Why Dachshund Puppies Are Particularly Hard to Crate Train
Most puppy crate guides assume a breed that will cry for a few nights and then settle. Dachshund puppies do not follow that pattern — and if you go in expecting it, you will find yourself on night five with a dog who is louder than ever and a household that has barely slept.
The reason comes down to breed history. Dachshunds were developed to hunt in packs, following scent trails through dense undergrowth and into underground burrows. They did not work as solitary animals. They relied on pack cohesion — knowing where their companions were — to feel safe in unfamiliar territory. When you place a Dachshund puppy in a crate alone at night in a new environment, you are activating exactly this alarm system. The howling is not manipulation; it is a genetically wired call to the pack.
This does not mean crate training is impossible. It means the approach must account for how this breed experiences isolation. The good news is that Dachshunds are also instinctive burrowers — their tunnel-hunting past means they are biologically primed to find enclosed, den-like spaces comforting. A correctly set-up crate exploits that instinct powerfully. Before you read the protocol, review the Dachshund Complete Anxiety Guide for broader context on this breed's anxiety profile.
Crate Setup: Getting the Den Right Before Night One
Choose the Right Crate Size
A 24-inch crate is the standard starting point for Dachshund puppies. It is large enough to stand, turn, and lie comfortably, but small enough that the puppy is not tempted to eliminate in one end and sleep in the other. Resist the urge to size up "for growth" — a crate that is too large for a Dachshund puppy undermines housetraining and provides too much open space to feel den-like. A divider panel can help if the crate comes with one.
Cover Three Sides
This step is non-negotiable for Dachshunds. Drape a blanket or purpose-made crate cover over the top and three sides, leaving the door end open for airflow. The covered crate now resembles a burrow — dark, enclosed, temperature-stable. Many Dachshund puppies that cry persistently in an uncovered wire crate will settle within one or two nights once a cover is added. This is not a trick; it is responding to a genuine breed need.
Location Matters More Than You Expect
For the first two weeks, place the crate in your bedroom, ideally within sight of the bed. Dachshunds are intensely pack-oriented. Being able to hear you breathe and smell your presence reduces isolation anxiety significantly. Owners who put the crate in a distant room from night one are fighting the breed's biology unnecessarily. Once the puppy is settling reliably, the crate can be relocated gradually — a few feet per night — to its permanent location.
The 7-Night Protocol
Nights 1–2: Introduction Without Pressure
Do not lock the crate on the first two nights. Prop the door open and let the puppy investigate freely throughout the day. Hide small, high-value treats (pieces of cooked chicken or cheese — not kibble) at the back of the crate every hour. Feed all meals inside the crate with the door open. The goal is a puppy who walks into the crate voluntarily and feels comfortable there before any confinement begins.
At bedtime, settle the puppy inside with a frozen Kong or a lick mat, and close the door only after they are engaged and calm. Expect some protest when the treat finishes. Wait for a three-second pause in crying before quietly opening the door. You are teaching that silence — not volume — ends isolation. This is an important distinction for a breed that instinctively howls louder when the pack does not appear.
Nights 3–4: Short Confinement Stretches
Begin closing the crate door for short, timed periods during the day — five minutes while you are visible, then ten, then fifteen. Each stretch ends when the puppy is quiet, never when they are crying. In the evening, repeat the frozen Kong bedtime routine. Most Dachshund puppies will settle within 20-30 minutes by night four if the crate has been properly introduced and is positioned near your bed.
Set an alarm to take the puppy outside before they need to eliminate — an 8-10 week old can typically hold their bladder for about three hours at night. A midnight outing prevents accidents and prevents the anxiety of a puppy who is both distressed and urgently needs to go. Keep the outing brief and boring: outside, eliminate, back in the crate, no play, minimal light.
Nights 5–7: Building Duration and Independence
By night five, most Dachshund puppies following this protocol will be settling within 10-15 minutes of crate entry. Begin very gradually increasing the distance between the crate and your bed — a foot or two per night — only if the puppy is settling without protest. Do not rush this step. A Dachshund who wakes and cannot locate you by scent or sound can regress quickly, undoing a week of progress.
Continue the frozen Kong at bedtime throughout this week and beyond. The licking action releases calming endorphins and provides a reliable, breed-appropriate settling ritual. A Dachshund puppy who has learned that crate entry leads to a frozen Kong will begin walking in voluntarily within two to three weeks of consistent use.
Products That Support Dachshund Crate Training
Snuggle Puppy Heartbeat Toy
Mimics a littermate's heartbeat and warmth — uniquely effective for pack-oriented Dachshund puppies in the first week of crate training. Reduces crying time and supports faster settling than white noise alone.
View on Amazon →MidWest iCrate 24" Single Door — Small Dog
The right-sized wire crate for Dachshund puppies, with a removable divider panel for housetraining. Includes a crate cover. Folds flat for portability and positions naturally as a den once covered on three sides.
View on Amazon →KONG Puppy (Pink/Blue) — Small Size
The puppy-formula KONG is softer than the classic version, making it suitable for puppy teeth. Fill with peanut butter or wet food and freeze solid for a 20-minute settling ritual that becomes the Dachshund puppy's reliable crate entry cue.
View on Amazon →Common Dachshund Crate Training Mistakes
Using the Crate as Punishment
Never send a Dachshund puppy to the crate after scolding or as a consequence for misbehavior. This breed is particularly sensitive to owner disapproval — a crate that becomes associated with punishment will trigger anxiety rather than calm. The crate must always be a good place. If you need to interrupt unwanted behavior, interrupt it with redirection, not crate placement.
Responding to Howling
Returning to the crate, talking through it, or even calling out from across the room while the puppy is howling reinforces the behavior. Wait for a natural pause — even two or three seconds — before any response. This is emotionally difficult with a Dachshund because they are extremely persistent. Stay consistent for one full week before concluding the approach is not working. Most genuine failures of this protocol stem from inconsistent responses to howling in the first three nights.
Skipping the Den Setup
An uncovered wire crate in a bright, open room is the opposite of what a Dachshund puppy needs. Owners who skip the covering step and then conclude their Dachshund "cannot be crate trained" are nearly always working against the breed's fundamental need for an enclosed, secure space. Add the cover before giving up.
For broader context on Dachshund anxiety patterns, including adult separation anxiety and the IVDD-anxiety connection, visit our full separation anxiety guide.