Dealing with a Dachsund at Bedtime

Dachshunds. Doxies. Weiner dogs. Whatever you call them, new dachshund puppies can certainly be a handful. Here's some information on what to expect from your new doxie towards bedtime, and some advice on how to react to you doxie's behaviors.

Doxies are noisy, especially during crate training.Natural whiners to begin with, doxies are especially noisy when young and when introduced to new environments. This crying is usually brought on by a lack of attention or crate training. However, if you have decided on crate training, stick to the resolution that he or she will eventually stop. It is a trying situation, as your doxie may wake you many times through the night, and you will be tempted to give the puppy whatever he or she wants to get it to stop. If you stick to it though, your doxie will eventually adjust to a routine, and become calm in his or her new environment.

There are many pros and cons to crate training (which could fill another article!), but ultimately getting used to a crate is like adjusting to a new house. There are many anxieties in buying and moving into a home: understanding new time schedules, feeling comfortable, learning how everything works. It is no different for your puppy. He or she will be nervous and scared in their cage until they adjust and come to feel at home in their routine.

Don't give in to the crying - it's just them letting you know that they are anxious. However, if it does upset you, you can tie a piece of clothing with you scent in your dog's cage (tie it tight - loose fabric can be a choking hazard or lead to intestinal complications if swallowed). This will give him or her some comfort during the night. You can also put a ticking alarm clock next to your puppy's cage. The sound it makes resembles that of a heartbeat, and eases your doxie's loneliness.

Doxies are snugglers.Now, depending on your personality, this could be a good or bad thing, but rest assured, if you let your doxie sleep where he chooses, you will never sleep alone again. Doxies are burrowers by nature (they were often bred to be hunting companions), and love nothing more than digging deep under your sheets or even underneath you towards bedtime.

Now if you love to snuggle with a four-legged creature with a wet nose, then there are no problems, cuddle away! However, some new pet owners want their space. To get it, you need to set the boundaries. Obviously if you've let your puppy out of his or her cage for the night, you do not wish to employ the crate training option, but you still need to give your puppy limits. What the doxie is typically searching for when they snuggle right next to you is comfort and warmth. Doxies are generally smaller in size so they get cold easily, and there is no better heating blanket than body heat.

There are suitable replacements, though. A heating pad at the foot of your bed can provide the heat a puppy wants while still giving you space. This is only for the most diligent pet owner, however, as cords must be bound so as to keep out of the puppy's bite, and the heat must be set on the lowest choice so as not to harm your doxie.

You can also control your doxie's need to sleep by you by giving him or her their own separate-but-equal space. Given their own bed and blankets (within your line of sight, so both you and they don't panic), most puppies will graciously sleep on their own - after a few nights of trying of course! You're still in the room, so they have their comfort, and the blankets provide tons of warmth...what more could they need really?

Doxies tend to have small bladders and nighttime accidents.It's hard to blame them, really. If you were that size, you'd have to go all the time too! Doxies have more problems than most dogs in making it through the night without having an accident. As the pet-owner, you can prevent this problem with a little foresight and patience.

Setting a pattern for your doxie is the best way to prevent nighttime mistakes. At first it will be as tough for you as it will for them, as you will need to take the dog to relieve him or herself around every 90 to 120 minutes - no matter what time it is. This means setting an alarm for yourself and sticking to a schedule. This should alleviate any major accidents and quickly adjust the dog to a pattern, teaching him both when and where not to go. Don't worry - over time these wake-up calls will taper off and then cease, but in order to train your puppy on the right way to potty, they are necessary.

Also, though you should be strict with your dog in house-breaking, keep in mind that they have little control when they are young. If you are even ten minutes late in waking up for their break, they may not be able to hold it, so for your and their sake, stick to a schedule for now. They build control with age, and before you know it, there will be no more nighttime accidents, and a happy doxie and owner.