Crate Training Your Dachshund

A crate provides your dachshund a secure place of his own.

By the way, all dogs should be crate trained when they’re pups.

Crates help in-house training. They provide a safe means of car travel, and provide a safe haven when staying with friends or at hotels.

A crate trained dog will also fare better if he has to be crated at the veterinary hospital.

Best Crate for Small Dogs
i-Crate Pet Crate

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But crates can be overused. They are not a place for your dog to be disregarded while you entertain yourself with other things. Overuse of crates can create serious behavioral problems. Think of a crate as your child’s crib. It’s a safe place to sleep, but not a place to grow up. And it’s certainly not a place for punishment.

How To Crate Train

Feed your Dog in the Crate

Feed your dog inside crate to build up confidence.

At first place the food slightly inside the crate so he doesn’t even have to go inside to eat. Then, next time, move the food farther inside. Finally, close the door while he eats, opening it as soon as he finishes.

You can probably do this within the period of a day. Soon he will be running to the crate as soon as he sees you with food.

Verbal cues

If you want, you can now introduce a verbal cue, such as “Bedtime” (or “Crate” – whatever works for you) for him to go in the crate.

Gradually Extend Time in Crate

Gradually extend time in the crate by adding chew toys or other toys to occupy while inside.

Let the dog out before there’s a chance to get bored or vocal. If he does begin to protest (bark, whine, etc..), wait until he is momentarily quiet before letting him out (otherwise the behavior will worsen). Continue to extend the time he must be quiet before he gets released.

The crate is one of the safest places your Dachshund can be, but you must do your part:

Crate Tips

Blanket over crate

The dog may feel more secure with a blanket draped over the crate. Plus it will be warmer inside.

Collars

Don’t leave collars on puppies while they are in their crates. Collars, especially choke collars or collars with tags, can get caught in crate wires. And puppies have a bad habit of getting their lower jaws somehow stuck in loose collars.

Soft bedding

Soft bedding is wonderful for most puppies, but those that chew and swallow it may have to be limited to surfaces less likely to cause intestinal blockages. Just keep an eye on the situation.

(Here’s a nice plush bed designed for the crate above)

If your puppy tends to chew on the wire, he could get his jaw or tooth caught. Discourage such behavior by spraying the wire with anti-chew preparations and by making sure your pup has no issues with being crated.

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This information and more, can be found here:
Barron’s ‘DACHSHUNDS’ book
Dachshunds – The Owner’s Guide From Puppy To Old Age
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