Are you a new pet parent with a dachshund puppy stuck between crate training or letting him be? Crate training your Dachshund puppy will be the best decision for your puppy time.
There are many benefits of crate training, and you won’t regret doing it. With a good crate, the process becomes easier.
Dachshunds are small, but their intelligence is unmatched; crate training them will build on their natural denning habits as long as they feel secure.
This article about crate training will help you answer some of the questions you have in mind about the training process, plus the steps here will guide you for effortless training.
The best part is you don’t have to have experience in crate training to get started.
Let’s get started.
Why Crate Train Your Dachshund Puppy?
Crate training is an important step in your puppy’s life since it may need to be away from the household while taking a rest. The major benefit of the training is that your dog will feel comfortable and safe.
Let’s check out more impacts of crate training.
- The crate provides your little one with a safe place whenever he feels tired or stressed. With the instinct in dogs, a larger crate will be great. When you need your kids to be left alone, the cage will be a perfect place. Introduce a house rule that no one should disturb the little one when he is sleeping.
- Your household items are safe when the energetic buddy is there; there will be no instances of tearing when you aren’t supervising him.
- Traveling becomes easier when you have a crate; you won’t worry about the pup running loose around the car. It also works well when you are flying with your pup.
- House training becomes an easy task when you crate train your little one. Ensure you get a spacious one, and it will help in training on bowel and bladder control.
- During vet visits, carrying him in a crate will be easier, and if he stays there overnight, he won’t feel stressed while taking the crate rest.
- Disasters like running and getting hit by the car or tearing your designer couch into pieces won’t happen when your little one is in a closed crate.
- Suppose there is an emergency in your household. In that case, evacuation becomes effortless when the pup is in a cage; it’s easier to evacuate the pup when in an enclosure.
- It’s an effective way of taming her extreme separation anxiety, and he will minimize barking when you are out of the house or too tired to supervise him. After the training session, the pup can rest and process the mental work when in the crate.
- The cage helps prevent fighting among dogs. Sometimes, when dogs meet, they can get chaotic, and it can be worse if there is no human to separate them, but when in the crate, there are no such incidences.
- Some people may generally find dogs irritating or can’t stand dogs; it’s easier to keep them in another space when you have a crate. It’s also a good way of keeping your pet away from unfamiliar people.
- If your dog has gone through surgery, staying in the cage will help her heal faster, and the dog will keep calm as they heal.
10 Crate Training Steps to Follow for Your Dachshund Puppy
1. Choose the Right Crate Size
Crate size is an important aspect of training the little buddy crate. Get the perfect size that will feel comfortable through his stay during the day and sleeping at night.
There are different types of common dog crate materials that you can choose from, including fabric, plastic, and wire crate. It would help if you got a comfortable and flexible cage, not forgetting that it should be durable.
A well-spaced cage will work well in training; I love the wire dog crate since it allows my dog to observe the surroundings, and he doesn’t feel trapped; plus, it’s collapsible when you aren’t using it. A 24-inch one will work for the pup if you have the Mini Dachshund since it has extra room for a fully grown dachshund puppy.
Remember, dachshunds are small, and getting an oversize crate will leave them feeling less safe and uncomfortable. The little one should be able to stand and turn around without getting into contact with the box borders. The pup may turn the corner into a potty when the enclosure is too large.
A double-door metal crate is easier to explore when getting in or out; plus, if it has a divider, you can adjust the crate size to fit your fast-growing pup. Follow the crate size guide when purchasing one.
2. Introduce the Crate
It would be best to let your pup know about the crate before he starts spending the night there. Here’s the crate in an area where you spend most of your time. Add a comfy towel to make the crate comfortable. Some crates come with a dog blanket.
Dachshunds are naturally curious and will start going close to the cage. Placing the crate in the right position early in the morning will allow your dog more survey and exploration time.
The double-door crate comes in handy in this introduction phase. Additionally, the open doors create a good first impression on your dog; the pup won’t feel trapped.
3. Surveying the Crate
In this step, you want to ensure that your pup gets into the cage, and placing treats in it is the best way to lure him. When choosing the treat, make sure it doesn’t alter the little one’s dietary and calorie intake.
Begin with putting yummy treats in the crate to lure him into it, and once he gets in, add more treats, and don’t forget to shower him with verbal praising; it will encourage him to stay.
Dachshunds are intelligent dogs, and adding more treats will improve their bond with the crate; rewards will keep them associated with the crate, and before you know it, your pup will already be used to staying in it. Apart from the verbal praises, try and introduce some rubs to keep him motivated.
You can also introduce a toy to the crate if your dog doesn’t feel motivated by the treats. Ensure that your place the toy or treat far into the crate. It’s common sense that the dog will enter the crate to retrieve the food.
Don’t lock the door immediately after the pup enters the crate. Another way of exploring is locking the dog food in the crate while it’s outside, and he will be yearning to get to the food.
4. Make the Crate Time a Mealtime
Dachshunds love feeding time, and introducing their regular meals into the crate is a great idea. Place the food in a bowl and push it inside such that the dog must enter the crate to access the food. Taking 3-4 meals in there will help greatly.
You create a positive association with creating by placing food in it and as the dog feeds, close the crate for some minutes to allow him to stay there for some minutes. Ensure you gradually increase the time your dachshund spends in the crate (5 to 10 minutes interval works well).
Begin with closing and opening the door, and when you realize he isn’t noticing, close the door until the dog finishes her meals.
At the beginning of crate mealtime, you need to sit near the area to keep your dog company and reassure him that there is nothing wrong with spending his time in a crate. A few consecutive meals will help.
Sometimes the dogs may start whining once you close the door, don’t be tempted to open the door; the pup will adapt the behavior and associate it with the reward of opening it. With positive reinforcement, the behavior will stop.
5. Introduce Toys
Dachshunds are playful, and it’s easier to lure them into the cage through food toys. Place the toy after mealtime as a way of increasing the stay time. Staying in the crate without feeding or engaging in another activity may get her bored, and she will start rejecting the crate.
Crate toys will save the day by keeping your dog engaged for a while. Get a toy with hollow parts where you can insert some treats to increase your dog’s playtime as they try to access all the treats.
After a few days of giving the stuffed toys to your pup, the intelligent friends learn and remove them easily, consider freezing the toys after stuffing to increase the playtime.
With the hollow toys, you need to keep inspecting them since they might get damaged, which is risky to your buddy’s health. Consider having an extra one for replacement once one is worn out.
Keep an eye on your pup to ensure that the puzzle isn’t too challenging to get your dog frustrated, keeping away the fun that should be there. A non-toxic toy is the best since you don’t plan to spend all your time near your pup.
6. Prepare by Exercising
Crates are cozy dens, and when your dachshund is tired, he will find it a great area to relax. Your pup will be more than willing to stay in the crate with more exercise.
Dachshunds need more exercise, not just running around your compound; you need to take them for walks. If the puppy is a month old, 5 minutes of walking exercise are enough, but you can add 5 minutes every month as the pup grows.
Note that the 5 minutes doesn’t include playtime and other off-leash exercises; it’s only for walking outside, keeping in mind that unvaccinated puppies shouldn’t go out and can only play in the compound.
Your dog’s bones will have developed in one year, and he can get into other exercises.
Dachshunds are fearless, and they may overdo when exercising, keep an eye on your buddy, monitor his activities, and ensure the pups don’t over-exercise. Over-exercising at a young age may lead to some deformities.
7. Introduce an Interactive Session
Introducing an interactive play session to my dog before they get into the box has helped greatly; the buddy wants to lay down and relax once he gets into his crate.
Use the interactive dog toys before the dog goes back to the crate. Rope toys are fun and the best to help in the interaction.
When purchasing a toy, ensure you go for brighter colors, and dogs are mostly attracted to yellow and blue. The toy doesn’t have to be plain yellow or blue; get one that is dominant in either of these two colors.
A dog IQ puzzle helps keep the buddy busy and develop his intellectual skills; after finishing the puzzle, the dog gets more excited when there’s a good treat.
Remember to take with you the toys after playtime; your dog shouldn’t use an interactive toy without supervision.
8. Allow the Puppy to Spend Some Time Alone
You need a lot of patience since it’s the moment you will realize if the other training sessions have yielded results. After spending 5 minutes in the crate after mealtime with the doors closed, your little one should be ready to be left alone.
Since you have been around when he is feeding or playing with a toy, you should be gentle when you want to start leaving the room.
Start by spending a few minutes away from the dog, and as you proceed, keep away for more minutes. After 5-20 minutes, you can come back to the room, wave at the pup, and shower your pup with praises for keeping calm.
The goal is to teach your buddy about staying alone, helping him appreciate that being in a cage is a feeling of independence, and it’s not meant to scare him, and you aren’t trying to abandon him.
In this process, observe consistency and the time you spend away from your pup; he will get used to staying alone in the crate. Be patient when he seems restless, don’t shout at him; the buddy is just learning to stay alone.
If you can spend about 30 minutes away from your pup and he is not whining or barking, it shows that he is slowly adapting, and you can now stay away for more minutes.
9. Add a Playpen
A playpen when crate training may not make sense for other dogs, but with the dachshund’s personality, it will help greatly. Dachshunds don’t want to stay home alone for long, unlike other dogs that can stay for a few hours.
The playpen provides more playing space for your puppy, and here, the pup can feel free while running around. If you have a wired crate, a wired playpen will combine well with a space that allows the dog to get into the crate whenever the dog wants to spend time there.
You can place a potty in the playpen for potty training (the next thing to do after crate training), and the pup won’t mess up the cage and the beddings.
The playpen is also useful when camping, especially in a new area, you will enclose your buddy there with the toys, and you don’t have to worry about him getting lost.
10. Crate Train at Night
Most pet parents find crate training at night a daunting task; however, it’s easier than you may think since the dog is tired and wants to sleep.
If you have spent time introducing your dog to the crate and it’s enjoying the stay inside, he will have no problem sleeping in the crate at night.
During the first few days, don’t be surprised when your dachshund pup whines at night; it’s a common behavior, especially if it’s in a new place, and with time it will adjust.
Follow these steps for easy training at night:
- Give the pup adequate exercise during the day, so he longs for sleep at night.
- Avoid giving water to your dog 1-2 hours before bedtime, and he won’t keep waking up to pee.
- Place the crate in a place you can easily access and here when the puppy wakes up to pee. A central location or placing it in your bedroom will work well.
- If the pup doesn’t stop whining, tap the crate gently to reassure and calm him, and soon, he will start sleeping in the crate. Cover him with a warm blanket, plus you don’t have to close the door.
Tips to Consider When Setting Up a Crate for Your Dachshund Puppy
A training crate should feel cozy, add a warm blanket to it, plus you can add another blanket on the sides, leaving the front part open. A fabric pet cover works well too.
During hot weather, consider using lightweight blankets, and it will be easier if the blanket is machine washable.
Add a Familiar Scent
Dachshunds are good at smelling, and adding your smell to the crate will attract her inside. You can place the old t-shirt you have worn recently, and the dog will love the smell of her owner. It’s also a way of reassuring your dog of a peaceful sleep all night long.
Add a Dog Bed
Placing a dog bed inside as the base will help greatly with a tiny puppy. Go for a bed that has squishy sides to avoid puppy injury. As the puppy grows, you can remove the bed and place some comfy cushions. Stick to the house rule that no one should disturb the sleeping puppy.
Use a Puppy Heating Pad
A puppy heat pad in the crate helps your little friend adapt to the new environment. Get the small pads for your puppy, they come with fleece covers that hold the heat for up to ten hours, and here your puppy feels like she is sleeping next to you.
Install a Heartbeat Sheep
Placing a heartbeat sheep in the crate helps your little one overcome separation anxiety. The small device produces heartbeat mimics that resemble the mums, and your pup will feel comfortable. A ticking clock serves the same purpose.
Leave the Lights On at Night
Leaving the dim night light on at night in the first few days will help your puppy overcome fear, and he feels comfortable with this light since he can see you.
How Do I Train an Adult Dachshund?
It’s possible to crate train older dachshunds; however, you need to be patient; they may give you a hard time. All you need is to keep the consistency and don’t forget to reward the buddy when he portrays good behaviors. Correct him whenever he is wrong, and a firm” No” command works.
Should I Put Water In My Dachshund Training Crate?
If you are around and keeping the crate door open, you can place the bowl outside the crate, but if you plan to leave your pup for a couple of hours, you need to place a bowl of water inside. A clip-on bowl is better since it’s not easy for your pup to knock it down.
Don’t leave water in the crate overnight; the dog will want to wee more which may affect potty training since the little one can’t hold his bladder for long.
Should Crate Training Be Considered Cruel?
The answer is no. you only need to do it gently and responsibly. With natural denning instincts, the dachshund loves curling up and staying in quiet places they feel safe and comfortable, making crates great snuggle dens.
If you train your little one for long hours, the dog might start rejecting the crate. Keeping an eye on the dog creates a sense of security.
For How Long Will I Need to Crate Train My Dachshund Puppy?
Well, puppies vary when adapting to the crate; some will adapt as early as after 48 hours, while some will need your patience. Most puppies get used to the crate after a week. Your consistency and hard work during training play a significant role in making her learn faster.
Conclusion
Crate training works well for the playful dachshund puppies, and every step will help in another achievement. Once your little friend gets used to the crate, containing him becomes easier, and the crate helps build her denning instants.
If you have a question on crate training or a dachshund puppy, feel free to leave a comment.
Follow the above steps and tips for effective training, and with patience, your intelligent friend will get used to his new home. All the best as you begin the training.
Related:
