GumiSeao Pet Playpen Review — The Puppy Palace That Stole My Dog

Let me start by saying that I did not expect a $79 dog playpen that I bought on Amazon to kick off a household crisis. But, here we are.

Yes, the GumiSeao pet playpen is breaking my heart. Instead of the snuggly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel we used to have, our one-year-old pup is like a teenager hiding out in her bedroom. If you can’t tell, I have some feelings about it.

GumiSeao Pet Playpen

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The Setup: Round Pegs in Round Holes

It seems like yesterday that we brought little Izzy home. In the weeks leading up to her arrival, I stocked up. We’d been without a dog for seven months, so I had to buy new everything.

One of those things was the GumiSeao pet playpen. It arrived within a week of ordering it, and setup was surprisingly easy: Simply pull out each of the four sides and slide the pegs into the holes.

Okay, so there was one little snafu. I got three sides set up, then realized the door can only be inserted one way if you want it to be right-side-up. It took about 10 seconds to correct, though, and all was good.

I put a blanket underneath it because, with a new puppy, you never know. She was so tiny that when she arrived, a small bed in the corner was all we needed.

It also comes with a cover. I didn’t bother with it when she was only four pounds, but as she’s grown, the cover helps keep her from jumping. Attaching the top to the playpen can be…challenging, though: You’ll need nimble fingers to wrap the Velcro straps around the slats.

You’ll also need a bed. We now use the WESTERN HOME Calming Dog Bed, but a great thing about this playpen is that it offers plenty of room for a decent-sized bed, toys, and even a water and/or food bowl if your dog is on the smaller side.

Once you’re set up, the challenge begins. You’ll have to train your dog to willingly enter: We started with a puppy, and she seemed to take to it right away, but each dog is different. You’ll find plenty of training tips out there, whether you’re using the playpen for crate training, nighttime sleeping, or simply to contain your pet so you can get some work done.

First Impressions (Dog’s Perspective)

Our dog, Izzy, goes through phases. At first, she never, ever entered her playpen voluntarily. She was small enough that I could simply slide her inside and close the door. We attached a Ring camera to the corner so that we could keep an eye on her when we weren’t home, and she’s always spent most of that time sleeping.

Flash forward a year and Izzy’s playpen has become her home. We did nothing to encourage this. In fact, my husband broke Crate Training Rule #1: Don’t use the crate for punishment. “Get in your house” has been said more than a few times, and still, she sees it as a safe space.

In the past couple of months, we’ve gradually found her sleeping in the playpen, door open, while we’re in a completely different room. Over the past couple of weeks, she’s gone straight into her house at bedtime, even though we love having her in bed with us. Often she climbs up the ramp into our bed at some point during the night, but this phase has her sleeping at least the first few hours in her house.

Do you see why I have a love/hate relationship with this playpen?

Some trainers say a dog’s crate should leave very little room to move around. If you’re following that advice, you might want to go with a different option, but Izzy’s never had an accident in the playpen, and the calming bed and roof seem to give her the shelter dogs love, so it works for us.

The Good Stuff

After a solid year of owning this playpen, I can honestly say it’s now a part of our home. Here are a few reasons to consider the GumiSeao Pet Playpen.

1. Escape Artist Resistance

The playpen itself is fairly sturdy. Sure, dogs can chew on it, but it would take some pretty strong chompers to create a large enough opening to escape. I can’t say the same for the roof: A larger dog would likely be able to tear up the mesh material if left unsupervised long enough. I’d recommend keeping a close watch on your pet at first and maybe leaving for shorter periods of time until you’re sure Fido won’t make a break for it.

2. Travel-Friendly (Sort of)

We’ve only traveled with this playpen once. At Thanksgiving, we took Izzy for a two-night stint, staying at a vacation rental. The four panels easily disassembled, and we stacked them in the back of my husband’s SUV, along with her bed, a blanket for the floor, and the roof. While it was easy enough to assemble and disassemble, it’s not exactly what I’d call portable. After that first trip, we purchased the Romantic Bear Foldable Dog Playpen, which is now Izzy’s home away from home.

3. Multi-Use Configuration

When our dog had surgery, we needed a quiet place to keep her still for a few days. Removing one of the panels took about five seconds. We then set it up as a triangle and nestled her bed inside, which gave it more of a kennel feel. That could also work well if you have a puppy who will later grow into a much larger dog.

The Bad (Because Nothing Is Perfect)

Izzy loves her house (or is it a castle?), but we’ve found a few drawbacks that might or might not matter, depending on your situation.

1. Not Escape-Proof

When I recommended this playpen in a Cavalier group, someone warned that her Cavalier easily jumps out now that she’s older. Izzy is on the smaller side, at 12 pounds, but large Cavaliers can top 20 pounds. If you have a Husky or a Beagle, you may find the playpen can’t contain your pet, even with the roof on.

2. Roof Installation Is Not a Breeze

I know I said setup was easy, but that roof is a bear to get off and on. I always hesitate to remove it because I know how awkward it is to install. It’s easier with two people, but you can install it yourself. I do most of the time. Just make sure you attach the roof before you put your pet inside to avoid having it lifted every time you almost have it attached.

3. Suction Feet Don’t Attach Easily

When Izzy was a puppy, we kept the blanket underneath her house, so I never paid much attention to the suction feet. Now that she’s older, the blanket isn’t necessary, and I’m starting to notice. It takes some work to get the cups to hold the playpen in place, and a stronger dog might be able to make it move around. If you have a determined jumper, that could be a problem.

GumiSeao Pet Playpen

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One Year Later

A full year after Izzy’s arrival, the playpen has become an essential part of our daily life. We use it to contain her when we have company, but other than that, the door remains open. She moves in and out of her house throughout the day and night when she simply needs some alone time. It works better than a crate for us, but it all depends on your (and your pup’s) lifestyle.

Final Verdict

The GumiSeao pet playpen is a well-designed, sturdy, and flexible option for small and medium-sized pets. Some dogs may be capable of scaling the fence, but the roof is designed to (somewhat) contain them. It sets up without tools or hardware and breaks down easily for transport. My 12-pound Cavalier has made it her sanctuary from storms and all things that go bump in the night, but only you know if it’s the right option for your pet.