# Pet playpens & containment: research notes

Date: 2026-10-25. Scope: freestanding, multi-panel or soft-sided enclosures that fence off a temporary area for a pet — wire/metal exercise pens (x-pens), rigid plastic panel pens, soft-sided pop-up mesh pens, and furniture-style wood panel pens — covering dogs, cats/kittens, rabbits and other small animals. "Playpens & Containment" is one label for one register; the register does not split into separate documents per material or species, because the splits (material, height, indoor/outdoor) already do that work.

**Not in scope, and left to siblings** (checked against `catalog.json`'s `supplies > pets` entries):
- A solid single-unit box with a fixed floor and a single latch door, marketed as a den — leave to `cages` (Cages, Kennels & Houses), even if its own title says "pen." IRIS's "Wire Open Pet Pen – X-Tall" is the borderline case: it has a molded bottom tray and a positive-lock latch like a crate, not an open-topped perimeter. I kept it in this register's source list only for its material and height data, not as a product this register claims.
- A single barrier mounted at one doorway, hallway or stair opening — leave to `pet-doors-barriers` (Pet Doors & Barriers). Carlson's "Convertible Pet Yard" and "Outdoor Extra Tall Super Wide Pet Pen & Gate" are dual-purpose (both a gate and a pen); I used their pen-mode specs here and note the overlap rather than claim the gate-only use case.
- Freestanding activity furniture with no perimeter wall (cat trees, bird play-stands) — leave to `pet-furniture-activity`.
- Whelping is not a separate category here: it is a use case for the same plastic/wire pens (Carlson markets its 4-panel plastic pen for whelping), kept as a vocabulary term, not a split.

Quote labels: **verbatim** = I fetched the page with curl myself and read the raw HTML with tags stripped (or pdftotext/XML-stripped for a document), and the sentence below is that exact text. **fetched excerpt** = the fetch tool lightly reworded or summarised the page. **search excerpt** = from a search-engine summary, page itself unread. No search-excerpt-only numbers are in this register, because WebSearch's budget was exhausted before I started (see "Research tool note" below) — every number here comes from a page I fetched and read myself with curl, or from one WebFetch call made before the budget ran out.

**Research tool note, for the report-back:** WebSearch reported its session budget (200/200) was already used up before I made any query for this category, so I did zero searches and worked entirely from direct `curl` fetches (guessing brand/regulator URLs, following their own site search and sitemaps) plus one working WebFetch call (`rabbit.org`, before I switched to curl) and one direct JSON API query (CPSC SaferProducts.gov). I could not reach: retail listings (Amazon, Chewy, Walmart all block curl/WebFetch — 403s or payment-wall pages), Reddit (blocked at the edge, no Wayback snapshot of r/puppy101's wiki either), and Richell USA, MidWest Homes for Pets, and thesprucepets.com (403/402, and MidWest's Wayback snapshots stop around 2018 with no current product pages archived). This is the same retail-listing block every earlier run hit (see `checks.md`).

## Seed

Seed run (recorded verbatim from the brief, first and only run):

- Example: bedsheets `weave` — "the expert split is often not the number everyone advertises. Thread count is the generic trap here. Weave is what changes how the sheet feels and sleeps."
- Persona: "A watchmaker, who thinks in tolerances and in what the price buys that you cannot see."

1. **The pet-playpens equivalent of weave is panel material** — the real first division (wire/metal, hard plastic, soft mesh, wood), exactly the kind of split a generic "size and price" shopper skips past. It survived the data check: AKC's own article structures itself around these four materials, and Carlson and IRIS both state material in the title and spec table on every product I fetched. **Kept** as `construction_material`, the first split.
2. **The watchmaker would go straight for the one number brands publish but nobody markets on: the gap between bars.** Height and material are what a listing's title shouts about; the distance between bars or lattice slats is buried in a spec table, and it is the actual tolerance the enclosure's safety depends on for anything small enough to wedge a paw or head through. It survived the data check with two independently fetched numbers, Carlson's 2–2.5 in and IRIS's 1.7 in. **Kept** as `gap_width_in`. **Dropped**: a hinge/latch-play tolerance facet — brands describe connectors only qualitatively ("positive-lock," "no-rust easy-twist," "sliding lock"), never with a number, so there was nothing to measure.

## Sources and what each supports

### Standards and regulators

**9 CFR 3.6, Primary enclosures — Cornell Legal Information Institute** (verbatim, curl + tag-strip)
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/9/3.6
- verbatim: "Find the mathematical square of the sum of the length of the dog in inches (measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail) plus 6 inches; then divide the product by 144."
- verbatim: "The interior height of a primary enclosure must be at least 6 inches higher than the head of the tallest dog in the enclosure when it is in a normal standing position."
- verbatim: cats "must be at least 24 in. high"; "Cats up to and including 8.8 lbs (4 kg) must be provided with at least 3.0 ft²"; "Cats over 8.8 lbs (4 kg) must be provided with at least 4.0 ft²."
- Supports: the floor-space formula and 6-inch head-clearance rule used in `panel_height_in`'s why-experts-care, the mechanism section, and the two judgements about what standard (if any) governs this category. Confidence high.

**9 CFR 3.6, Primary enclosures — GovInfo (official CFR XML, GPO)** (verbatim, curl + tag-strip of the raw XML)
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title9-vol1/xml/CFR-2024-title9-vol1-sec3-6.xml
- verbatim: identical formula and height-margin text to the LII copy above, confirming it is read correctly (two independent official publications of the same regulation).
- verbatim: "(i) Have no sharp points or edges that could injure the dogs and cats;" "(iii) Contain the dogs and cats securely;" "(iv) Keep other animals from entering the enclosure;" "(xi) Provide sufficient space to allow each dog and cat to turn about freely, to stand, sit, and lie in a comfortable, normal position, and to walk in a normal manner."
- verbatim: "If the suspended floor of a primary enclosure is constructed of metal strands, the strands must either be greater than 1/8 of an inch in diameter (9 gauge) or coated with a material such as plastic or fiberglass." This is a floor-mesh gauge rule, not a wall-panel rule, and most playpens have no floor of their own, so I did **not** use it for `gap_width_in` (which is about wall bars/slats) — noted here so the floor/wall distinction is on record, and left out of the JSON as a stretch I chose not to make.
- Supports: second independent copy of the formula and height rule; general welfare criteria language used in `panel_height_in` and `gap_width_in`'s why-experts-care phrasing. Confidence high.
- **Scope caveat, stated plainly in the judgements**: 9 CFR 3.6 binds licensed dealers, breeders, exhibitors and research facilities under the Animal Welfare Act. It does not legally apply to someone buying a pen for their own dog. I use it only as the nearest real numeric benchmark that exists, and say so every time it's cited.

**CPSC SaferProducts.gov, direct REST API query** (verbatim — I queried the API myself and read the raw JSON response)
https://www.saferproducts.gov/RestWebServices/Recall?RecallTitle=pet%20playpen&format=json
https://www.saferproducts.gov/RestWebServices/Recall?RecallTitle=exercise%20pen&format=json
- Both queries returned `[]` — zero recalls.
- Supports: the judgement that no CPSC safety-recall history exists for this product name, used to justify why no safety standard is treated as governing this category the way, say, crib standards govern baby furniture. Confidence high for "no recalls under these exact search terms"; I did not exhaustively check every possible product-title variant, so I phrased the judgement as "no recalls under these titles," not "this product has never caused injury."
- I also tried `www.cpsc.gov` directly for a broader recall search; it returned HTTP 403 (Akamai block), so I used the REST API instead, which is a first-party CPSC endpoint, not a workaround.

### Primers and enthusiast/welfare sources

**American Kennel Club, "Choosing the Right Playpen for Your Dog" (Jan Reisen, updated Mar 2026)** (verbatim, curl + tag-strip)
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/playpens-for-dogs/
- verbatim: "Metal playpens are the most common material used for dog playpens... You can still see your dog in the playpen, even from a distance. They're easy to setup, often foldable, and easy to collapse and store."
- verbatim: "Plastic playpens for dogs made of plastic are good for adult and senior dogs. Plastic playpens for dogs aren't the best choice for puppies, who could gnaw on the plastic while teething."
- verbatim: "Soft-sided dog playpens and mesh dog playpens are good options for storage as well as on-the-go play needs... Mesh playpens are great for small or toy breeds."
- verbatim: "Dog playpens with ground stakes can help secure them on surfaces like grass, dirt, or turf." "You may also want to look for a waterproof playpen or a water-resistant playpen."
- verbatim: "If your dog is a bit of an escape artist, you might want to consider a tent playpen. These have covers on top."
- verbatim: "Gated dog playpens... often come in single door or double-door pet playpen options." "Walk-through dog playpens can also act as small fences for larger areas."
- verbatim: wood playpens are listed under the "Indoor Dog Playpens" heading, alongside tent/gated/divider pens; the separate "Outdoor Dog Playpens" section discusses only ground stakes, waterproofing and durability, never wood.
- Supports: the whole `construction_material` family split, the `outdoor_rated` and `has_top_cover` and `access_type` facets, the teething-puppy judgement, and the "wood → skip ground stakes" branch (see Branches below). Confidence high — this is AKC's own staff-written buying guide, current as of March 2026.

**House Rabbit Society, "Pens: The Modern Housing Preference" (Marinell Harriman, from the House Rabbit Handbook)** (fetched via WebFetch, then re-confirmed with curl + tag-strip of the raw page — verbatim)
https://rabbit.org/care/habitat/pens-the-modern-housing-preference/
- verbatim: "Metal-wire exercise pens (or x-pens), sold in pet supply stores, are by far the most popular rabbit housing of recent years... They are available in several heights."
- verbatim: "Plastic lattice 'play yards' (for human toddlers) are available in department/variety stores... Some rabbits chew the plastic; most do not."
- verbatim: "All pens can be folded down, moved about, or stored."
- Supports: wire pens as the dominant small-animal housing type; that plastic pens exist and chewing is a known but not universal issue (second, independent source for the chewing claim alongside AKC, though AKC's is about puppies specifically and this one is about rabbits — I kept them as two separate, species-specific notes rather than merging into one universal claim). Confidence high for rabbit housing; this source is why `construction_material` and `panel_height_in` are written to cover small animals, not only dogs.

### Spec sheets (brand pages, fetched with curl)

**Carlson Pet Products — 4-Panel Plastic Pet Pen** (verbatim)
https://carlsonpetproducts.com/products/4-panel-plastic-pet-pen
- verbatim spec table: "Panel Height: 24\"", "Panel Width: 36\"", "Door Opening Width: 16.5\"".
- verbatim: "especially suitable for whelping puppies, providing a safe and secure space for new mothers and their puppies during those early crucial weeks."
- verbatim: "Extensions for this product... New! 2-Panel Extension Kit."
- verbatim: "backed by a manufacturer's limited 6-month warranty."
- Supports: `panel_height_in` (24 in), `panel_count` (4), `expandable` (extension kit exists), whelping vocabulary term. Confidence high — brand's own current product page.

**Carlson Pet Products — Convertible Pet Yard** (verbatim)
https://carlsonpetproducts.com/products/convertible-pet-yard
- verbatim spec table: "Height: 28\"", "Gate Width: Up to 146.5\" (six 24\" all-metal panels)", "Gap Width Between Bars: 2\" - 2.5\"".
- verbatim: "converts into a 6-panel pet pen or an extra-wide pet gate, and the gate can also attach to the wall."
- Supports: `panel_height_in` (28 in), `panel_count` (6), `gap_width_in` (2–2.5 in), `access_type` (walk-through door). Confidence high.

**Carlson Pet Products — Outdoor Extra Tall Super Wide Pet Pen & Gate** (verbatim)
https://carlsonpetproducts.com/products/outdoor-extra-tall-super-wide-pet-pen-and-gate
- verbatim spec table: "Height: 36\"", "Width: Up to 144\" (six 24\" all-metal panels)", "Gap Width Between Bars: 2\" – 2.5\"".
- verbatim: "ideal for homes with large or jumpy pets." "Weather-resistant coating for durability in rain, sun, and changing temperatures." "Wall-mounting hardware included."
- Supports: `panel_height_in` (36 in), `panel_count` (6), `gap_width_in` (2–2.5 in, second product confirming the same brand's number), `outdoor_rated`, and the "big jumper → 36 in" framing for the height split. Confidence high.

**Carlson Pet Products — Portable Pet Pen (gray)** (verbatim)
https://carlsonpetproducts.com/products/portable-pet-pen-gray
- verbatim: "Height: 26\"", "Width: 48\"." "Constructed with all-metal materials... features reinforced mesh." "Water-resistant material makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use." "quick and easy setup... foot lock."
- Supports: the soft-sided/mesh family's real-world example (metal frame + mesh wall, not pure fabric), `panel_height_in` (26 in), foot-lock as the family's typical connector. Confidence high.

**IRIS USA — 24-inch Pet Playpen (4-panel)** (verbatim, from the product's own bullet list and variant JSON embedded in the page)
https://www.irisusainc.com/products/24-inch-pet-playpen
- verbatim: "The IRIS playpen is portable and provides 8 square feet of play space for pets." "Dog playpen with door is made of durable, heavy-duty molded plastic." "Add-on panels are available to create large pet playpen." "Dimensions: 35.25 x 35.25 x 23.63 Inches."
- Supports: `panel_height_in` (23.63 in, the low end of the sourced range), `panel_count` (4), `expandable` (add-on panels), the `floor_sqft_per_panel` derived metric's grounding (8 sq ft at 4 panels). Confidence high.

**IRIS USA — 34-inch Pet Plastic Playpen (8-panel)** (verbatim)
https://www.irisusainc.com/products/34-inch-pet-plastic-playpen
- verbatim: "Dimensions: 63\"L x 63\"W x 34.5\"H." "Distance between bars: 1.7\"." "Two knobs on the exercise playpen door panel securely snaps together." "non-skid rubber foot to protect flooring."
- Supports: `panel_height_in` (34.5 in), `panel_count` (8), `gap_width_in` (1.7 in — the second brand's number, and the only plastic-lattice gap figure found). Confidence high.

**IRIS USA — Wire Pet Pen, 36-inch** (verbatim)
https://www.irisusainc.com/products/wire-pet-pen-36-inch
- verbatim: "Heavy-gage epoxy-coated wire." "No-rust easy-twist panel connectors." "Four anchors to secure pen in ground." "Dimensions: 58.00 x 24.00 x 36.00 Inches."
- Supports: `panel_height_in` (36 in, top of the sourced range), `ground_anchor_included` (four anchors included), the "no-rust" qualitative connector claim (not used as a number). Confidence high.

**IRIS USA — 24-inch Pet Playpen Mesh Roof (add-on)** (verbatim)
https://www.irisusainc.com/products/24-inch-pet-playpen-mesh-roof
- verbatim: "Specifically designed to fit on the 4-panel IRIS dog pen." "Secures pet inside IRIS pet pen and keeps them safe from other animals." "Easily attach and detach the playpen cover with hook and loop tabs."
- Supports: `has_top_cover` as a real, separately-sold accessory, and the dual escape-proofing/predator-proofing framing in that facet's why-experts-care. Confidence high.

**IRIS USA — Wire Open Pet Pen, X-Tall** (verbatim; used only for background, not claimed as in-scope — see Scope note above)
https://www.irisusainc.com/products/wire-open-pet-pen-x-tall
- verbatim: "molded bottom tray and wood-look trim." "large, sliding pet pen gate and positive-lock latch." "Dimensions: 47.24 x 31.50 x 35.43 Inches."
- Used only to justify the scope boundary with `cages`; its numbers are not cited anywhere in the JSON.

## Data points used for derived metrics

`floor_sqft_per_panel` (coverage_area_sqft / panel_count): grounded in IRIS's own stated "8 square feet of play space" at 4 panels (`iris_24in_playpen`) and Carlson's separately-sold 2-panel extension kit for its 4-panel pen (`carlson_4panel_plastic`), which is the real-world transaction this metric describes (how much floor the next kit buys). I did not compute or assert a numeric answer for "how much extra floor one added panel buys" because that depends on the pen's resulting polygon shape (square vs. hexagon vs. irregular), which no brand states and I have no sourced geometry for beyond the regular-polygon-area formula, which I chose not to put in the JSON as a formula "fact" since no source ties it to these specific products. The `formula` field states the ratio, not a specific computed number.

## Against the existing add-on schema

Existing `pet_playpen.jsonc`:
```
sizing: {
  panel_height: { value, unit[cm,in] },   // jump containment
  coverage_area: { value, unit[sq_m,sq_ft] },
}
```
Plus `pets-standard.jsonc` (`animal_type`, `suits_weight_range`, `max_pet_weight`) and `supplies-standard.jsonc` (generic `dimensions`, `capacity`, `weight`, `high_signal_markdown`, etc.), both shared across all pet sub-categories and out of this register's scope to change.

Per `AGENTS.md`'s four-things rule (vertical anchor / category quality currency / hard filter / sizing), here is how each facet in this register maps:

| Register facet | Kind proposed | Fits an existing field? | AGENTS.md bucket | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `panel_height_in` | numeric, sizing | Yes — exactly `sizing.panel_height` | sizing (varies by variant, per rule 2) | Keep as-is. The existing comment "jump containment" already states the reason correctly; no change needed. |
| `panel_count` (new) | numeric | No existing field | sizing (varies by variant — a "6-panel" and "8-panel" SKU of the same model line are different variants) | Add `sizing.panel_count: number \| null`. It is the one field every brand states and the pipeline would happily backfill from the title, which is the AGENTS.md test for "currency." |
| `construction_material` (new) | categorical | No existing field | hard filter (stated in text, not eyeballed from the photo — see rule 1) | Add `material: enum [wire_metal, plastic_panel, soft_sided_mesh, wood_panel] \| null` outside `sizing` (invariant across size variants of the same model line, in my data — Carlson and IRIS never mix materials within one model). |
| `outdoor_rated` (new) | boolean | No existing field | hard filter | Add `outdoor_rated: boolean \| null`. Cheap and reliably stated. |
| `expandable` (new) | boolean | No existing field | hard filter | Add `expandable: boolean \| null`. Cheap and reliably stated. |
| `access_type` (new) | categorical | No existing field | hard filter, with a caveat | Add `door: enum [none, single_door, double_door, zip_or_velcro] \| null`. Door *presence* is usually a named sales variant (IRIS's "With Door"/"Without Door"), so it passes rule 1's "stated by the page" test; I would not add finer door detail (hinge side, handle style) since that drifts into visually-eyeballed territory rule 1 excludes. |
| `ground_anchor_included` (new) | boolean | No existing field | hard filter | Add `ground_anchor_included: boolean \| null`. Stated with box contents when present. |
| `has_top_cover` (new) | boolean | No existing field | hard filter, backfill-expensive | Add `top_cover_available: boolean \| null`, but flag it for top-N-only backfill (rule 4's "only as many as we would happily augment"): a cover is often a separate accessory SKU, not a field on the base pen's own page, so confirming "no cover exists" for a long tail of pens costs real research time. |
| `gap_width_in` (new) | numeric | No existing field | **not** currency, by AGENTS.md's own test | **Do not add as a structured field.** Only 2 of 2 brand sites checked state it, and never on anything that looked like a retail/marketplace listing. Rule 3 says exactly this: a spec-sheet nuance we would *not* commit to backfilling broadly belongs in `high_signal_markdown`, not as a dense required field. Jev should lift "distance/gap between bars: X in" straight out of brand copy when present and drop it otherwise. |

**Noise in the existing add-on schema:** none. `pet_playpen.jsonc` currently holds exactly two fields (`panel_height`, `coverage_area`), both of which this register confirms are real, well-backed currency fields with nothing to cut. The additions above are proposed extensions, not replacements.

**`coverage_area` note:** the existing field's comment doesn't say what shape it assumes. IRIS states its 4-panel pen's footprint directly ("8 square feet"), so the field can be taken verbatim off a listing when stated; when it is not stated, I would *not* have the pipeline compute it by assuming a square from `panel_count × panel_width`, because Carlson's hinged all-metal yards close into whatever polygon the room allows (hexagon at 6 panels is the stated default, but the copy also says panels "allow various configurations"), so an assumed-square estimate would overstate it. I'd mark `coverage_area` backfill as "use the brand's stated figure only," not "derive from dimensions."

## Branches

Every branch leg in `category.json`, traced to the sentence or chain it rests on:

1. **`construction_material = "soft mesh"` → `gap_width_in` becomes irrelevant.** Trace: `gap_width_in`'s only two sourced numbers (`carlson_convertible_yard`, `carlson_outdoor_tall` at 2–2.5 in; `iris_34in_plastic_playpen` at 1.7 in) are both for rigid wire or plastic lattice products; no soft-sided product in my source set (`carlson_portable_pen`) states or implies a bar/slat spacing, because its walls are fabric and mesh, not rigid slats with gaps between them. Chain: soft mesh walls have no rigid bars → there is nothing for "gap between bars" to measure.

2. **`construction_material = "wood"` → `ground_anchor_included` becomes irrelevant.** Trace: AKC's article (`akc_playpens`) places "wood playpens" specifically under its "Indoor Dog Playpens" heading, in the same sentence as "match your decor"; its separate "Outdoor Dog Playpens" section, which is the only place ground stakes are mentioned at all, never lists wood. Chain: wood appears only in the indoor material list → the outdoor-only ground-stake feature has nothing to attach to.

3. **`panel_height_in = "a big jumper"` → ask `has_top_cover`.** Trace: AKC states directly, "If your dog is a bit of an escape artist, you might want to consider a tent playpen. These have covers on top" (`akc_playpens`). A "big jumper" answer is the direct behavioral description of an escape-risk dog, so the next natural question is whether a cover is available. Chain: jumper = escape-risk dog (AKC's own framing) → escape-risk dog is who tent/covered pens are for (AKC's own sentence) → ask about the cover facet next.

4. **`outdoor_rated = "yes"` → ask `ground_anchor_included`.** Trace: AKC discusses ground stakes only inside its "Outdoor Dog Playpens" section ("Dog playpens with ground stakes can help secure them on surfaces like grass, dirt, or turf"), never under "Indoor Dog Playpens." Chain: stakes are an outdoor-only feature in the source → an outdoor answer is exactly when the feature becomes worth asking about.

5. **`outdoor_rated = "no"` → `ground_anchor_included` becomes irrelevant.** Same trace as #4, read the other way: if the source never mentions stakes for indoor use, an indoor answer removes the reason to ask.

I considered and dropped one candidate branch: `construction_material = "hard plastic"` → something outdoor-related. Carlson's own plastic 4-panel pen description says it can be moved "room to room or take outdoors" (`carlson_4panel_plastic`), which contradicts a clean "plastic = indoor" rule, so I did not write that branch rather than force a leg the data doesn't support.

## Trimmed detail

- Whelping-pen specifics (the low step-through opening that lets a mother clear it but not puppies) stayed in the vocabulary list only; there wasn't enough sourced detail (dimensions, which brands offer it as a distinct feature vs. just marketing copy) to justify a `whelping_variant` facet, and the brief says not to pad a thin category.
- The USDA cat space figures (24 in minimum height; 3.0 ft² up to 8.8 lb, 4.0 ft² over 8.8 lb) are recorded above under sources but not used anywhere in the JSON — they would support a cat-specific sub-split, but with only one regulatory source and no brand data for cat-specific pens in my fetch set, I left them as background rather than building a facet on one citation.
- The USDA floor-mesh wire-gauge rule (9-gauge / 1/8 in minimum, or coated) is recorded under the GovInfo source entry above but not used in the JSON, because it is a floor rule and most playpens in this register have no floor of their own — using it for wall-bar safety would be a stretch past what the regulation actually says.

## Corrections

None — this is the first run for this category, with no blind-check pass yet to correct against.

## Script notes

`validate.py`, `render.py` and `viewer.py` all ran clean on the first pass (no errors, no warnings) once the JSON above was in place. Nothing to report back about the scripts.

## Corrections (2026-10-26)

- Changed `source` from `listing` to `researched` on `construction_material`, `panel_height_in`, `expandable`, `access_type`, `ground_anchor_included` and `panel_count`: every retail-marketplace fetch was blocked this run, so these were confirmed only on brand spec pages or the AKC primer, never an actual listing.
- Added `has_divider_panel` (boolean, `researched`, source `akc_playpens`) for AKC's "Dog Playpens With Dividers" use case (multi-dog separation / grow-with-puppy panels), previously uncovered and undocumented.
- Rewrote the `panel_height_in` split's `rationale` and the facet's `range.typical` to map each cold-start answer ("calm and small" / "an average dog" / "a big jumper") to its own in band (24 / 28-30 / 34-36 in), since the numeric facet has no `values` array for the branch `when: ["a big jumper"]` to check against.
- Flagged the single-source numbers explicitly instead of inventing a second source: `gap_width_in`'s `range.typical` now says the 1.7 in low end is one IRIS product, unconfirmed by a second brand; `floor_sqft_per_panel`'s `why` now says its only sq-ft anchor (8 sq ft / 4 panels) is IRIS alone, with Carlson confirming only that extension kits are sold. Retail and other brand sites (MidWest, Richell, Go Pet Club) were re-tried by curl and are still blocked (403) or unreachable, and WebSearch's session budget was still exhausted, so no second source was reachable this pass either.
- Added a new low-confidence `judgements` entry for the `wood` → no-ground-anchors branch, stating plainly that it rests on AKC never mentioning stakes alongside wood (absence of mention), not a stated rule; no source found, after the same re-check, stating wood pens aren't used or rated outdoors, so the branch itself was left as-is but its confidence is now documented rather than implied.