry because you are teaching her that to make you come back, she needs to cry.
This is why I'd have to leave the apartment, so I wouldn't hear the crying full blast. Upon my return I'd casually go over to him, as if him being alone was totally normal. He received no accolades, because him being alone was just a regular part of life. If he was super excited or if I heard any crying. I'd wait until he was calm before I interacted with him. The first thing I'd do is remove any of the special toys I left with him. Those high value toys were only to be used when he was alone.
My apartment was 700 sq ft too! Could you section off half of the living room? I used this to create a playpen area and section off a part of my living room when we were in the apartment. I considered my dog my roommate, my living room belonged to him.
Another thing I would do, is play youtube videos designed for dogs. (I'm a cordcutter with an AppleTV device). I found the television being left on soothed him more than just listening to music on the Amazon Echo all day. So I'd play music videos, or doggie videos. This one was my go to video for him.
In the Kong, I use this, when it was frozen it would take my pup at least 10-15 minutes to lick all of the cheese spread out. The cheese spread was a very high value treat for him. He only received it when he was left alone. Between a raucous play session to tire him out and then time spent trying to get the treat out of the Kong, he'd usually go straight to sleep afterwards. I've an Aussie, so our play sessions before I'd leave him alone were very high energy!
After the crying phase, came the destructive, I'm going to break out of here phase. So I'd take him on longer walks before I left and play with him longer to tire him out further. (I'd always watch him on my cam).
But again, although I sound like a commercial, using my Furbo and monitoring him when I left, helped me to create a strategy to find what worked the best for him to alleviate separation anxiety when I left him on his own. By 13 weeks I was leaving him alone up to 4 hours at a time. I'd come home at lunch, change out his potty pads in his potty system, take him for a walk and play with him, feed him lunch, take him out again so he could have an afternoon poop, and then head back to work for another 3-4 hours. This was our routine three days a week. The other two days of the week he came to the office with me. (Where he slept all day except for lunchtime when we'd go to the dog park). And the weekends we were inseparable, but I'd still give him some time in his crate and enforce naps so he could have a little alone time.
MidWest Foldable Metal Exercise Pen / Pet Playpen. Black w/ door, 24"W x 36"H https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002904LZE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tM3DCbSH0B5CA
And the crate AmazonBasics Double-Door Folding Metal Dog Crate - 36 Inches https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QAVNWSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5M3DCbABSQCRM
You may want to anchor the pen to the wall to prevent a dog from moving it on say a hard floor surface. We used two eyelets we screwed into studs and secured it to the eyelets using climbing clips.
Are you talking about x-pens/dog exercise pens? I have this one (the 36" one): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002904LZE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage