My youngest would SCREAM BLOODY MURDER if she was put into a play pen. There were just times that I needed to load the washing machine or go to the bathroom without fear that she would fall down the steps, pull a wire.. you know, kid stuff. I truly needed a pooch that I could say “herd!!”. I would have had a ton of biscuits for him as a reward!! Canine Mother’s helper!!
We had a toy poodle when my daughter was born. She would beg to be put in the playpen when the baby was in there. They would cuddle and go to sleep. The poodle lived to be 19.
All herding dogs do that without a command. It’s just natural. The child does not always appreciated it, however.
When I lived in TX, my next door neighbor had a couple of teacup poodles — those little white, fluffy dogs that look like they’d break. Their college aged daughter brought home a Sheltie puppy that looked like a miniature Lassie. I’d look out my upstairs window and watch that Sheltie herding those poodles and their cat too. I’d just crack up.
Now, we had a strict leash law in that town, and I was not too happy when the Sheltie herded the whole shebang over to my yard and the dog catcher tried to give me a ticket!
My X sister in law used the playpen for her christmas tree. Kept the kids from playing with it..